Bartending cantors, strange outdated customs and Yiddish jokes - These fascinating postcards from the National Library of Israel's collections offer a rare glimpse into the lives of freshly arrived Jewish immigrants to the United States.
The turn of the 20th century came at the height of a massive wave of Jewish immigration to the United States from eastern Europe. It is estimated that around three million Jews landed on America’s shores in the period stretching from 1880 to 1924. They came fleeing the pogroms and anti-semitism which had become rampant in their homelands, seeking a new life in a new world.
These new Jewish immigrants brought many of their customs and traditions with them, but the encounter with an American culture on the rise created a unique and rich blend which came to define the new community. Some of the most enlightening remnants of this period in Jewish-American history are the popular holiday greeting cards which friends and relatives would send each other to mark Jewish festivals.
The National Library of Israel has a large collection of postcards of this type, featuring a range of colorful images with a certain Jewish flair or twist. A selection of them appears below. Some of these cards are based on photographs, while others were drawn by hand, but all of them depict scenes from the day-to-day lives of the new Jewish arrivals in America. Most were intended for use as greeting cards for Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year.
Have a look at these postcards from the National Library of Israel’s collections and the Folklore Research Center at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and get a glimpse of Jewish-American life as it was a century ago.
A Jewish immigrant family arrives on Ellis Island, with New York’s turn-of-the-century skyline in the background. Unknown artist. The National Library Ephemera Collection.
This postcard from 1909 features a drawing by Jacob Keller depicting Jewish immigration to America. On the right (east) is a group of traditionally dressed Jews carrying their meager possessions while the symbol of czarist Russia hovers above. The richly dressed, smiling Jews of the west welcome their eastern brethren as does the Statue of Liberty. Overhead, a bald eagle carries a ribbon with a Hebrew quote from Psalms 17:8 – “and shelter us in the shadow of Your wings”. Printed by the Hebrew Publishing Company, the Folklore Research Center, Hebrew University of Jerusalem
A Jewish couple bless their children as Shabbat begins. Unknown artist and publisher, the National Library Ephemera Collection.
A Jewish family prepares to eat Shabbat dinner. This is perhaps the most common theme featured in postcards of this type. Unknown artist and publisher, the National Library Ephemera Collection.
A Jewish family singing Zemirot (Jewish hymns) for Shabbat. By artist Jacob Keller, circa 1910, the Hebrew Publishing Company, the Folklore Research Center, Hebrew University of Jerusalem
A child stands and asks “Mah Nishtanah?” during his family’s Passover Seder. This image was drawn by Freidrich Kaskeline and produced by the Williamsburg Art Company, circa 1920-1930, the National Library Ephemera Collection.
A family heading to synagogue – the Yiddish caption reads “Entering Shul”. Printed by the Williamsburg Art Company circa 1920, the National Library Ephemera Collection.
Men discussing the issues of the day after synagogue services. This postcard was intended as a companion to the previous one. The Yiddish caption reads” (Coming) from shul”. Printed by the Williamsburg Art Company circa 1920, the National Library Ephemera Collection.
A cantor reads from a book in synagogue, unknown artist and publisher, the National Library Ephemera Collection.
This postcard depicts the Simchat Torah holiday custom of “Kol HaNearim” (all the boys), in which the young boys of the congregation are called to gather under a large talit as Genesis 48:16 is recited – a verse from Jacob’s blessing to Ephraim and Manashe. By artist Jacob Keller circa 1910, printed by the Hebrew Publishing Company, the Folklore Research Center, Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Jewish families greet each other outside the synagogue. Some wear clothes typical of poor eastern European immigrants, while others are dressed as wealthy Americans. Printed by the Williamsburg Art Company during the first quarter of the 20th century, the Folklore Research Center, Hebrew University of Jerusalem
A Jewish man recites the “Shema Israel” prayer before going to bed. By artist Jacob Keller circa 1910, printed by the Hebrew Publishing Company, the Folklore Research Center, Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Some of the postcards showcase situations which are perhaps not traditionally associated with Jewish life…
The Yiddish caption here reads: “Throughout the year he works as a bartender in a Coney Island saloon. On Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur he is a cantor in a synagogue.” A similar theme was explored in the classic 1927 film “The Jazz Singer” starring Al Jolson. By artist Jacob Keller circa 1910, printed by the Hebrew Publishing Company, the Folklore Research Center, Hebrew University of Jerusalem
A man bursts into his home carrying a winning lottery ticket as his family members stare at him in joy and disbelief – the ticket reads “75 Toyzend” in Yiddish. “Das groyse gevins!” – Big winnings! Printed by the Williamsburg Art Company around the turn of the 20th century, the Folklore Research Center, Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Some of the customs of the Old Country have been nearly completely forgotten, but the Yom Kippur ritual of flagellation was still common enough during the early 1900s to feature in this postcard. Printed by the Williamsburg Art Company during the first quarter of the 20th century, the Folklore Research Center, Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Several of these postcards feature whimsical examples of Yiddish humor.
The Yiddish text here reads – “He: But if I were rich, you would have loved me, wouldn’t you have? Her: Loved you? I don’t know about that, but I certainly would have cooperated.” By artist Jacob Keller circa 1910, printed by the Hebrew Publishing Company, the Folklore Research Center, Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Oy vey! Two pounds of fat have disappeared from the kitchen! The lady of the house blames the servant girl, who replies – “It was the cat!” To solve this crime, the cat is put on the scales, which reveal the animal weighs exactly two pounds. “So the fat is in there,” the lady exclaims, “the question now is – where is the cat?” By artist Jacob Keller circa 1910, printed by the Hebrew Publishing Company,the Folklore Research Center, Hebrew University of Jerusalem
The Yiddish text here reads – “A disabled man with only one leg meets a blind man on the street with only one eye. ‘How’s it going?’ asks the blind man, ‘As you see!’ the disabled man replies.” By artist Jacob Keller circa 1910, printed by the Hebrew Publishing Company, the Folklore Research Center, Hebrew University of Jerusalem
The National Library’s “Time Travel” project is dedicated to collecting and scanning Israeli and Jewish ephemera and making them accessible to the general public, you can browse through the collection here.
Ariel Viterbo of the National Library’s Archives Department assisted in the preparation of this article.
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