Migration: Reassessing the Historiography of Jewish Migration to North America

Migration is one of the best researched aspects of American Jewish history. Much of the literature focuses on Jewish immigrants and community building. The story of a group of pioneering Jewish settlers who moved to New Amsterdam in 1654 sets the scene for a critical discussion of several influential narratives about Jewish (im-)migration to America. Until recently, historians distinguished different immigration waves to make sense of the diverse backgrounds of Jews from different centers of the Diaspora. This interpretation is suggestive but has shortcomings. Scholars frequently differentiate between Jews (and others) fleeing persecution and those looking for better economic opportunities. The experiences of actual Jewish migrants frequently eluded these categorizations because many were escaping oppressive conditions yet also were seeking better opportunities. The chapter draws attention to “missing migrants,” Jews who were excluded by restrictive immigration legislation between 1921 and 1965.