The History of Emotions Among Jewish Communities

About the Project 

Bridging the Storm: The Jewish Diaspora Responses to the 1930s Crises as Emotional Bridges

On January 31, 1933, Doar Hayom, a newspaper published in Palestine, announced: "Adolf Hitler at the Head of the German Government! Meanwhile, German Jews are filled with fear and await the intentions of the new government." Similarly, the Davar newspaper highlighted that "Jewish leaders in Germany are in confusion," while Haaretz captured the sentiment with its headline: "German Jewry Confused." This sense of turmoil among German Jews was echoed internationally, including in New York’s Yiddish press, such as the Forverts (February 1, 1933). In Poland, however, Jewish newspapers emphasized a different kind of confusion—concern about how the rise of Nazism in Germany would impact Polish Jews, security, and regional stability. Reports about Hitler’s rise to power demonstrate the interconnectedness of Jewish communities, as events in one region reverberated across the diaspora. This pattern of engagement reflects not only a sense of shared anxiety but also active solidarity, as Jewish communities sought to understand and respond to each other’s challenges. Events like the Judenboykott (1933), the Polenaktion, Kristallnacht (1938), and the outbreak of World War II underscored the emotional strategic connections between Jewish populations, transcending geographical boundaries. These responses—marked by empathy, fear, outrage, and determination—illustrate how fellow-feeling and mutual responsibility became central to Jewishness during this turbulent period.

The research delves into this transnational solidarity, exploring how emotional engagement acted as emotional bridges which shaped a diasporic Jewish identity. This identity was characterized by shared emotions, values, and collective memory, fostering a sense of unity among diverse communities. The study will examine how discourse in newspapers, correspondence, and community records reflect these emotional bridges, connecting Jewish populations worldwide. Sources in Hebrew, Yiddish, Polish, German, and English will reveal the mechanisms by which the pan-Jewish solidarity was cultivated and maintained. By analyzing the discourse, narratives, and rhetoric used in these interactions, the research seeks to trace the evolution of emotional bridges within the diaspora. This approach sheds light on how Jewish communities responded collectively to rising antisemitism, mobilizing support and fostering resilience. Solidarity, both as an emotional and social phenomenon, played a pivotal role in these dynamics, reinforcing a shared identity that transcended national borders. Ultimately, the research aims to provide new insights into the role of emotions in shaping diasporic identities. By focusing on the Jewish diaspora during the 1930s, it offers broader implications for understanding how emotional bridges are formed and sustained in other diasporic and transnational contexts.