Jews and Money

by: Shuli Passow

Wed Jun 16, 2010 at 16:26:25 PM EDT

Jews and Money.  That was the name of a conference I helped organize several years ago.  Probably not a great way to dispel myths and stereotypes of money-grubbing Jews, we realized as we hung the banner up in the hallway of the hotel where the conference took place.  Oops.

Money’s hard to talk about, especially when it conjures up unpleasant images of anti-Semitism.  Which I was I was quite inspired by the fact that Manhattan Together, a local affiliate of the Industrial Areas Foundation, decided to confront the issue head on as part of its “10% is Enough” campaign to cap federal interests rates on credit cards.

This past Sunday, I sat in a room at East End Temple, a Reform congregation in Manhattan, with about 50 clergy and lay leaders from synagogues, churches and non-profit groups across the country.  Leaders from Reform, Conservative and Reconstructionist synagogues sat with their peers from Lutheran, Episcopalian, and Hispanic Evangelical congregations, among others.  For three hours, we learned about various faith traditions’ perspectives on lending, explored the historical context in which the stereotypes of Jews as usurers emerged, and discussed our own experiences with stereotypes related to money.  

For me, the day was particularly moving.  I’ve been drawn to the work of synagogue organizing in part because I wanted to support Jewish institutions to be part of making systemic and legislative change in their cities.  But just as much, I am compelled by organizing’s potential to build relationships among people who might ordinarily not come in contact with one another.  Sunday’s learning reminded me of how rare it is to find spaces where we can engage in deep, substantive conversations about our identities and our own histories—and how powerful it can be, when we do.  

The Almighty Dollar

by: Mae Singerman

Tue Feb 23, 2010 at 15:32:29 PM EST

Guess which religions per capita are the wealthiest in the US!

Then click here to find out!

Jewoogle: Christians have the best sects...

by: Mae Singerman

Tue Feb 02, 2010 at 15:53:53 PM EST

So you may have noticed that if you do a goggle search, as you type in words, Google will suggest popular search topics with the first letters or words. Let’s try it with Jews and see what Google assumes we’re looking for based on millions of user searches.

Today, I looked up "Why do Jews" and "Christians have"

Why do Jews…
Have big noses
Wear yamakas
Have glassy eyes
Not eat pork
Not believe in Jesus
Fast on yom kippur
Put stones on graves
Circumcise
Break glass at weddings
Write g-d

Christians have…
The best sects
Authority over satan
Fun
Burnt each other

The questions for "why do Jews" are actually pretty thoughtful compared to any other searches that involve the word Jew, but aren't phrased as a question.

Jewoogle

by: Mae Singerman

Tue Jan 12, 2010 at 14:42:34 PM EST

Jewoogle

by: Mae Singerman

Tue Dec 15, 2009 at 16:04:50 PM EST

So you may have noticed that if you do a goggle search, as you type in words, Google will suggest popular search topics with the first letters or words. Let’s try it with Jews and see what Google assumes we’re looking for based on millions of user searches.

Today, I looked up "Jews have" and "White people have"

Jews have…
Horns
Big noses
Glassy eyes
The highest iq
Destroyed America
No rhythm
Higher iqs
Why do Jews have beards
Do Jews have godparents

"White people have" is an interesting one, because so much of the "white people have" search queries are simply about what white people lack.

White people have...
no culture
tails
have Black babies
tails
stolen my car
no lips
no rhythm
it easy
had enough
names like Lenny
no souls