Immigration to America, Early 1900s

​This color postcard from 1909, depicting Jewish immigration to America, was intended for use as a Shana Tova card. Two groups of people stand on different sides of the Atlantic Ocean. On the right (eastern) side is a group of traditionally dressed Jews holding bundles and above their heads is the symbol of czarist Russia: the two-headed eagle with a coat of arms of St. George slaying the dragon on its chest. This group represents the Jews fleeing Europe. On the left side, a group of richly dressed and smiling people are stretching out their arms. These are the Jews who are already established in the United States, and they are welcoming and inviting their European brethren to America. The outline of the Statue of Liberty in New York City can be seen as well as steamships crossing the ocean. Above the American Jews is another eagle, in this case a bald eagle, the symbol of the United States. This eagle, with the American flag on its chest, holds a ribbon with the words from Psalms 17:8,“and shelter us in the shadow of Your wings,” written in Hebrew. This quotation reflects the fact that the United States was considered a safe haven for European Jews who were victims of pogroms and persecution.

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Discussion Questions

Observation

• Describe the two groups of people in the picture.
• What are flying about the people's heads?
  Describe each of them.
• What objects are in the background of the picture?
• Describe the setting.
• What are the captions on the postcard?

Reading Between the Lines

• Describe the two groups of people on either side of the sea.
  What are they wearing?
  What are they carrying?
  Where are they standing?
  What is your overall impression of each group?
  Who do they represent?
• What sea is this?
  Which continents?
• What do each of the eagles represent?
  What are the symbols on the eagles?
• From looking at the picture, what do you think is the attitude of the group on the left toward the group on the right?
• The postcard illustrates the wave of immigration of Eastern European Jews to the United States towards the end of the nineteenth century and the beginning of the twentieth century.
  What was happening in Eastern Europe that prompted so many Jews to leave?
  Why did these Jews chose to immigrate to the United States?
• What are some of the differences between the new immigrants and the already established Jewish community in the United States?
  Was the established Jewish community in America always as welcoming as depicted in this picture?
• This picture depicts the major wave of Jewish immigration to America from Eastern Europe.
  What other waves of immigration to the United States were there?
• Where does the quote on the banner come from?
  What does it mean?
  How does it relate to the picture?
• What was the purpose of this postcard?
  What do you think is its message?

Connections

• Have any new immigrants come to your community?
  Does your community welcome new immigrants?
  What does your community do to help them?
  What might be some of the concerns that a community has towards new immigrants?
• When did your family come to your country?
  How were they received by those who were already there?
  Do they know any stories about their immigration?

Creative Ideas

• Draw a picture reflecting your country's current experience with immigration. What is the setting? Who are the immigrants? How are they received in your country?
• Write a journal entry for one of the people depicted on the card.