Making of Jewish Intelligentsia

By and large, the books on Jewish demography and
social relations are in short supply. It is even more
true as to research dealing with the tiny Jewish
communities in Eastern and South Central Europe,
where either inaccessibility of the archives during
the Soviet era or lack of scholarly tradition have
impeded such studies for decades. This book provides
the fresh gaze into Jewish history from the
perspective of modern times and culture. It focuses
on the social mobility of Estonian and Slovenian
Jewish intelligentsia and doing that draws on the
unique archival sources. Jews and education presents
itself as one of the main motifs and thrust in Jewish
culture during the Modern Era. Recurrently struggling
against the various odds in history, many Jews
availed themselves of a specific modus operandi
early schooling and striving for educational
excellence in higher learning institutions either
to accomplish career related pursuits or find both
social and political acceptance among the host
societies. The study should have a positive value for
the broad circle of people and academics alike who
are interested in remarkable facets of Jewish history
and European history in general.

Autorentext

Martin Jaigma, PhD: currently a research fellow at the PeaceInstitute in Ljubljana, Slovenia. Studied general history andJewish history at Tartu University and Central European University.Defended the doctoral thesis in Ljubljana Graduate School ofHumanities. Has worked before in Estonian History Museum andEstonian Historical Archives.

Klappentext

By and large, the books on Jewish demography andsocial relations are in short supply. It is even moretrue as to research dealing with the tiny Jewishcommunities in Eastern and South Central Europe,where either inaccessibility of the archives duringthe Soviet era or lack of scholarly tradition haveimpeded such studies for decades. This book providesthe fresh gaze into Jewish history from theperspective of modern times and culture. It focuseson the social mobility of Estonian and SlovenianJewish intelligentsia and doing that draws on theunique archival sources. Jews and education presentsitself as one of the main motifs and thrust in Jewishculture during the Modern Era. Recurrently strugglingagainst the various odds in history, many Jewsavailed themselves of a specific modus operandi -early schooling and striving for educationalexcellence in higher learning institutions - eitherto accomplish career related pursuits or find bothsocial and political acceptance among the hostsocieties. The study should have a positive value forthe broad circle of people and academics alike whoare interested in remarkable facets of Jewish historyand European history in general.