Landsmanshaft
Encyclopedia
A landsmanshaft was a Jewish
benefit society
, or Hometown society
of immigrants from the same town or region.
These organizations were set up during the great migration of Jewish people to the United States from the 1880s through 1923. The immigrants could not speak English and often had trouble becoming accustomed to life in the U.S. The landsmanshaftn functioned as a kind of "social clearinghouse" for Jews from shtetl
s, providing employment as well as aid when sick and burial plots.
The landsmanshaftn encompassed the Jewish burial societies, known as chevra kadisha
, and in some instances split off from them to form "independent" societies.
Twenty thousand such organizations once existed in the northeast United States, operating burial plots in scores of cemeteries. Most are now defunct.
These aid organizations were established to deal with social, economic, and cultural problems, and provided a social framework for mutual assistance. In the early 1900's there were thousands of landsmanshaftn in the New York City
area, but few if any are active today. While landsmanshaftn were often based around a common region they could also be based on a common political affiliation, such as the Workmen's Circle/Arbeter Ring
(socialist), the International Workers Order
(Communist), or the Farband
(labor Zionist).
Over time, the landsmanshaftn lost members as they died, and the organizations became defunct. This resulted in difficulties for the relatives of members who died, because the officers of the landsmanshaftn were required to permit burials. Officials of the state of New York have stepped in to be of assistance in such situations.
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
benefit society
Benefit society
A benefit society or mutual aid society is an organization or voluntary association formed to provide mutual aid, benefit or insurance for relief from sundry difficulties...
, or Hometown society
Hometown society
A Hometown society is a society of immigrants from the same town or region. These aid organizations were established to deal with social, economic, and cultural problems, and provided a social framework for mutual assistance. Among the most common activities was the provision of insurance...
of immigrants from the same town or region.
These organizations were set up during the great migration of Jewish people to the United States from the 1880s through 1923. The immigrants could not speak English and often had trouble becoming accustomed to life in the U.S. The landsmanshaftn functioned as a kind of "social clearinghouse" for Jews from shtetl
Shtetl
A shtetl was typically a small town with a large Jewish population in Central and Eastern Europe until The Holocaust. Shtetls were mainly found in the areas which constituted the 19th century Pale of Settlement in the Russian Empire, the Congress Kingdom of Poland, Galicia and Romania...
s, providing employment as well as aid when sick and burial plots.
The landsmanshaftn encompassed the Jewish burial societies, known as chevra kadisha
Chevra Kadisha
A chevra kadisha is a loosely structured but generally closed organization of Jewish men and women who see to it that the bodies of Jews are prepared for burial according to Halacha and are protected from desecration, willful or not, until burial...
, and in some instances split off from them to form "independent" societies.
Twenty thousand such organizations once existed in the northeast United States, operating burial plots in scores of cemeteries. Most are now defunct.
These aid organizations were established to deal with social, economic, and cultural problems, and provided a social framework for mutual assistance. In the early 1900's there were thousands of landsmanshaftn in the New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
area, but few if any are active today. While landsmanshaftn were often based around a common region they could also be based on a common political affiliation, such as the Workmen's Circle/Arbeter Ring
The Workmen's Circle/Arbeter Ring
The Workmen’s Circle or Arbeter Ring is a Yiddish language-oriented American Jewish fraternal organization committed to Social Justice, Jewish Community, and Ashkenazic Culture...
(socialist), the International Workers Order
International Workers Order
The International Workers Order was a Communist Party-affiliated insurance, mutual benefit and fraternal organization founded in 1930 and disbanded in 1954 as the result of legal action undertaken by the state of New York in 1951...
(Communist), or the Farband
Farband
There were at least two American Jewish organizations colloquially known as the Farband -- the Communist-oriented Yidisher Kultur Farband and the Labor Zionist-oriented Yidish Natsionaler Arbeter Farband .-YKUF / Jewish Culture Association:The Yidisher Kultur Farband There were at least two...
(labor Zionist).
Over time, the landsmanshaftn lost members as they died, and the organizations became defunct. This resulted in difficulties for the relatives of members who died, because the officers of the landsmanshaftn were required to permit burials. Officials of the state of New York have stepped in to be of assistance in such situations.