Mr Rayon Posted January 30, 2012 Share Posted January 30, 2012 (edited) In Europe, why were so many Jewish people rich prior to WWII? And why are so many Jewish people Nobel laureate winners? Anybody got any ideas? What's their secret? Edited January 30, 2012 by Mr Rayon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajb Posted January 30, 2012 Share Posted January 30, 2012 And why are so many Jewish people Nobel laureate winners? I am not sure if your questions are a bit loaded, but this one is interesting. Why I have no idea, but two factors maybe important: genetics and culture. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swansont Posted January 30, 2012 Share Posted January 30, 2012 In Europe, why were so many Jewish people rich prior to WWII? Have you established that this is true? Were Jewish people over-represented? And why are so many Jewish people Nobel laureate winners? Anybody got any ideas? What's their secret? As ajb said, culture may be an influence. It is my understanding that there is an affinity for education and respect for science and scientists ingrained in the culture. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptainPanic Posted January 30, 2012 Share Posted January 30, 2012 I would like to see some numbers to back up the assumption that they were richer. I believe that it was claimed true by the nazis, but they ran a big propaganda machine. You should doubt anything they claimed. As a good lie, there may be a little truth in it, but it is probably hugely exaggerated. Or even a complete lie. All I know is that Jews historically ran the diamond business (In Antwerp, and for a while in Amsterdam). They still do. In that field, I guess it's a matter of networking, which is easier in your own (religious) circle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swansont Posted January 30, 2012 Share Posted January 30, 2012 All I know is that Jews historically ran the diamond business (In Antwerp, and for a while in Amsterdam). They still do. In that field, I guess it's a matter of networking, which is easier in your own (religious) circle. It could also be a matter of taking jobs that were shunned by other groups. The Christian ban on usury, for example, probably kept Christians out of banking. For a time, anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phi for All Posted January 30, 2012 Share Posted January 30, 2012 In Europe, why were so many Jewish people rich prior to WWII? And why are so many Jewish people Nobel laureate winners? Anybody got any ideas? What's their secret? Isn't this more of a case of us hearing about the wealthy ones more than the poor ones? I would like to see evidence that says there were a disproportionate amount of European Jews who were wealthy prior to WWII. This seems similar to assuming that most Arabs are terrorists because when we hear about them it's in connection with terrorism. Are we just shining a spotlight on a particular group and then wondering why so many seem similar? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skanda Posted January 31, 2012 Share Posted January 31, 2012 I do not think that culture is a distinguishing factor. There are penty of similar examples like the cuture of Egypt, Italy, Hellas and others. In addition excuse me to say that the "genetics point seems rather catchy and perhaps dangerous, as we could then move on to other assumptions that could be easily explained by genetics and i don't think any of us is going to acuse Germans for autocracy, based on their genetics Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Banks Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 I am not sure if your questions are a bit loaded, but this one is interesting. Why I have no idea, but two factors maybe important: genetics and culture. Sorry I'm confused; I thought being jew is just a religion, not a race. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajb Posted February 8, 2012 Share Posted February 8, 2012 Sorry I'm confused; I thought being jew is just a religion, not a race. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethnoreligious_group I guess you can be a follower of Judaism and not be a Jew. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arete Posted February 8, 2012 Share Posted February 8, 2012 Sorry I'm confused; I thought being jew is just a religion, not a race. The presence of hereditary diseases which positively correlate with subscription to Judaism would suggest a genetic basis for being Jewish and therefore render it describable as an ethnicity in addition to being a religion. http://www.mazornet.com/genetics/ http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Health/genetics.html http://www.jewishgeneticdiseases.org/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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