A Study On Russian Jews (from The Late 18～(th) Century To 1917)

As the study of civilization and culture is increasingly prevailing in the world after Reform, our country established and carried out the study of global civilization system independently and gradually. Jewish civilization is a significant component of the world civilization. Since 80s of the last century, a new subject has brought into being----Jewish study. In recent two decades, some scholars have done relatively full research on Jewish history, culture, religion and Jewish characters, while, both theses and monographs have reached so far. In addition, Shanghai Jewish research centre and Harbin Jewish research centre did some specialized research on Jews in China, with a series of monographs, proceedings and large picture albums published, and with some translated versions in public. There is no doubt that achievements lay the foundation on the study of Jews in China. However, the main original country of Jews of China, which more than half of Jews in the world lived in, which is still the third largest Jewish inhabitant area following America and Israel, the study on Russian Jews is a blank field that is not consistent with significance. The history of Jews'resident in Russia is not only an important chapter in Jewish civilization history, but a principal stage to understand Russian history, which is the inevitable subject on the study of Jews and Russian history. Therefore, Jewish study and Russian history are chosen to study, in order to increase and strengthen the study of Jews in China by discussing Russian Jews before October Revolution , as well as to find out a new way to study in the field of Russian history as a subject.In fact, there existed full and thorough study on Russian Jews in Russian literatures, but the wholly specialized studies on Jews'life status are not enough. On the basis of the initial results achieved by former scholars, the thesis would discuss and analyse the social-constitutional status of Jews and activities in economics, culture and politics in Russia thoroughly, insisting on the point of Marxist historical materialism so as to avoid bias from Jew scholars and Russian scholars, and ensuring to study this history objectively and justly. Besides preface and concluding remarks, the body consists of four chapters.Chapter1: social-constitutional position of Russian Jews. In the late half of 18th century, three times divisions of Poland drove millions of Jews to move to Russia, making Russia the densely inhabited centre of Jews in the world. Thence"Jewish problem"in Russia came as a result. From Catherine the Great(1762—1796)to Nicholas II(1894—1917), the Russian governments have formulated a large number of policies on Jews, including resident right, transition right, property right, right to run industry and commerce, right to receive education, right to work in national and social service, military service and revenue, etc. Jewish policies of Russian governments have characteristics of practice, duality and random. Generally speaking, policy towards Jews issued by Russian government is a failure. During a century from the late 18th century to 1917, Jews were neither assimilated nor segregated. On the other hand, powerlessness in politics and hardship in economics forced a certain number of Jews to join revolution for the sake of free. In another aspect, assumption that there was no bright future in Russia led many Jews to decide to emigrate. Almost 2 million Jews left Russia from 1881 to 1914, most of them arrived in America and Pakistan, some of whom reached Great Britain, France and Switzerland, Canada, Australia, South Africa, South America and India and a slight number of whom came to China.Chapter2: Economic activities of Russian Jews. At the end of 18th century, the moment masses of Polish became Russian citizens, almost each of them were small tradesmen, brokers or bosses of pubs. No magnates and a small number of landlords or peasants. However a hundred years later, almost all the industrial and commercial departments were completely controlled by Jews or affected by Jewish capital. In the late 19th century began Jewish accumulation of capital. In the late 19th century, Jews put the accumulated capital into industry, financial industry, transportation business, and extractive industry. Although agriculture is not prominent in life of Jews, yet Jewish agricultural population has taken up 3.5% of the total in the early 20th century, doing a lot of contribution. Handicraft industry has been rooted in the Jewish life. According to census of 1897, 36.8% of total 5.18 million Jews in Russia were involved in handicraft, and more than 60 kinds of handcraft guilds have surfaced. Yet with the rapid development of industry, freeze out of private business, Jews had to attach themselves to the master of industry, like workers. Jews still were in priority in the field of business and commerce in spite that the born talent was suppressed,. In financial industry, Jews played an important role. Apart from two large banks---Moscow commercial band and Volga-Camaro bank, others were closely related to Jews in development and operation. While, the effect on the transportation and extraction could not be made light of Jews actively took apart in a variety of fields of Russian national economic and did influentially. It demonstrated clearly the economic capability of Jews by the extended size, large number and major effect from Jewish capital in Russian economic life.Chapter3: Cultural activities of Russian Jews. Before 19th century, Jews played a minor role in cultural life in Russia. Since the era of Alexander II's "Reform", Jews accepted and engaged in Russian culture. Reform not only adjusted the spiritual outlook of Jews, but also aroused their creativity in the field of science, art, thought and education. Before the middle 19th century, Jew intellectuals were called'old type intellectuals'in Russia, because they did not received formal higher education, most of whom taught them. In the early 1860s, the first generation of Jewish new intellectuals came into being, who received the systematic Russian education. The appearance of advanced Jewish intellectuals promoted the awareness of Jews'participating in Russian cultural life. First, they attended to publication activities, getting great achievements. According to part statistic, hundreds of books and more than 120 publications were published from May,27th 1860, when《Dawn》was published, to 1917. The legacy was not only Jewish culture, but also the primary and undivided ingredient of Russian culture. As periodic publication started by Russian Jews were in public, Jewish literatures came out, mainly art novels and poems. In addition, Jews presented an extraordinary performance in the domain of lawyer, sculpture and painting, especially in music. The Jewish musician held a place of important mark in Russia. Brother Anton Rubinstein and Nicholas Rubinstein did a significant contribution to Russian musical history. Jew's participation and influence in cultural life of Russia explicitly illustrated that Jewish people is the people admiring knowledge and education.Chapter4: Political activities of Russian Jews. Before the middle of 19th century, majority of Russian Jews were in the isolated state, who rarely dealt with political activities in Russia. In the late 19th century, Alexander II Reform improved social-constitutional situation of Jews. As Jew's consciousness of participation in Russian life was strengthened and influence in economic realm was expanded, especially emerging Jewish bourgeoisies and new type intellectuals, clearly emerged Jew's pursuit to political appeal. After Alexander II, the more and the more harsh violence against Jews along with the issue of the new code of laws to limit Jews aroused their enthusiasm to be involved in political life of Russia. It was shown that the social thoughts were springing up, marked as emergence and realization of political Zionism, dedicating to Russian revolution and liberation in order to fight for civil rights and national rights as well. No matter in populist movements in 70s-80s or Democratic and working movements did Jews behave themselves. No doubt Jews dedicated themselves to Russian liberty movements and did great effects.In the history of Jews in the whole world, Jews from Russia took an important position. We may get aspiration from the history of Jews'life in Russia. First, official conception held by governors along with their policies is the important prerequisite of national development, racial solidarity, social harmony and progress. Second, as a guest race, it is the immediate need to be in agreement of local races to guarantee lasting and harmonious development of their own. Third, respect on culture, knowledge and talent is an inexhaustible motive force for the prosperity of a country, guaranteeing for continued progress of the cause of the state.