Rebecca Shapiro Thesis (11 May 2011).pdf - Brandeis Institutional ...

universities, less formally educated, recently immigrated and likely those of a lowersocio-economic status did not understand the importance of membership. 94To them, theGreek organizations were expensive and distracted their children from their mainobjective, to study and gain an education. Opposition also came from the communalprofessionals who saw the Jewish Greek system as a double edged sword, one thatassimilated Jewish students into the Christian culture on the college campus, while alsocausing too much clannishness amongst the Jewish students. 95Jewish studentsparticipation in Jewish fraternity or sorority events brought them further from the campusreligious or cultural organizations, and from their control.Hostility towards the Jewish Greek community only increased when organizationsrefused bids to Jewish students. Jewish organizations, in an effort to gain recognition andprestige from the Gentile organizations, often rejected lower-class Jews who did notpositively represent the Jewish community. The fraternities enforced proper etiquetteupon its members, including good dress, table manners and behavior. One fraternityharshly warned, "At least three hours (one-eighth) of your day is spent in eating. Makethose three hours an activity for men, not for animals." 96 The Jewish Greeks served asthe biggest critics of their Jewish brethren, holding them to impossible standards.The "Roaring Twenties" brought a new age to the Jewish Greek system, as massimmigration in the early 20 th century, provided the system with a plethora of college-agedstudents. Higher education also became more desirable and necessary for professionaltraining or work in the corporate world. Higher education was even more popular amongthose in the Jewish community. Although Jews only represented 3.5% of the population94 Sanua, 8595 Sanua, 8896 Sanua, 8824