Jewish identity and attitudes toward militarism in Scotland c.1898 to the 1920s
This thesis concerns Scottish Jewish participation and non-participation with the military, primarily during the Great War, and the connection to Jewish integration and interaction with Scottish society. Within British Jewish historiography, Scottish Jews receive little attention in relation to military activity, and what has been written about Scottish Jewry predominantly focuses on participation and patriotism. This thesis re-examines Scottish Jewish participation in the military, and it explores both legal and illegal non-participation in order to provide a balanced evaluation of Scottish Jewry. This investigation of both participation and non-participation furthermore reveals a divide within Scottish Jewry between the establishment and immigrant sectors that presented a challenge for Jewish integration. Through examining attitudes toward militarism during the Great War, this thesis uncovers persistent anti-Jewish sentiment heightened by a tense wartime atmosphere to levels previously unknown in Scotland. Evidence of this tension between Scots and Jews, previously overlooked, is found primarily in the Scottish press which provided frustrated Scots with a place to complain, but also offered the Jewish community
Hansen, Kirk
Jewish identity and attitudes toward militarism in Scotland c.1898 to the 1920s. This thesis concerns Scottish Jewish participation and non-participation with the military, primarily during the Great War, and the connection to Jewish integration and interaction with Scottish society. Within British Jewish historiography, Scottish Jews receive little attention in relation to military activity, and what has been written about Scottish Jewry predominantly focuses on participation and patriotism. This thesis re-examines Scottish Jewish participation in the military, and it explores both legal and illegal non-participation in order to provide a balanced evaluation of Scottish Jewry. This investigation of both participation and non-participation furthermore reveals a divide within Scottish Jewry between the establishment and immigrant sectors that presented a challenge for Jewish integration. Through examining attitudes toward militarism during the Great War, this thesis uncovers persistent anti-Jewish sentiment heightened by a tense wartime atmosphere to levels previously unknown in Scotland. Evidence of this tension between Scots and Jews, previously overlooked, is found primarily in the Scottish press which provided frustrated Scots with a place to complain, but also offered the Jewish community
jewish_identity attitude_toward militarism scotland concern scottish jewish participation non participation military primarily great_war connection jewish integration interaction scottish_society within british jewish historiography scottish jews receive_little_attention relation military_activity write scottish predominantly_focus participation patriotism re_examines scottish jewish participation military explore legal illegal non participation order_provide balance evaluation scottish investigation participation non participation furthermore reveals divide within scottish establishment immigrant sector present challenge jewish integration examine attitude_toward militarism great_war uncovers persistent anti jewish sentiment heighten tense wartime atmosphere level previously_unknown scotland evidence tension scots jews previously_overlook find primarily scottish press provide scots place complain also_offer jewish_community