Oberlander Jews
Encyclopedia
Oberlander Jews are Ashkenazi, Yiddish- and German
-speaking Jews originating in the Oberland
or higher land western region of Hungary
and the district surrounding Pozsony. This is as opposed to Unterlander Jews, who resided in the eastern lower lands on the opposite side of the Danube River and were influenced more by the Hasidic movement.
while rather contemporary. Most wore contemporary clothing, spoke Hungarian however educated their children within a traditional Jewish religious framework, together with academic subjects as taught in Hungarian. Oberlander Judaism was most similar to classic German pre-emancipation Orthodoxy. One very distinct custom, or minhag
, that some Oberlanders adhered to was the wearing of a talis
prior to marriage, as German Jews do today. Another is putting on tefilin on the intermediate days of a festival. Oberlander Jews have contributed strongly to present-day Orthodox Jewish communities. Generally, Oberlander Jews were more likely to remain Orthodox than other Ashkenazim after post-World War II
immigration to North America
. Many of this group have joined Hasidic groups such as Vizhnitz after World War II. Others educated their children in the Lithuanian style yeshiva or in Israel, where they no longer maintain all of the customs and do not speak Hungarian or German. Therefore, being an Oberlander is no longer a significant distinction among Jews, as in pre-World War II
Europe.
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
-speaking Jews originating in the Oberland
Oberland
Oberland may refer to: Germany*Oberland am Rennsteig, Sonneberg, Thuringia, Germany*Vogtländisches Oberland, Greiz, Thuringia, Germany*In East Prussia, the Elbląg Canal was named Oberländischer KanalSwitzerland...
or higher land western region of Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
and the district surrounding Pozsony. This is as opposed to Unterlander Jews, who resided in the eastern lower lands on the opposite side of the Danube River and were influenced more by the Hasidic movement.
Background and customs
Many were Haredi while not Hasidic, others were OrthodoxOrthodox Judaism
Orthodox Judaism , is the approach to Judaism which adheres to the traditional interpretation and application of the laws and ethics of the Torah as legislated in the Talmudic texts by the Sanhedrin and subsequently developed and applied by the later authorities known as the Gaonim, Rishonim, and...
while rather contemporary. Most wore contemporary clothing, spoke Hungarian however educated their children within a traditional Jewish religious framework, together with academic subjects as taught in Hungarian. Oberlander Judaism was most similar to classic German pre-emancipation Orthodoxy. One very distinct custom, or minhag
Minhag
Minhag is an accepted tradition or group of traditions in Judaism. A related concept, Nusach , refers to the traditional order and form of the prayers...
, that some Oberlanders adhered to was the wearing of a talis
Talis
Talis is a Latin adjective meaning "such, of such a sort", and may refer to:*Talis , a football player for Beitar Jerusalem*Talis , a genus of moths of the Crambidae family*Talis bag, a bag in which to carry one's talis...
prior to marriage, as German Jews do today. Another is putting on tefilin on the intermediate days of a festival. Oberlander Jews have contributed strongly to present-day Orthodox Jewish communities. Generally, Oberlander Jews were more likely to remain Orthodox than other Ashkenazim after post-World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
immigration to North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
. Many of this group have joined Hasidic groups such as Vizhnitz after World War II. Others educated their children in the Lithuanian style yeshiva or in Israel, where they no longer maintain all of the customs and do not speak Hungarian or German. Therefore, being an Oberlander is no longer a significant distinction among Jews, as in pre-World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Europe.
See also
- Upper HungaryUpper HungaryUpper Hungary is the usual English translation for the area that was historically the northern part of the Kingdom of Hungary, now mostly present-day Slovakia...
- History of the Jews in SlovakiaHistory of the Jews in SlovakiaBefore World War II, 135,000 Jews lived in Slovakia. Some emigrated before the war, but most were killed in deportation. After the Slovak Republic proclaimed its independence in March 1939 under the protection of Nazi Germany, Slovakia began a series of measures aimed against the Jews in the...
- History of the Jews in Carpathian RutheniaHistory of the Jews in Carpathian Ruthenia- 20th century census data:The last antebellum census in Hungary, 1910. The four counties of Hungary that coveredthe territory what we now call Carpathian Ruthenia were Ung, Bereg, Ugocsa and Máramaros....
- History of the Jews in HungaryHistory of the Jews in HungaryHungarian Jews have existed since at least the 11th century. After struggling against discrimination throughout the Middle Ages, by the early 20th century the community grew to be 5% of Hungary's population , and were prominent in science, the arts and business...
- Carpathian GermansCarpathian GermansCarpathian Germans , sometimes simply called Slovak Germans , are a group of German language speakers on the territory of present-day Slovakia...
- Vien chassidim