Village Jews

Between City and Village

Some Jews lived in remote villages, surrounded by Christian peasants. In these villages, they worked in farming, ran taverns, or managed land for the nobility. Meanwhile, the Jews in shtetls often viewed their rural counterparts with a touch of mockery.

Unlike the shtetl residents, rural Jews were rarely involved in cultural or communal activities. When they occasionally visited the shtetl, they supposedly stood out with their rougher manners, simpler clothing, and even their physical strength. Reading accounts from that time, one gets the impression that they were less knowledgeable about the Torah and Jewish customs. In short, to the townspeople, they seemed less refined and educated.

This gave rise to jokes about rural Jews. One such joke goes: “The son of a rural Jew is called on to wrap the Torah scroll after the reading is concluded. When he steps up to the bimah, he is asked whether he knows how this is done. He responds: “I’ve moved bigger logs than this.”