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SSStttooonnnyyy BBBrrrooooookkk UUUnnniiivvveeerrrsssiiitttyyy The official electronic file of this thesis or dissertation is maintained by the University Libraries on behalf of The Graduate School at Stony Brook University. ©©© AAAllllll RRRiiiggghhhtttsss RRReeessseeerrrvvveeeddd bbbyyy AAAuuuttthhhooorrr... “A Sport at which Jews Excel”: Jewish Basketball in American Society, 1900-1951 A Dissertation Presented by Arieh Sclar to The Graduate School in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in History Stony Brook University May 2008 Copyright by Arieh Sclar 2008 Stony Brook University The Graduate School Arieh Sclar We, the dissertation committee for the above candidate for the Doctor of Philosophy degree, hereby recommend acceptance of this dissertation. Shirley Jennifer Lim – Dissertation Advisor Professor, History Department Nancy Tomes – Chairperson of Defense Professor, History Department April Masten Professor, History Department Hasia Diner, Paul and Sylvia Steinberg Professor American Jewish History, New York University This dissertation is accepted by the Graduate School Lawrence Martin Dean of the Graduate School ii Abstract of the Dissertation “A Sport at which Jews Excel”: Jewish Basketball in American Society, 1900-1951 by Arieh Sclar Doctor of Philosophy in History Stony Brook University 2008 Between 1900 and 1951, Jews played an important role in the development of basketball in American society. A Jewish basketball culture emerged both from an ‘Americanization’ project intended to facilitate immigrant adjustment and from a Jewish project that sought to normalize Jewish masculinity through sport. Jewish basketball flourished within the public space of American society as an inter-connected network of local neighborhoods, independent clubs, Jewish centers, public schools, colleges, and professional basketball. As it grew, Jewish basketball confronted internal and external tensions, which complicated its role in American Jewish life. Due to a complex interplay of cultural and political factors that arose from the effort to unite a fragmented American Jewish community, the culture eventually diminished, but not before Jews had helped transform basketball from a marginal sport into a mass, commercialized spectacle. During the interwar period, public recognition of Jewish basketball led both Jews and non-Jews to describe basketball as a uniquely ‘Jewish game.’ The ‘Jewish game’ existed not simply because of the prevalence of Jewish players, but also because Jews were considered inherently good at basketball. This led to the construction of a racialized ‘basketball Jew,’ whose small, but quick body and mental agility produced the ideal basketball player. By considering the connection between racial identity and athleticism, this study of Jewish basketball will help reveal the relationship between sport and American Jewish culture, which involved play on the court and the meanings associated with this play. Jewish basketball reflected the experiences of American Jews during the first half of the twentieth century as they moved from being viewed as an ‘alien’ immigrant iii group to a relatively accepted minority within mainstream society. This dissertation will examine how the negotiations and power struggles involved in controlling the direction of, and the meanings associated with, Jewish basketball elucidate the complexities of a developing American Jewish community under the stress of integration. iv Table of Contents Acknowledgments………………………………………………………………..vi Introduction……………………………………………………………………….1 Chapter One: The Beginning of Jewish Basketball……………………...………13 Chapter Two: The Emergence of Jewish Basketball…………………………….63 Chapter Three: From Caged to Court Jews…………………………………….103 Chapter Four: “Mental Agility” not “Physical Strength”………………………140 Chapter Five: “We Are Average Americans”…………………………………..184 Chapter Six: The End of an Era………………………………………………...222 Epilogue………………………………………………………………………...266 Bibliography……………………………………………………………………272 v Acknowledgments Throughout this process, I have received support and assistance from many individuals. First and foremost, I would like to thank my advisor Shirley Jennifer Lim, who provided sound theoretical and methodological advice throughout the writing process. Shirley guided me through difficult racial concepts and helped me gain invaluable insight into the theoretical tools which allowed me to see connections between race and sport that previously escaped my attention. I would also like to thank the other members of my committee. Nancy Tomes brought an enthusiasm to the project that renewed my own energy and vigor and her understanding of consumer society and cultural meanings attached to the physical body. April Masten provided critical structural and grammatical help, which was often needed more than I would have liked to admit. Finally, to Hasia Diner, who over the years has provided assistance beyond all expectations. I thank the entire committee for providing essential support and encouragement throughout the researching and writing process. I am grateful for the help and support I received from the History Department at Stony Brook University, including Susan Grumet and Pat Klosowicz. I would also like to thank Robert Goldenberg for lending an ear from time to time. My fellow students have served as sounding boards to my enthusiastic ramblings about Jewish basketball. I would especially like to thank Greg Jackson, Lynn Rubin, James Nichols, and Eric Cimino. Librarians and archivists at a number of institutions provided valuable assistance during the project. I would like to thank those at Joseph and Miriam Ratner Center for the Study of Conservative Judaism at the Jewish Theological Seminary, the University of Minnesota Social Welfare Archives, the Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives, and the American Jewish Historical Society. In particular, I would like to thank a number of individuals whose assistance went above and beyond. The staff at the New York Public Library’s Jewish Division was invaluable in helping locate materials. In particular, Eleanor Yadin provided personal and engaging assistance. I would also like to thanks Matt Zeysing of the Basketball Hall of Fame and Sydney van Nort at the City College of New York Archive. Steve Siegel’s assistance at the 92 nd Street Y was essential in providing assistance and guidance in wading through the archive’s expansive and diverse holdings. I would like to thank Cynthia Allen, Meir Ribalow, Michael Feldberg, and George Blumenthal for all contributing to the Jews in Sports web site, without which I would not have started this project. In addition, I would like to thank Ari Kelman for his encouragement, Linda Borish and Jeffrey Gurock for their support. Most importantly, I would like to thank my family. My parents, Abe and Nancy Sclar provided a love of learning at an early age and encouraged my intellectual and academic growth. My brother David Sclar, who helped me think clearly and readings various drafts. My brother-in-law Ken Gold helped me work through some difficult spots and provided assistance in navigating graduate school and the dissertation process. To Avital, my wonderful and beautiful daughter, whose mere presence inspired me to complete this dissertation. Finally, I dedicate this work to my amazing wife Rachael. Her love, support, patience, and willingness to listen to my infinite theories and ideas gave me the inspiration to work through the difficult stages and charge ahead to the finish. Introduction Between 1900 and 1951, Jews played an important role in the development of basketball in American society. A Jewish basketball culture emerged from both an ‘Americanization’ project intended to facilitate immigrant adjustment and from a Jewish project that sought to normalize Jewish masculinity through sport. Jewish basketball flourished within the public space of American society as an inter-connected network of local neighborhoods, independent clubs, Jewish centers, public schools, colleges, and professional basketball. As it grew, Jewish basketball confronted internal and external tensions, which complicated its role in American Jewish life. Due to a complex interplay of cultural and political factors that arose from the effort to unite a fragmented American Jewish community, the culture eventually diminished, but not before Jews had helped transform basketball from a marginal sport into a mass, commercialized spectacle. This study examines the role of both individual Jews and Jewish basketball culture in the development of basketball. It will ask how the evolution of Jewish basketball reflected the experiences of American Jews during the first half of the twentieth century as they moved from being an ‘alien’ immigrant group to an accepted minority within mainstream society. Basketball emerged from an American sport culture constructed in the late nineteenth century. Not until after the Civil War did middle class and elite Americans begin to believe that competitive sport could develop character, manhood, and moral behavior. The closing of the frontier, mass immigration, urbanization, and industrialization transformed American society. Many people, especially the northeastern elite, looked for new ways to develop masculine Americans and argued that team sports such as football taught physical and moral courage, teamwork, and fair play, and thus produced “healthy, moral, and strong” 1 Americans. Sport also became connected to Anglo-Saxon