Summary and Opinion of More Sources

I decided to focus on a few smaller points while researching the broader subject of American Jewish immigration. One particular aspect that interested me was American Jewish music. As the source The Jews of North America (Moses Rischin) enlightened for me, professional folk music connected to this religion is named klezmer in Yiddish (a language which is a mixture of German and Hebrew). Ukrainian folklore also had an effect on this music, assimilating with established American folk traditions during the 1880s. Klezmer music primarily finds its influence from Eastern European cultures, and one important derivation from this culture is doina. This is a Middle Eastern (but has assimilated into a Romanian) tradition of melancholy gypsy music, which was often played as a eulogy but after developed into wedding music (as well as other life cycle events such as bar/bat mitzvahs or circumcision ceremonies), which is the genre it is now associated with. Klezmer music was originally only played at festivals and ceremonies, but eventually evolved into concert music
Before further demonstrating the different aspects of Jewish immigrant music, the fact must be accentuated that this music has assimilated over time through its dispersal through numerous cultures and countries. One of the most important informational elements to consider while studying the topic of klezmer and American Jewish music is that of the assimilation of it through different societal systems.
Jewish immigrants to America also formed organizations to protect the central aspects of their culture, such as their connection to Israel. One such association is (it still functions) B'nai B'rith International, which means "Children of the Covenant" in Hebrew. In 1843, BBI was established by 12 Jewish immigrants at a cafe in the Lower East Side of New York. It was primarily organized to offer social services to Jewish communities, such as pensions for poor women, or aiding those affected by natural disasters. They also erected public buildings such as the Maimonides Library or the Cleveland Jewish Orphan Home shortly following the Civil War. It not only helped the financial security of Jews in America, but it also helped them in finding jobs and constructed municipal buildings for the benefit of both gentile and Jewish communities.
Bibliography  
The Jews of North America by Moses Rischin



http://www.bnaibrith.org/about_us/bbi_roots.cfm

the first picture is a copy of the initiation form from the B'nai B'rith organisation in the late 1800s.
the second picture is a poster for a Yiddish- American klezmer music band that was established in the early 1900s, and were quite successful

I think that the information that I learned while researching this was exceedingly interesting, because I was not aware of American Jewish social services and help such as BBI. Also, I found investigation of klezmer music particularly intriguing, because of my own appreciation of music and the cultural nuances within this aspect of the Jewish faith. I am eager to learn more about klezmer music, especially the ways in which Easter European ethnology has influenced and altered it. I think that I will focus mainly on the culinary (due to my interest in numerous cultural foods) and the businesses that the Jews eventually adopted when coming to America. I am indeed interested so far in my research of Jewish American culture and music.