Mapping the Jewish family

When did the Jews get married? Who lived with whom in a Jewish household? Could poor young Torah scholars really marry into wealthy families and enjoy kest? Last but not least, was there such a thing as a “traditional Jewish family”? If you have ever asked yourself these questions, check out my new paper, Mapping the Jewish family in eighteenth-century east-central Europe. Diversity, unity and in-law-equality” (DOI: 10.1080/1081602X.2025.2549328).

Census data on over 100,000 Jews living in East Central Europe reveals significant variations in marriage patterns, domestic service and household composition. Clustering methods suggest three primary regional family models. Their boundaries largely coincide with Prussian and Habsburgs’ residential policies towards Jews, leaseholding patterns, and the reach of Yiddish dialects.

Available in Open Access via The History of the Family.