1882

The New Jerusalem

“The New Jerusalem, Formerly New York” on pages 8-9 of "The Judge," Vol. 2, No. 39 Created by James Albert Wales. Accessed at Internet Archive:
https://archive.org/details/sim_judge_1882-07-22_2_39/page/8/mode/2up

Judge was a weekly magazine published in New York from 1881 until 1947. It was launched by artists who had seceded from its rival Puck. The well-known American-born cartoonist James Albert Wales, who died in 1886, stoked fears about how Jewish immigrants would change the city’s character. Wales portrayed New York as becoming, by 1900, the “New Jerusalem,” where Canal Street would be renamed “Levi Street,” Jewish-owned businesses would replace Christian ones and a Jewish feather merchant would serve as the city’s mayor. He portrayed long-nosed Jewish soldiers as a militia of pawnbrokers parading down Broadway. They were seen to be supplanting the so-called bluebloods of the famed 7th Regiment of the New York Militia, the city’s prestigious national guard founded in 1806 and mustered into federal service during the Civil War. This satiric depiction envisions Jews having taken over New York City- soldiers with stereotypical Jewish features marching along ‘Levi Street’ (formerly Canal Street) with all storefronts bearing Jewish names. 

Below is a list of key pieces of information related to the above image:

1. The late 19th century saw a significant increase in Jewish immigration to the United States, particularly from Eastern Europe. 
2. Many nativist and anti-immigrant sentiments emerged, with concerns about changing demographics and cultural shifts. 
3. This cartoon plays into fears that Jewish immigrants would dominate American society. 
4. The marching soldiers wearing blue uniforms with red badges could be a satirical representation of a "Jewish militia" enforcing control. 
5. The flag with "S.P.Q.R. Guards" (a reference to ancient Rome) and the phrase "Formerly the Police" suggests that the established institutions have been replaced. 
6. The names on the buildings have been changed to Jewish-sounding names, emphasizing the supposed transformation of the city. 
7. The restaurant sign "Max Rosenzweig American Restaurant" with Hebrew letters plays on the fear that Jewish culture would overtake American traditions. 
8. The cartoon reflects the broader anti-Semitic attitudes of the time, portraying Jewish immigrants as taking over political and economic power. 
9. The aggressive scene on the left, where a Jewish officer appears to be physically assaulting a non-Jewish man, reinforces fears of Jewish dominance and oppression.