New Books in Sociology The Shtetl: Myth and Reality with Samuel Kassow
Feb 27, 2026
Samuel Kassow, historian of Eastern European Jewry and YIVO research historian, examines the real and imagined shtetl. He contrasts nostalgic portrayals with critical perspectives. He traces origins, social institutions, markets, and economic life. He explores modern changes: migration, politics, and cultural renewal in interwar towns.
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Shmuel de Americana Tales Back Home
- Kassow recounts his grandfather's nickname "Shmuel de Americana" who lived in New York then returned and entertained shtetl Jews with tales of American life.
- The grandfather mocked New York bread as "tasted like cotton," reinforcing shtetl identity and homesickness.
Poland As Cradle Of The Shtetl
- The shtetl's origins lie in the Polish Commonwealth where Jewish population exploded from 30,000 (1500) to ~750,000 (1767), later forming the heart of Ashkenazi Jewry.
- Kassow links this growth to relative Jewish stability and institutions in Poland compared with expulsions elsewhere.
Nobility Built Shtetls As Company Towns
- Polish nobles created and owned many shtetls as company towns, using Jewish leaseholders (arenda) to monetize forests, taverns, and estates.
- The noble-owned shtetl often gave Jews more protection than municipally governed towns with hostile Christian merchants.
