De joden in Amsterdam

SUMMARY

The preceding work described the way in which a representative sample taken at random from the entire Jewish population of Amsterdam of 18 years and older was questioned concerning the actions, attitudes and feelings in relation to their being Jews.

Out of a population of 12,600 of 18 years and older — all recorded on a so-called master list - 210 persons selected at random were interviewed according to the questionnaire printed in the appendix. Our starting point were the following 4 hypotheses:

a.    During the time of the inquiry, 1963/1964, the specific Jewish customs will be observed to a lesser degree by the descendants of the Jewish community in Amsterdam than by the previous generation.

b.    Certain occupational groups, namely the textile and jewellers’ business and the professions will be found proportionately in a greater measure among the members of the Jewish group to be examined by us than the rest of the Amsterdam population.

c.    Those active in the occupational groups mentioned in hypothesis b (hereafter to be called „Jewish professions”) will generally be less dissatisfied with their status as Jews than those Jews active in the other occupations.

d.    Jews with less „Jewish knowledge” will generally be less satisfied with their status as Jews than those possessing more Jewish knowledge.

Some of the most remarkable data found are:

1. There is a tendency that all specifically Jewish traditions are without exception less intensively followed by the present gene

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