--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The distinction that Jews have themselves…" description: "\"The distinction that Jews have themselves always made between Jews of German origin and Jews of East European origin is as stringent as that between Bo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/163/diana-trilling-27127_boston_the-distinction-that-jews-have-themselve_104391.png" --- # The distinction that Jews have themselves always made… ![“The distinction that Jews have themselves always made between Jews of German origin and Jews of East European origin is as stringent as that between Boston Brahmin and Boston lace-curtain Irish, though much finer.” quote by Diana Trilling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/163/diana-trilling-27127_boston_the-distinction-that-jews-have-themselve_104391.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/163/diana-trilling-27127_boston_the-distinction-that-jews-have-themselve_104391.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/163/diana-trilling-27127_boston_the-distinction-that-jews-have-themselve_104391.png) > “The distinction that Jews have themselves always made between Jews of German origin and Jews of East European origin is as stringent as that between Boston Brahmin and Boston lace-curtain Irish, though much finer.” [Diana Trilling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-trilling/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Jewish communities historically distinguished between German‑origin and Eastern‑European Jews with a granularity similar to Boston’s elite versus working‑class Irish divisions. **In simple terms:** Jewish groups had fine internal class lines. Key Takeaway Ethnic subgroups can be sharply stratified. Themes identity class ethnicity social stratification Mood analytical critical Type sociological historical When to use this quote - academic discussions on diaspora - community organizing - genealogical research Key Concepts in-group hierarchy Practical Applications - recognize intra‑group diversity - avoid monolithic assumptions Questions to Reflect On - How do internal classifications affect collective political power? - Can acknowledging sub‑identities foster inclusion? A Different Perspective Such distinctions may reinforce division rather than solidarity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Boston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boston/) [Brahmins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brahmins/) [Distinction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distinction/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Jew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jew/) [Jews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jews/) [Judaism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judaism/) ## Related quotes > [My response was that more than half of Israelis are of Sephardic origin. 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The death penalty laws' wrathful majesty, in blood-shot equality, deals the fatal blow on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/v-r-krishna-iyer/our-legal-system-including-the-police-is-anti-dalit-and-anti-poor-the/) V. R. Krishna Iyer > [While all men are born as equals, to say that Brahmins alone are the highest and all others are low as Pariah (the Untouchables)…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/periyar-e-v-ramasamy/while-all-men-are-born-as-equals-to-say-that-brahmins-alone-are-the/) [Periyar E. V. Ramasamy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/periyar-e-v-ramasamy/) ## More by Diana Trilling > [At best-which is to say, even where our knowledge of a case comes to us only through courtroom evidence-it is difficult for the legal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-trilling/at-best-which-is-to-say-even-where-our-knowledge-of-a-case-comes-to/) [Diana Trilling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-trilling/) > [Ideology is the sterner face of myth and we're a myth-making people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-trilling/ideology-is-the-sterner-face-of-myth-and-we-re-a-myth-making-people/) [Diana Trilling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-trilling/) > [Surely going to bed with a man before marriage was the most courageous act of my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-trilling/surely-going-to-bed-with-a-man-before-marriage-was-the-most/) [Diana Trilling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-trilling/) > [We lived our lives as if life was forever. 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They are entirely different neighborhoods.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-swanson-goodreads-author/mom-i-live-in-the-south-end-not-south-boston-they-are-entirely/) Peter Swanson (Goodreads Author > [I think there are four or five interesting pockets where a lot of cool technology companies are getting started. Chicago is one of them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-lefkofsky/i-think-there-are-four-or-five-interesting-pockets-where-a-lot-of/) [Eric Lefkofsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-lefkofsky/) > [I love cooking but I still always go and sneak a little bit of sides from Boston Market, and it's so good. 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