The Jews in Eastern Europe

From The Peopling of NYC

Nearly 4 million Jews were confined to the Pale of Settlement, which consisted of the 15 western provinces of European Russia and the 10 provinces of Russian-held Poland. Most lived in shetyl (small towns) within this area. The two most important institutions in the Jewish culture were (and still largely are): education and religion. Jews attended shul (temple) daily and read and studied the Torah on Shabbat (the Sabbath). There was a rigid separation of men and women in the culture as well. When Jews came to America, they brought their passion for education and religion with them.