So what if the Ripper was Jewish?

[Damaso Marte]

To Harry

Why would the Ripper be Jewish? The only reason people suspect that the Ripper was Jewish is because of the GSG, which in my opinion is a red herring.

Cheers John

The GSG can be interpreted as either being anti-Semitic or philo-Semitic. I think that tells you all you need to know about its usefulness as a piece of evidence.

In any event, it's certainly plausible that the Ripper was Jewish. There were Jews living in the area and one possible victim was killed outside of a Jewish club. Chapman's killer potentially had a foreign accent as well, and the % of foreigners in London that were Jewish was even higher than the % of London that was Jewish. Apart from this there's not much meaningful evidence about the ethnicity of the killer (ethnicity rather than religion - there's no religion that condones serial killing). If the killer was in fact jewish and the police covered it up to avoid a pogrom, that's probably the right moral decision.

In any event there's no reliable evidence for the idea that a Jewish suspect was put away and covered up. The police memoirs are horribly contradictory of each other and they're the only evidence where, after I read it, I feel like I know even less about the case.

[Harry D]

Hello Errata,

I believe the map shows that the area was not predominantly populated by Jews, however I would say it was significantly populated by Jews compared to the general scarcity of Jews.

Whitechapel was predominantly a Jewish area, according to that map, at least.

My objection isn't the religion. No religious person does this, whatever faith they subscribe to.

The history books say otherwise.

It's the socialist community adopted by Eastern European Jews that seems not to lend itself to these crimes. Everything belongs to everyone, including information and personal details. It is very hard to keep a secret, and those that do immediately stand out.

Knowing and suspecting are two different things. But given the brutal nature of the murders, would the close-knit Jewish community bring themselves to believe that one of their own could commit such crimes? Let alone shop him to the British authorities, whom they already mistrusted?

That is an interesting map, Harry. Is there anywhere one can view it at a larger resolution? Can't quite make out the legend at that size.

Cheers!
Harry

Sure,

http://www.movinghere.org.uk/deliveryfiles/JML/2002.25/0/1.pdf

[Harry the Hawker]

That is an interesting map, Harry. Is there anywhere one can view it at a larger resolution? Can't quite make out the legend at that size.

Cheers!
Harry

[Errata]

Hello John,



What would satisfy you as 'evidence' then?



Not my primary source, but this might interest you:

I believe the map shows that the area was not predominantly populated by Jews, however I would say it was significantly populated by Jews compared to the general scarcity of Jews. I don't think there has ever been a time since the 10th century that Jews have made up more than 1% of the population on this planet, so an area of London where 25% of the population is Jewish is astounding. That being said, it does not mean the majority of the area was Jewish, just that a comparatively large area was Jewish. It's a ratio thing.

Of course given everything we know abut Jack the Ripper, Victorian London, the LVP, it turns out that the statistics are useless. Either he was or he was not Jewish. We don't know who he was, we don't know where he came from, we don't know where he lived... we can make educated guesses, but in the end, either he was or he wasn't.

Given what I know of Jewish communities in the LVP, I tend to think he was not Jewish, simply because the eastern European Jewish notion of adulthood and privacy was (and still is) very different from a British Protestant sense of adulthood and privacy. In other words, we are a nosy lot who tend to view our children as children long past the time other cultures see their children as adults. We tend towards "boundary issues". I think Jack had to operate under an amount of secrecy that seems unsustainable in Jewish culture. My objection isn't the religion. No religious person does this, whatever faith they subscribe to. It's the socialist community adopted by Eastern European Jews that seems not to lend itself to these crimes. Everything belongs to everyone, including information and personal details. It is very hard to keep a secret, and those that do immediately stand out.

But I lean in this direction. I do not stand in this camp.

[Harry D]

Hello John,

That's all well and good but there's no evidence to suggest the Ripper was Jewish.

What would satisfy you as 'evidence' then?

Just out of interest what source have you got for Whitechapel being predominantly populated by Jewish immigrants?

Not my primary source, but this might interest you:

[John Wheat]

That's not the only reason, John. Whitechapel was predominantly populated by Jewish immigrants. The Double Event murders happened nearby Jewish social clubs. Leather Apron was said to be a Jew (and again we have evidence of the police covering up the truth for fear of anti-semitism, as they lied about catching him). And, of course, we have "Kosminski" or the "low-class Polish Jew" from the police memoirs named as the Ripper. So that's a common thread that runs through the entire case.

To Harry

That's all well and good but there's no evidence to suggest the Ripper was Jewish. Just out of interest what source have you got for Whitechapel being predominantly populated by Jewish immigrants?

Cheers John

[Harry D]

To Harry

Why would the Ripper be Jewish? The only reason people suspect that the Ripper was Jewish is because of the GSG, which in my opinion is a red herring.

That's not the only reason, John. Whitechapel was predominantly populated by Jewish immigrants. The Double Event murders happened nearby Jewish social clubs. Leather Apron was said to be a Jew (and again we have evidence of the police covering up the truth for fear of anti-semitism, as they lied about catching him). And, of course, we have "Kosminski" or the "low-class Polish Jew" from the police memoirs named as the Ripper. So that's a common thread that runs through the entire case.

[John Wheat]

To Harry

Why would the Ripper be Jewish? The only reason people suspect that the Ripper was Jewish is because of the GSG, which in my opinion is a red herring.

Cheers John

[Harry D]

I doubt the Ripper was Jewish.

Hello John,

What leads you to this conclusion?

[tji]

Hi Patrick

Not really that I am aware of. For me and Jimi we are looking into a few avenues but to be honest even I will be surprised if anything comes out of them!

Probably best posting to one of the Jacob Levy thread to be honest Patrick, you know what the sticklers are like with off topic.

Tracy

Patrick I have bumped up the Jacob the Ripper? thread if you do have any questions.

[Patrick S]

I'm up to speed on that info. Was just wondering if there was something new that's not generally known. Always interested in any new info and/or ideas. When I have time, I'll re-read, though. Look to pick up something I may have missed. I'll post questions here! Thanks.

[tji]

Hey Harry

Jacob Levy.

Hi Patrick

I'm quite interested in Levy, as well. Any new information?

How new? Have you read the Jacob Levy thread on the message boards? Also not sure if you have read the original thread Jacob the Ripper? (with the question mark) it isn't in the Jacob Levy tab as it was started before he his own thread.
I do think the article in the Ripperologist 124 would be your best bet now though as it is free. All the factual information is there.

Tracy

[John Wheat]

I doubt the Ripper was Jewish.

[Patrick S]

Jacob Levy.

I'm quite interested in Levy, as well. Any new information?

[Harry D]

Do you believe that a Jewish suspect was quietly locked up for the murders?

If so, who?

Jacob Levy.