Judaism and the Economy

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Judaism and the Economy

While the Jewish population is small, its impact on the economy is extensive. For a group of people making up less than two percent of the United States populace, Jews are certainly a topic of much conversation and controversy. For a race so often targeted negatively and used as a scapegoat, it is surprising to realize the Jewish hand in America today. A question circulating for a while is whether or not Jews control America; Jews rule the film industry, the news and communication business is a Jewish kingdom, the American financial industry is essentially a Jewish franchise, and the professions are so dominated by Jews its shocking, so where does their influence run out? While the idea that America is run by Jews is disputed, the fact that there is a disproportionate Jewish influence on the US and global economy in comparison to their size cannot be argued against. While their effect may be small, it is surely noticeable and non-ignorable. Though the Jews have been the focus of much hate and ignorance throughout history, it is undeniable that they have had an effect on the American stock market, the real estate market, and the public school system.

One area in which the Jewish lifestyle has made a clear impact is on the stock market. A known adage around the stock exchange is “sell Rosh Hashanah, buy Yom Kippur,” the saying highlights the seasonal weakness that habitually occurs between those two Jewish holidays. It's similar to the "Sell in May and go away" maxim. The market-related proverb originated decades ago when the common practice for Jewish investors to sell their stocks on Rosh Hashanah so they could focus on their prayers became known. Jewish investors, without the distraction of havin...

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