First of all, this is not an antisemitic posting. I’m just curious of the how’s and why’s of so much early involvement by the Jewish community in the fur trade. Lots of furriers in small shops in NY. Out west HEGoldberg co was a major wild fur buyer since 1912. Just curious what the circumstances were to draw so many Jews into the trade.

Of course the irony of Israel banning fur is not lost on me.

A 1940’s furrier in London:

Montreal Fur trade in the glory days was dominated by Jewish Furriers.
A lot of Jews came to North America from Russia where fur was always dominant trade.

In much of Europe, Jews were banned from owning land. They became merchants.

If I had to guess the same reason they trafficked in diamonds, finances, and other goods.

Thomas Sowell has explained it many times as middlemen minorities. The jews in particular living in and alongside Christians were free to pursue financial activity denied the Christians due to the Church's absolute ban on usury. This gave them access to funds for speculation on the fur trade and fur can be high end commodities.

The oldest boy lives in St. Paul his first condo was the old fur center then a farmers market close to CHS field where the St.Paul Saints play. They had old photos in the hallway of the sorting process.

There were a number of Jewish fur buyers in Minnesota pre 1976, I’m not sure after.

Osky

That would be an interesting study. Lots of Greeks as well. Like others said, perhaps it was "just business" and being community minded, merchants/traders was an easy direction to move. In Louisville, KY, Christian immigrants from what's now Lebanon worked as ag/vegetable merchants on "haymarket" street. I put Haymarket in quotes because not only is it a real street, but a reference point that many cities had for a central point of farmers bringing goods to sell. Good question. The drive of an immigrant, not knowing the language, culture, and figuring out how to not only survive but thrive through hard work is the essence of America.

there was money to be made
that or to keep their wife happy that is really all their is to it
well some of both.

my grandfather was born a Jew in Chicago in the 20s
after WWII Navy he met my grandmother at a USO dance she was working in Chicago during the war first at Zenith making radios then in the office at Montgomery wards

almost any Jewish custom or tradition fits into money to be made and more often keeping the wife happy.

my grandmother , not a jew (Danish and Icelandic Lutheran) , thus my dad , uncle , aunt and our lineage despite how Hitler counted it we are not jews.

if your mother is not a jew you are not a jew , "keeping the wife happy" , sons need to marry Jewish women or get them to convert so that their kids can be Jews and keep his mother happy

as already pointed out because in Europe they could often not own land and because of the need to walk to temple they typically lived in cities

in that time period you live or died by the quality of your coat , it was a prized possession you wouldn't dare leave it any where (reference men and women tying to get their coats from the coat check at the dance hall fire in Berlin in the worst post WWII loss of life event)

many came from Russia or places that later became USSR as did my family so they knew fur , knew people needed it , they knew margins , needed some trade, and you could hire the unmarried women and some married women to sew for you.

all adds up to good business

Sold my first fur to Bill Schaefer., he knew fur and treated me fair.

I sold raw fur directly to Becker & Becker Fur Co as well as Feiner & Son located at 1211 Chestnut Philly. That was 1984-1986. Must be gone now, ‘possums 5.00 nose count, coon 24.00 fox 55.00 . Market crashed the following year. Was still learning the ropes then and only had a few dozen of each species. The old Jewish guy must have been 90, he loved grading raw fur, brought back memories for him, as I doubt they saw much raw fur come into their coat salon.

Israel banned fur?

Yeah, about 3 years ago. An exception was made for the fur hats that some of the observant jews wear. I think they're mostly sable.

There is a traditional fur hat the Jewish people wear and it’s very spendy funny they would ban what’s a big part of their culture.

There are exceptions for religious and educational articles.

My family having been in the Fur Buisness since the 20's and all out of NYC I have never met a Major NYC player in my life that was not Jewish. They were the Fur Buisness!

In the South, many Jewish families were in the clothing business.

Why couldn't Jews own land?

Youd have to be careful a bird or squirrel didnt make a nest in that thing,lol.

I'm sure there was no rational reason for the prohibition, other than anti-Semitism.

And cotton brokers. Basically anything in finance or needing finance.