History has shown that during the 17th through the 20th centuries, especially in Poland and Russia, the Jews were desperately poor and had very little, if any, influence in business or political systems.
Sa kasaysayan ng mundo mula noong ikalabimpito hanggang sa ikadalawampung siglo, lalo na sa Poland at Rusya, ang mga Hudyo ay napakahirap at salat sa lahat ng bagay at wala o napaka-kaunti lamang ng impluwensya nila sa kalakalan at pulitika.