19 th century Jewry is centered in East Europe .
People marry at age fourteen and have large families.
The Jewish population explodes. Due to industrialization and urbanization, the region experiences mass population shifts and concentrations. These forces serve to weaken identity, family ties, and Jewish communal structure. The Rabbinate is not able to provide central management for the population centers and their influence declines. The anti-Semitic Czar ist government seeks to unhinge the Jews and Judaism.