JL;DR

During the Jazz Age, from 1918 to 1929, Jewish Americans played a pivotal role in cultural developments and dealt with significant societal challenges. In the aftermath of World War I, immigration restrictions such as the Emergency Quota Act and the Immigration Act of 1924 limited Eastern European Jewish migration, amidst rising antisemitism epitomized by incidents like Henry Ford’s distribution of antisemitic propaganda and the activities of the Ku Klux Klan. Despite this, Jewish influence in entertainment blossomed, with Jewish musicians and producers prominent in Tin Pan Alley and Hollywood. They left a profound mark with cultural phenomena such as "The Jazz Singer," which showcased the tension between assimilation and cultural preservation. Conversely, the Prohibition era saw the emergence of Jewish organized crime groups, like the Purple Gang, as key players in bootlegging operations, reflecting the complex social dynamics within Jewish communities during this transformative decade.