Why did stories about ghetto life remain a major genre in Hebrew literature until the mid-20th century?

Stories about ghetto life remained a prominent genre in Hebrew literature until the mid-20th century primarily due to the influence of key literary figures who established the genre as a way to depict Jewish life with authenticity and traditional values.1

Writers such as Mendele Mokher Sefarim were instrumental in this trend. By incorporating Hebrew and Aramaic phrases from the Talmud, Mendele was able to capture a sense of homeliness and realism that resonated deeply with readers. His success in depicting the realities of the ghetto ensured that this style became a model for a subsequent group of writers, cementing its popularity for decades.1

Furthermore, these narratives served as a vital medium for exploring the tensions between Jewish tradition and the pressures of Western modernity. By focusing on the ghetto, authors could examine human problems and the inner struggles of a generation navigating its relationship with Judaism and changing social norms. This focus on the communal and psychological life of the ghetto remained a central preoccupation of Hebrew letters until the mid-20th century, when the landscape of Hebrew literature shifted following the Holocaust and the establishment of the State of Israel.213