This is a photo of Jewish men training at a colony designed to train Jews to farm (Woodbine, NJ, North of Cape May).
Sarah Imhoff: "It [the photo] suggested so many of the themes about manliness I had seen: farming the land, physical fitness, clean dress, and a general decorum and orderliness. But it also hints at the weirdness (and even impossibility) of gender expectations. These men are supposed to be both clean and rugged, to be workers but to be genteel."
(24) When her time to give birth was at hand, there were twins in her womb. (25) The first one emerged red, like a hairy mantle all over; so they named him Esau. (26) Then his brother emerged, holding on to the heel of Esau; so they named him Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when they were born. (27) When the boys grew up, Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the outdoors; but Jacob was a mild man who stayed in camp. (28) Isaac favored Esau because he had a taste for game; but Rebekah favored Jacob. (29) Once when Jacob was cooking a stew, Esau came in from the open, famished. (30) And Esau said to Jacob, “Give me some of that red stuff to gulp down, for I am famished”—which is why he was named Edom. (31) Jacob said, “First sell me your birthright.” (32) And Esau said, “I am at the point of death, so of what use is my birthright to me?” (33) But Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. (34) Jacob then gave Esau bread and lentil stew; he ate and drank, and he rose and went away. Thus did Esau spurn the birthright.
Talmud Ketubot 63a (As quoted by David Eber in "A Reflection on Jewish Masculinity for Father's Day" ritual well.org -- June 15, 2017
"Rabbi Akiva departs for 12 years to study, but ends up being gone for 24 years...he is held up as an ideal...Rav Yosef, son of Rava, was sent by his father to the study hall to learn. They agreed that he should sit [and study] for six years in the study hall. When three had passed, the eve of Yom Kippur arrived and Ran Yosef said, "I will go to see the members of my household (meaning 'my wife').' His father heard and took a weapon, as if he were going to war, and went to meet him..."
Eber quotes a story of Israel Bal Shem Tov (1700-1760):
A Hasid came to the B'e'sht and burst into bitter tears. 'Rebbe, Rebbe, what am I to do? My own son has strayed from the path of true righteousness!' The Besht blessed the Hasid and said, 'Love him...' With a heavy sigh, the Hasid insisted, 'Oh Rebbe, he has already fallen so low!' To which the Besht replied, "Then love him even more."
Max Nordau, 1898 - Second Zionist Congress:
If, unlike other peoples, we do not conceive of [physical] life as our highest possession, it is nevertheless very valuable to us and thus worthy of careful treatment. During long centuries we have not been able to give it such treatment…In the narrow Jewish street our poor limbs soon forgot their carefree movements. In the dimness of sunless houses, our eyes began to blink shyly. The fear of constant persecution turned our powerful voices into frightened whispers…
Let us take up our oldest traditions. Let us once more become deep-chested, sturdy, sharp-eyed men…For no other people will gymnastics fulfill a more educational purpose than for us Jews. It shall straighten us in body and in character… Our new muscle Jews have not yet regained the heroism of our forefathers who in large numbers eagerly entered the sports arenas in order to take part in competition and to pit themselves against the highly trained Hellenistic athletes…
A boy comes home from school and tells his mother he got a part in the school play.
"That's wonderful!" says the mother, "Which part?"
"The part of a Jewish husband," says the boy, proudly.
Frowning, the mother says, "Go back and tell them you want a speaking role!"