2006 National Jewish Book Award, Modern Jewish Thought Long the object of curiosity, admiration, and gossip, rabbis' wives have rarely been viewed seriously as American Jewish religious and communal leaders. We know a great deal about the important role played by rabbis in building American Jewish life in this country, but not much about the role that their wives played. The Rabbi’s Wife redresses that imbalance by highlighting the unique contributions of rebbetzins to the development of American Jewry. Tracing the careers of rebbetzins from the beginning of the twentieth century until the present, Shuly Rubin Schwartz chronicles the evolution of the role from a few individual rabbis' wives who emerged as leaders to a cohort who worked together on behalf of American Judaism. The Rabbi’s Wife reveals the ways these women succeeded in both building crucial leadership roles for themselves and becoming an important force in shaping Jewish life in America.

Identity Papers argues that contemporary Jewish American literature revises our understanding of Jewishness and Jewish difference. Moving beyond the reductive labeling of texts and authors as “too Jewish” or “not Jewish enough,” and focusing instead on narratives that portray Jewish regeneration through feminist Orthodoxy, queerness, off-whiteness, and intermarriage, Helene Meyers resists a lachrymose view of contemporary Jewish American life. She argues that such gendered, sexed, and raced debates about Jewish identity become opportunities rather than crises, signs of creative potential rather than symptoms of assimilation and deracination. Thus, feminist debates within Orthodoxy are allied to Jewish continuity by Rebecca Goldstein, Allegra Goodman, and Tova Mirvis; the geography of Jewish identity is racialized by Alfred Uhry, Tony Kushner, and Philip Roth; and the works of Jyl Lynn Felman, Judith Katz, Lev Raphael, and Michael Lowenthal queer the Jewish family as they reveal homophobia to be an abomination. Even as Identity Papers expands Jewish literary horizons and offers much-needed alternatives to the culture wars between liberal and traditional Jews, it argues that Jewish difference productively troubles dominant narratives of feminist, queer, and whiteness studies. Meyers demonstrates that the evolving Jewish American literary renaissance is anything but provincial; rather, it is engaged with categories of difference central to contemporary academic discourses and our national life.

A collection of essays published previously. Partial contents:

Magnes' book provides a comprehensive look at the Jewish community in turn-of-the-century New York. From their religious practices to their political involvement, this book traces the lives of Jewish immigrants and their descendants as they struggled to reconcile their Jewish identity with their American experience. With analytical depth and riveting anecdotes, this book is an indispensable read for historians and anyone interested in the Jewish experience in America. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

"From Suburb to Shtetl" is an outstanding ethnography that moves beyond simple demographics. Mayer weaves an intricate tapestry of how family, school, and community leaders influence each other. Whether discussing the role of the rebbe or the matchmaker, those who know these communities will find what he says as relevant today as it was when first penned. This is hardly surprising, for the ultra-Orthodox community takes great pride in not changing, in maintaining itself as it was in Europe despite the allure of modern American society. His discussion of synagogue life is particularly informative and evocative. Those in charge of helping immigrants adopted the path of least resistance, allowing and even encouraging them to retain their identities except for those few aspects that might threaten the country's national interests. The American Orthodox community was tremendously augmented by the arrival from Europe, after World War Two, of thousands of Orthodox Jews who remained devoted to that way of life. Egon Mayer was himself part of a smaller, but significant group of Jews who came to the U.S. and settled mostly in Boro Park in the wake of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution. The interaction between the Hasidim and their less fervent Orthodox counterparts described and analyzed in this volume tells us a great deal about how people negotiate their beliefs, values, and norms when forced into close contact with each other in an urban setting within the larger American culture. By exploring these and many other related issues Mayer has given us the chance to assess and forecast the future of American Jewish life as a whole.

This great Rav's final gift to his beloved In the last few years of his long, distinguished, and productive life, Rabbi Shimon Schwab, the famed and beloved spiritual leader of Khal Adath Jeshurun in Washington Heights, NY, taught Siddur to his congregants. He was officially "retired," but his mind and conscience never rested. Always a great thinker and teacher, he turned his attention to the Siddur, and drew his congregants along with him. A lifetime of learning, thought, piety, and perspective were poured into these stimulating and inspiring lectures. Rabbi Schwab was a product of two the Franfurt-am-Main of Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch and the Lithuanian Yeshivah. He absorbed both, blended both, molded them with his great intellect, profound faith, vibrant heart, and charismatic personality. He was a rabbi in Nazi Germany until it became impossible for him to function. He was called to serve the German kehillah in Baltimore during an era when rabbis in America were expected to accommodate themselves to the times, but he did the opposite. He forced the times to accommodate themselves to the Torah -- and became a heroic figure in the American rabbinate. After a long and successful career in Baltimore, he joined Rabbi Joseph Breuer in the rabbinate of Khal Adath Jeshurun. History has come a full circle, as the scion of Frankfurt became the Rav of Khal Adath Jeshurun in New York, the successor of the famed Frankfurt kehillah. He became the moral voice of American Orthodoxy, eloquently demanding integrity and idealism -- and succeeding because he made the same demands of himself. He always went upward, and drew his listeners after him.

In recent years, the high rate of intermarriage and other demographic factors have created a challenge for American Jewry: How can rabbis, policy planners, educators, and parents transmit most effectively Jewish religion, culture, and values to their children? Prior research shows that Jewish education is the one area in which communal leaders and lay people can act to make a positive difference in the future cultural transmission of Judaism. Family Matters offers groundbreaking essays on Jewish education by scholars drawn from anthropology, education, history, and sociology. Essays by Steven M. Cohen, Sylvia Barack Fishman, Shaul Kelner, Jeffrey S. Kress, Alex Pomson, Riv-Ellen Prell, and Jack Wertheimer range from interviews about educational decisions with families, teenagers, and Jewish educators to sweeping new statistical data about the actual state of Jewish education in American cities. Making new links among parents, community, and Jewish schools, Family Matters is a vital study in the sociology of the contemporaryAmerican Jewish community.

This book is A thoughtful meditation on the values of Judaism and the ideals of the Declaration of Independence. As he makes clear, there is such a thing as the American-Hebraic idea, which is manifested in the ideals of human dignity, the Rule of Law, the democratic ideal, the rights of conscience, and the pursuit of happiness. It is certain to appeal to American Jews who are seeking identity as Americans and as Jews, and to any reader interesting in understanding why Jews feel rooted in modern America -- from AbeBooks website.

Discusses Jewish identity in America as reflected in the culture of immigrants and descendants of immigrants. Self-hatred or, at least, ambivalence about oneself in the face of native American values is one theme. Ch. 5 (pp. 98-125), "To Make 'a Jew': Projecting Antisemitism in Post-War America", analyzes two novels - Arthur Miller's "Focus" and Saul Bellow's "The Victim" - that explore the psychosocial dimensions of postwar antisemitism. They raise the question whether possibilities of Jewish-Gentile relations might lead to personal and social renovation. In "Focus", a crypto-fascist antisemite who has internalized racist stereotypes finally identifies symbolically as a Jew. In "The Victim", both Jew and Gentile partially overcome their mutual stereotyping. The main Jewish protagonist also overcomes some negative aspects of his self-image.

Mention 1492 and most people conjure up images of three stout ships making their way west. But 1492 was the year in which the vibrant Jewish community of Spain came to an abrupt and tragic end. This book details the expulsion of the Jews from Spain and Portugal and their early immigration to the New World. European anti-Semitism followed the Jews but the newcomers persevered and made a home for themselves in the New World. Starred Review and Editor’s Choice, Booklist, NCCS/CBC Notable Children’s Trade Book and American Bookseller Pick of the Lists, 1990.

Now in paperback! Taking Hold of Torah Jewish Commitment and Community in America Arnold M. Eisen A personal meditation on the meaning of Judaism today and a vision for revitalizing Jewish community and tradition in America. "Arnold M. Eisen offers a personal plea for—and a vision of—the revitalizing of American Judaism through a renewed relationship to Jewish tradition and the strengthening of Jewish communities." —Jewish Book News "...required reading for Jewish communal professionals, [Taking Hold of Torah] spells out the discontents and dreams of the baby boomers and their children who are reinventing Jewish communal life for the modern world." —Jewish Exponent "Melding autobiography with biblical exegesis, philosophical speculation and a program for Jewish educational reform, the book is an unbuttoned riff on what's ailing modern Jews." —Forward "...a personal story of a modern Jew trying to make sense of Judaism in a time when Jews can choose whether and how to be Jewish...." —The Jewish Advocate Jews, like other Americans, have both benefitted and suffered from the fraying of traditional loyalties that has come to characterize modern American culture. In each of the five chapters, Arnold M. Eisen examines a major issue or theme related to his vision for the renewal of Jewish communities—in terms of one of the five books of the Torah. What is the meaning and purpose of Jewish tradition? What is the significance of faith and covenant? What are the contemporary uses of ritual? What should a new agenda for politics in American Jewish life include? What legacy is to be left to future generations? This encouraging work is essential reading for anyone concerned with questions of Jewish faith and the future of Judaism in America. Arnold M. Eisen is Professor and Chair of Religious Studies at Stanford University, a frequent speaker on issues related to contemporary Jewish life before lay and scholarly audiences throughout North America, and an active participant in communal discussions concerning the future of American Judaism. His publications include The Chosen People in America (Indiana University Press) and Rethinking Modern Judaism: Ritual, Commandment, Community, winner of a Koret Jewish Book Award. The Helen and Martin Schwartz Lectures in Jewish Studies Contents: Introduction 1. Genesis: Taking on Tradition 2. Exodus: History, Faith, and Covenant 3. Leviticus: Ritual and Community 4. Numbers: Politics in the Wilderness 5. Deuteronomy: Legacies

'On Pagans, Jews, and Christians' is an important addition to his masterly work, bringing together nineteen essays written in the past five years from sources such as The New York Review of Books, The American Scholar, and the Annali della Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa. It is written with literate clarity and elegance, humane wisdom, and breadth of intellect. The focus of this book is the secular cultures of pagan Greece and imperial Rome, and the religious cultures of Judaism and Christianity which, in turn, grew from and influenced them and the modern world. For Momigliano, religion, secular ideology, and politics live in and illuminate the present. Chapters include “The Jews of Italy” (history viewed in the autobiographical perspective of the Momigliano family), “The Disadvantages of Monotheism for a Universal State,” “How to Reconcile Greeks and Trojans,” and “The Theological Efforts of the Roman Upper Classes in the First Century B.C.

Albert M. Hyamson (1875-1954) was born in London. After attending Beaufort College, he started working for the post office in 1895. Once World War I broke out, Hyamson began writing a great deal in support of Zionism, much of it published by the British Palestine Committee and media outlets like the New Statesman. By 1917, Hyamson became the editor of The Zionist Review. Then Hyamson he became active in Department of Information's Jewish Bureau, and among other things, wrote for The American Hebrew and American Jewish Chronicle, to drum up interest in Zionism. Hyamson began working for the Administration of Palestine and was in charge of immigration applications. However, since he refused to let anyone else assist with the work, he single-handedly created a backlog of nearly a year, until he was replaced. Hyamson moved into making policy and working with the tenuous position that Jews, Arabs and others in Palestine found themselves in. He helped created the Hyamson-Newcome proposal in 1937 which proposed a independent Palestinian state which gave full autonomy to all citizens, recognized Arab ownership of the area, and allowed for Jewish immigration to rise to 50% of the total population. This was rejected by some Zionist leaders, but Hymanson went on to write and advocate against political Zionism and was one of the seven founders of The Jewish Fellowship. He continued to seek out Jewish-Arab co-operation for a unified Palestine, but his efforts were continually rebuffed. He wrote a great deal on other topics, including: A Dictionary of Artists and Art Terms (1906), The Humour of the Post Office (1909), Palestine Old and New (1928), and A Dictionary of International Affairs (1946). This new edition is dedicated to the memory of Seymour Martin Lipset, great scholar and teacher.

New forms of Jewish philosophic inquiry in response to the Holocaust, the American Jewish experience, and the establishment of the State of Israel, present a necessity for a clear and comprehensive framework in which contemporary Jewish thought may be studied. This is what William E. Kaufman has done in "Contemporary Jewish Philosophies". Examining the present parameters of Jewish thought – Existentialism, naturalism, supernaturalism, and transnaturalism – he formulates the criteria for dealing with modern Jewish thinking. He traces the effects of this new philosophic vocabulary through the writings of such established luminaries as Franz Rosenzweig, Martin Buber, Leo Baeck, and Mordecai Kaplan as well as seeking the sources of the thought of such contemporary figures as Emil Fackenheim, Jacob Agus, Arthur Cohen, Eugene Borowitz, Richard Rubenstein, and Abraham Joshua Heschel in the traditional roots of covenant, salvation, and transcendence. Dr. Kaufman deals in depth with the age-old questions: What conception of God can I accept? What is the relation of God to the universe? How shall we concieve the relation of man to God? But he goes further still. What is salvation in light of the Holocaust and the establishment of Israel? Can we find an analogue in the past to the situation of Jews today? Probing these questions, along with the primary concerns of Jewish philosophy, he illumines and enlivens the complex dialogues which from the basis of Jewish philosophic thought. Each philosopher is analyzed and critiqued, utilizing a a uniform criteria which focuses the key concerns and commentaries of each in relation to the entire realm of Jewish thought today. "Contemporary Jewish Philosophies" in essential not only to the student of philosophy but to the reader who is seriously concerned with confronting today's problems with today's sensibility. --

With our American Philosophy and Religion series, Applewood reissues many primary sources published throughout American history. Through these books, scholars, interpreters, students, and non-academics alike can see the thoughts and beliefs of Americans who came before us.

This volume of the "Publications Of The American Jewish Historical Society" (Volume 11) offers a fascinating glimpse into the history of Jewish communities in America. Compiled by the American Jewish Historical Society, these publications serve as a vital resource for understanding the multifaceted experiences of Jewish immigrants and their descendants. The essays and records within shed light on various aspects of Jewish life, including communal organizations, religious practices, cultural adaptations, and contributions to American society. Researchers, historians, and anyone interested in American Jewish history will find this collection invaluable for its primary source material and insightful perspectives. These publications provide a rich tapestry of voices and stories, preserving the legacy of Jewish life in America for generations to come. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

During these shocking times of war, violence, and hate many are now seeking answers to important questions. What are the bases of the claims of the Jewish people to the Holy Land? What are the foundations of the conflicts between Muslims and Jews? What does Western Culture and its decline have to do with Israel and the Muslims? How does the rise of extreme leftism in Canada and the United States facilitate and encourage extreme hate and violence at home and in the Middle East? These and many other questions are answered by David Solway in this timely collection of essays-- easily read, easily understood, and written with erudition, scholarship, and style. Solway's style is appropriate for general readers or those with long backgrounds of knowledge of Judaism, Islam, Israel, the Middle East, American and Canadian cultural and political radicalism and decline, the Jewish People, and the intersection of Judaism and Islam in the Middle East. The most recent horror for the Jews that began on October 7, 2023, can be better understood with a clear understanding of Israel, diaspora Jews, ancient and modern Jewish history, and the decline of the West into moral relativism, communism, and leftist utopianism. Times of strife and horror are best explained by clarity of thought and writing. Solway provides both in this important work that provides both context and background to the horrors seen recently in Israel, across Europe, in the United States, and across the world.

The changed situation of Western Jewry in the 19th-20th centuries caused Jews to revise their conceptions of Jewry as a community and of its place in the world. Six Judaic systems emerged. Discusses each one in detail. While the 19th-century trends (Orthodox, Reform, and Conservative) developed in response to the needs of integration with the non-Jewish world, the 20th-century Judaisms (Zionism, Jewish Socialism and Yiddishism, and the American Judaism of Holocaust and Redemption) were a response to aggressive antisemitism and to the crisis caused by the rapid social and economic restructuring of Central and Eastern Europe. The events of May-June 1967 in the Middle East brought about a new trend - Holocaust and Redemption Judaism, in the center of which are the Holocaust (mythicized and perceived as a metaphor for absolute evil) and the State of Israel (perceived as the redemption for the Holocaust). This Judaism contains a salvific myth and possesses all the traits of a religious system. The exposition is accompanied by excerpts from books and articles.

"This is a book of extraordinary quality and importance. In tracing the encounter of Jews (the chosen people) and America (the chosen nation) . . Eisen has given the American Jewish community a new understanding of itself." —American Jewish Archives ". . . one of the most significant books on American Jewish thought written in recent years." —Choice What does it mean to be a Jew in America? What opportunities and what threats does the great melting pot represent for a group that has traditionally defined itself as "a people that must dwell alone"? Although for centuries the notion of "The Chosen People" sustained Jewish identity, America, by offering Jewish immigrants an unprecedented degree of participation in the larger society, threatened to erode their Jewish identity and sense of separateness. Arnold M. Eisen charts the attempts of American Jewish thinkers to adapt the notion of chosenness to an American context. Through an examination of sermons, essays, debates, prayer-book revisions, and theological literature, Eisen traces the ways in which American rabbis and theologians—Reconstructionist, Conservative, and Orthodox thinkers—effected a compromise between exclusivity and participation that allowed Jews to adapt to American life while simultaneously enhancing Jewish tradition and identity.