The Columbia History of Jews and Judaism in America - by Marc Lee Raphael (Paperback)

About the Book

This collection focuses on a variety of important themes in the American Jewish and Judaic experience. It opens with essays on early Jewish settlers (1654-1820), the expansion of Jewish life in America (1820-1901), the great wave of eastern European Jewish immigrants (1880-1924), the character of American Judaism between the two world wars, American Jewish life from the end of World War II to the Six-Day War, and the growth of Jews' influence and affluence. The second half of the volume includes essays on Orthodox Jews, the history of Jewish education in America, the rise of Jewish social clubs at the turn of the century, the history of southern and western Jewry, Jewish responses to Nazism and the Holocaust, feminism's confrontation with Judaism, and the eternal question of what defines American Jewish culture. Original and elegantly crafted, "The Columbia History of Jews and Judaism in America" not only introduces the student to a thrilling history, but also provides the scholar with new perspectives and insights.

Book Synopsis

This is the first anthology in more than half a century to offer fresh insight into the history of Jews and Judaism in America. Beginning with six chronological survey essays, the collection builds with twelve topical essays focusing on a variety of important themes in the American Jewish and Judaic experience.

The volume opens with early Jewish settlers (1654-1820), the expansion of Jewish life in America (1820-1901), the great wave of eastern European Jewish immigrants (1880-1924), the character of American Judaism between the two world wars, American Jewish life from the end of World War II to the Six-Day War, and the growth of Jews' influence and affluence. The second half of the book includes essays on the community of Orthodox Jews, the history of Jewish education in America, the rise of Jewish social clubs at the turn of the century, the history of southern and western Jewry, Jewish responses to Nazism and the Holocaust; feminism's confrontation with Judaism, and the eternal question of what defines American Jewish culture.

The contributions of distinguished scholars seamlessly integrate recent scholarship. Endnotes provide the reader with access to the authors' research and sources. Comprehensive, original, and elegantly crafted, The Columbia History of Jews and Judaism in America not only introduces the student to this thrilling history but also provides new perspectives for the scholar.

Contributors: Dianne Ashton (Rowan University), Mark K. Bauman (Atlanta Metropolitan College), Kimmy Caplan (Bar-Ilan University, Israel), Eli Faber (City University of New York), Eric L. Goldstein (University of Michigan), Jeffrey S. Gurock (Yeshiva University), Jenna Weissman Joselit (Princeton University), Melissa Klapper (Rowan University), Alan T. Levenson (Siegal College of Judaic Studies), Rafael Medoff (David S. Wyman Institute for Holocaust Studies), Pamela S. Nadell (American University), Riv-Ellen Prell (University of Minnesota), Linda S. Raphael (George Washington University), Jeffrey Shandler (Rutgers University), Michael E. Staub (City University of New York), William Toll (University of Oregon), Beth S. Wenger (University of Pennsylvania), Stephen J. Whitfield (Brandeis University)

Review Quotes

[An] impressive range and focus.-- "Jewish Book World"

[A] welcome addition to the field of Jewish-American studies-- "The Historian"

A thought-provoking... engaging text that gives social diversity and cultural experience their due in Jewish studies.--Simon J. Bronner "American Reference Books Annual"

Authored by an all-star cast of historians.... Highly recommended.-- "Choice"

Indeed, the strength of this anthology resides in the individual essays, even if some of them make awkward bedfellows.--Lila Corwin Berman "American Jewish History"

This book provides a nuanced look at a number of different facets of Jewish life in America.--Rachelle E. Friedman "Historian"

About the Author

Marc Lee Raphael is the Nathan and Sophia Gumenick Professor of Judaic Studies, professor of religious studies, chairman of the Department of Religious Studies, and director of the Program in Judaic Studies at the College of William and Mary. He will publish his memoir, Diary of a Los Angeles Jew, 1947-1972: Autobiography as Autofiction, in 2008 and is beginning a history of the synagogue in America for New York University Press. He and his wife, Linda Schermer Raphael, live in Washington, D.C.