In the first half of this century, a talented and charismatic leadership restructured the American Jewish community to meet the demands and opportunities of a pluralistic, secular society. The work of this generation of titans still guides the current modes of American Jewish life. The last of these giants was the influential reformer Stephen S. Wise—a progenitor of American Zionism, creator of the American and World Jewish Congresses, and founder of the Jewish Institute of Religion. As rabbi of the Free Synagogue, Wise led the fight for a living Judaism responsive to social problems.
This engrossing study is more than a chronicle of an ethnic community’s adjustment to a host society. Thanks to Melvin Urofsky’s painstaking research, it succeeds in revealing the true story behind a legendary and controversial figure in American Jewish history.
Tabella dei contenuti
Introduction
1. Goodly Beginnings
2. The Cause and the Lady
3. Bishop of Oregon
4. Emanu-El
5. The Free Synagogue
6. Rabbi of the Free Synagogue
7. The Rabbi as Progressive
8. Wilson and the New Freedom
9. Zionism Redivivus
10. War…
11…. and Peace
12. ‘ Slightly Dispirited ‘
13. The Jewish Institute of Religion
14. Ivri Anochi
15. Great Betrayals
16. In the Prime of Life
17. The Political Rabbi
18. A Voice in the Wilderness
19. Non Possumus!
20. In Congress Assembled
21. Conflicts
22. Holocaust
23. Dissent in Zion
24. Shehechyanu
25. Final Fruits
26. At Last to Rest
Notes
Bibliographical Note
Index
Circa l’autore
Melvin I. Urofsky , Professor of History and Chair of the Department of History at Virginia Commonwealth University, co-edited the highly acclaimed five-volume collection, Letters of Louis D. Brandeis, also published by the State University of New York Press.
Altri ebook dello stesso autore / Editore
228.372 Ebook in questa categoria
