`The Jewish Experience in America' Immense Literary Gift to America in Rabbi Karp's Notable 5-Volume American Jewish Historical Society Essay Collection a creative community of Ameri- cans who, while laboring within the Jewish sphere, in their syna- gogues and schools and in behalf of fellow Jews everywhere, were making concrete contributions to- wards the upbuilding of America. Thanks to the efforts of a dis- tinguished American rabbi whose dedicated research labors assured the gathering of the most valuable historical material relating to the history of American Jewry, the record of our people in this coun- try is now more intact, and the basic works on the economic and political as well as the spiritual and cultural factors in American Jewish life now are incorporated in a five-volume set of books that will surely be rated among the distinct contributions to our lit- erature. Rabbi Abraham J. Karp of Temple Beth El, Rochester. N.Y.• accomplished the superb task of selecting the studies that had been conducted by the American Jew- ish Historical Society, and they are now available in the five vol- umes entitled "The Jewish Ex- perience in America." Published by Ktav, in cooperation with the American Jewish Historical So- ciety, the collection deals with five eras in American Jewish his- tory: Colonial Period, Early Re- public. Emerging Community. Era of Immigration, At Home in Am- erica. • • • It is evident from the chrono- logical arrangement indicated by these periodic delineations that the more than 300-year history of American Jewry is covered in what has resulted in a labor of love by an able rabbinic re- searcher and editor. Rabbi Karp, in addition to hold- ing the pulpit in Rochester. serves as visiting associate professor of Jewish history at the Jewish Theo- logical Seminary in New York. He is professor of theology at St. John Fisher College in Rochester and is the author of "The Jewish Way of Life." Jewish traders are referred to in the earlier volumes with re- gard to the Michigan territory and its pioneering settlers. A Michigan history apparently is yet to be included in forthcom- ing Jewish Historical Society Pub- lications, and the Detroit story is thus far unrecorded in these vol- umes. • • • Essayists whose evaluative labors now form the source of information about the Jews of America drew their information from newspapers, advertise. ments, circulars, congregational minute books and from recorded American historical archives. • RABBI ABRAHAM J. KARP Jewry: Dr. Jacob It. Marcus, his- torian; Prof. Salo Baron, whose study of the social life of Jewry is the most noted work in the field and whose interpretations are among the most authorita- tive; Dr. Bertram W. Korn, auth- ority on Lincoln and the Civil War; Dr. Cecil Roth, author of the most important works on the Jews in the Middle Ages, Spain and related subjects; the histor- ians Oscar I. Janowsky, Oscar Handlin, Max J. Kohler, Philip Goodman, Abraham Duker and many others. Valuable essays by Dr. Robert Gordis also form part of this supremely important work. A number of essays were writ- ten by the editor of this volume. Rabbi Karp. and his introductory articles that introduce each sec- tional book have special addition- al merit. The reader is brought closer to the present era in the fourth and fifth volumes but the major works deal with the periods through, but not much beyond the 1930s. • • While in the first volume, which deals with the Colonial Period, the reader is told about the arrival of Jews in New Amsterdam after the Exodus from Brazil, there are descriptions of Jewish communal pioneering (Salo Baron), the story of the first Jewish settler in New York, Jacob Barsimon (described by Samuel Oppenheim). a variety of the noted sketches of early heroes (Cecil Roth), notable let- ters, the story of anti-Semitism and the reaction to it, 1785-1800 (by Morris Y. Schappers), Ira Rosen- waike's estimate of the Jewish population and a most interesting description of "Civil Liberties and the Jewish tradition in Early America" by Richard B. Morris. From earliest times, Jews were mentioned in state and federal documents, and their role, even be- fore they had gained full politica: rights, was markd by distinct gifts to America and creative efforts to elevate Jewish standards. DR. JACOB R. MARCUS There is considerable interest in the efforts to establish agricul- tural colonies in this country. Im- migration was a major subject of concern. Acculturation was widely debated. Mordecai Manuel Noah, who sought to establish a Jewish colony near Buffalo, by Dr. R. Gordis; an ad- ditional essay on Noah's Ararat In each instance, as in his view Jewish State by Bernard D. Wein- on "The Era of Immigration" in- ryb; the story of Commodore Ur- troducing the fourth volume, Rabbi iah Phillips Levy by Abram Kan- Karp has shown good judgment of; essays on Judah Touro. Jacob in collecting the published mater- S. Solis, surgeon Moses Albert ial. Levy by Max J. Kohler, J. Solis- Immigration and emigration Cohen Jr. and Saul Wiener. problems were dealt with by It is interesting to note that the Esther L. Panitz, Zosa Szajkow- variety of material covered here ski, Lloyd P. Gartner, Gilbert includes a review of the Damas- cus Affair by Joseph Jacobs, an Osofsky, Moses Kligsberg, David article on Jewish persecutions in Bridy and others. 1840 by Jacob Ezekiel, tripublished Among the fascinating stories letters of Rebecca Gratz by David Philipson and numerous other sig- in the fourth volume is Rabbi Karp's account of New York nificant resumes. Jewry's efforts to select a chief Not only is the historical data rabbi, the choice of Rabbi Jacob of great value, but knowledge. Joseph of Vilna, the difficulties able readers will recognize in that ensued, the formation of an the authors' lists the names of association of Orthodox congrega- some of the very prominent tions, the problems that ensued— Jewish scholars of the early financial, - kashrut — and the decades of this century. eventual declin e th ea id or f a Rabbi Karp, as editor, not only chief rabbinate. But the chief rabbi who functioned, as Rabbi introduces each volume with his Karp explains, gave the commun- Population studies figure In each of the divisions, and the development of community or- ganizations is described by authoritative writers. At the same time the historical records Inter alia, the history of the are preserved in analytical eval- American Jewish Historical So- uations of the majoi events in Many eminent scholars are rep- city emerges as one of the signif- which Jews have been involved, impOrtant analytical introductory ity great status and elevation, and resented in the collected works icant accomplishments in the re- and non-Jewish interests in Jew- essay. but also has authored a which, through the years, have tention of the valued historical ish matters, as well as inter- number of important articles, the formation of an association of served to form what is now col- data about American Jews. It all among them "Simon Tuska be- congregations led to a measure of faith relations receive adequate lectively an encyclopedia record began at the "scientific meeting" unity which paved the way for coverage. Numerous personality c vo om lue m s e. in Philadelphia. Dec. 15, 1892. and a Rabbi" in the second future "purposeful activity." of the life, labors, creative efforts reviews add to the value of the the record as it is now available of the American Jews. entire work. While the third volume empha- A chapter of merit in this vol- to us benefits not only American sizes the emerging American ume is Dr. Stanley Chyet's Distinguished among those Jewry but the entire American • • • Jewish community, with appropri- wig Lewisohn in Charleston." The whose works are recorded here nation because of the retention of Thus, in the second volume we are men well known to world , the mass of important facts about have a centenary revaluation of ate comments by Rabbi Karp. Romanian-Jewish situation is the there are impressive sketches ' subject of two essays. Russian about American Jews that add im- Jewish problems are evaluated. measurably to the compilations of • • • personality literature. Prof. Oscar Handlin's "Ameri- Thus, we have here the inter- can Views of the Jew at the Open- esting sketch, "The Civil War mg of the 20th Century" forms Career of Major Louis A. Gratz" an appropriate commencing essay by Dr. Marcus: Maxwell White- for the final volume. Then, in ad- man's essay on Rabbi Isaac Lees- dition to an essay on the immigra- er; Stanley I. Falk's Alfred Mor- tion problem by Esther Panitz, the decai story. article by Isaac Max Rubino•, As a historical record, the "The Jewish Question in New York City (1902-1903)" supplements the account of Benjamin F. Peixot. to's mission to Romania, out- discussion regarding the Jewish lined by Max J. Kohler and position in the beginning of this Simon Wolf, is very significant. century. Similarly important are Isaac Rabbi Karp has appropriately Markens' "Lincoln and the written the essay "Solomon Schech- Jews' and the essay applicable ter Comes to America" - for this to our time, "Jews and Negro volume which leads us closer to Slavery in the Old South, 1789- the second half of the, 20th Century. DR. BERTRAM W. KORN DR. SALO W. BARON DR. CECIL ROTH 1865" by Rabbi Korn, DR. ROBERT GORDIS Dr. Abraham G. Duker's "Em- Communal deVelopments in Mil- erging Cultural Patterns in Amer- •aukee and Los Angeles are pre- (can Jewish Life" is of special in- From introductory chapter to Vol. V. sented here. terest. A study of the educational "The Jewish Experience in America" By RABBI ABRAHAM J. KARP While this volume deals in large setup in Cleveland is vital for an The American Jew has entered the cultural life measure with the Civil War per- understanding of developing situ- birthrate. a rate below the survival level. Religious in all its aspects, has made important contributions leaders speak with alarm of the rising rate of inter- iod, it contains much data regard. ations involving Jewish_ schools. and exerts signal influence. Initially the Jewish ing the position of Russian Jewry, Unionism and political issues are participation and contribution was in the field of marriage. particularly among the intellectually gift- emigration studies and a descrip- under review. ed and the economically favored. Integration is entertainment. More recently and increasingly it has tive article on "Switzerland and This five-volume collection of been in the arts and literature. A good deal of good and desirable. But at which point does inte- American Jews" by Sol Stroock. historical data serves the purpose • • • American culture today has taken on a kind of Jew- gration become assimilation? In sum, the central of perpetuating valuable docu- ish coloration. The Jewish novel, by Jews and question facing the American Jew is: Can a minor- Several references to Michigan ments. It presents the major fac- about Jews. has been dominant in the literary scene. ity group survive in a free and open American Jewry appear in the third volume. tors in American Jewish history. society? More pointedly, can Jew and Judaism sur- Being Jewish is no handicap today in American There is a comment on Detroit as It elevates the status of the Ameri- cultural life and in American life in general. The vive and flourish in America? an emerging Jewish community can Jewish Historical. Society, and Jews seem vividly, firmly and permanently incorp- The Jew has exerted vast energies and expended after 1850. Rabbi Karp's role has contributed orated into the American landscape, great sums in fashioning institutions to assure his Michigan is referred to here as immensely towards this superb survival and foster his faith, but the question re- one of the states included in Dis- task. But problems there are, and they are serious. mains. The answer will have to be recorded by a Sociologists point with concern to the low Jewish historian of a future generation. 40 — Friday, August 29, 1969 THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS At Home in America • trict Grand Lodge No. 6 of Bnai Brith.