The History of the Jews of Philadelphia
- Subtitle: From Colonial Times to the Age of Jackson
- Authors: Edwin Wolf 2nd and Maxwell Whiteman
- Publisher: Jewish Publication Society, 1957 – 534 pp.
- LOC Permalink: http://lccn.loc.gov/56007780
- Availability: out of print, but used copies are affordable
Review
This book is a meticulous examination of the history of Jewish life in Philadelphia from 1700-1830, during most of which time the only organized Jewish community in town was the Western Sephardic KK Mikveh Israel. Wolf and Whiteman were both professional librarians, and had large public collections at their fingertips along with a significant body of privately held documents that they had amassed over several decades. Together, the pair created an impressive account of colonial and post-independence Jewry in America's first capital.
The text does not always take the form of a linear narrative, as some sections supply a broader storyline while others address topical themes anachronistically. This creative structure is supplemented by an excellent body of notes, which are deeply interesting in their own right and make the reader regret their inconvenient relegation to the back of the book. Taken together, these elements comprise a laudable survey that includes a great deal of new material, and offers original reassessments of previously accepted theories. Like many early forays into a given area of history, it is neither the complete nor the final word on the subject, but it remains a must-read on Jewish Philadelphia in a formative age.
The text does not always take the form of a linear narrative, as some sections supply a broader storyline while others address topical themes anachronistically. This creative structure is supplemented by an excellent body of notes, which are deeply interesting in their own right and make the reader regret their inconvenient relegation to the back of the book. Taken together, these elements comprise a laudable survey that includes a great deal of new material, and offers original reassessments of previously accepted theories. Like many early forays into a given area of history, it is neither the complete nor the final word on the subject, but it remains a must-read on Jewish Philadelphia in a formative age.
Contents
|
Earliest days under Dutch and English rule
Beginnings of a Philadelphia Jewish community The Gratzes assume leadership Jewish merchants help open up the West Fight for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness Hyam Salomon in Philadelphia Organization of religious life and first synagogue Struggle for civil rights Economic life after the Revolution Glimpses of Jews in the contemporary scene Politics in the era of consolidation |
9
22 36 65 76 98 114 146 165 187 204 |
New synagogue, and religious problems
Religious functionaries and practices The first communal philanthropic organization War and politics Authors, actors, and patrons of the arts Medicine and science Industry, trade, and commerce The second synagogue of Mikveh Israel End of an era Abbreviations and notes Index |
222
244 264 282 303 325 338 360 372 381 501 |