Over the past 100 years, Jewish immigrants, and their children and grandchildren, have made major contributions to our country’s growth and development. In Forged in Freedom, Finkelstein brings to life 10 key turning points in history that affected both the U.S. and American Jews. It includes chapters on labor and justice, Jewish political coming-of-age, the fight against bigotry, the growth of a rich and varied U.S. culture, and the creation of uniquely American expressions of Judaism. There are 65 black and white photos and over 20 feature boxes throughout, as well as a glossary, a timeline of key events, bibliography, notes, and index.
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Gr. 6-12. In an easy, open style and spacious design with lots of black-and-white photos, this history celebrates the role of Jews in the U.S., their personal stories and national influence in helping to define American culture. From the beginning, Finkelstein relates the particulars of the Jewish experience to the universals of immigration, especially the struggle between assimilation and identity across generations. Short profiles of the famous--from Emma Goldman to Irving Berlin and Joseph Lieberman--are woven into the narrative. Finklestein doesn't ignore the negatives: there are harrowing accounts of anti-Semitism, including diatribes from Henry Ford and Charles Lindbergh, and a section about the lynching of Leo Frank, as well as stories of Jews who denied their own identity so as "not to draw attention." Of course, everyone will find something to argue with here, but this close-up view presents diversity and controversy in many forms, whether it's about religion, intermarriage, education, the role of women, or Zionism. A time line, chapter notes, and a short bibliography are appended. Hazel Rochman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Review
"This is an extraordinary history told by a master historian with skill and elegance."—David M. Gordis, President, Hebrew College
(David M. Gordis )
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Norman H. Finkelstein is the author of eighteen nonfiction books, mainly for young readers. He recently retired as a school librarian for the Brookline (Massachusetts) Public Schools but continues into his 29th year of teaching history in the Prozdor Department of Hebrew College. Among his writing honors are two National Jewish Book Awards, the Golden Kite Honor Book Award for Nonfiction and a "highly recommended" award from the Boston Author's Club.
His interest in history and biography developed early. "I was the only kid in the sixth grade who regularly read the New York Times," he said. His books reflect an eclectic view of his world. From his love of old-time radio came Sounds in the Air: The Golden Age of Radio and from his fascination with plastics came a social and cultural history called, simple enough, Plastics. He also serves as the series editor for the Jewish Publication Society's JPS Guides.
He is married to Rosalind who he calls "my first-line editor". They have three grown children and three grandchildren. Finkelstein lives in Framingham, Massachusetts.
His interest in history and biography developed early. "I was the only kid in the sixth grade who regularly read the New York Times," he said. His books reflect an eclectic view of his world. From his love of old-time radio came Sounds in the Air: The Golden Age of Radio and from his fascination with plastics came a social and cultural history called, simple enough, Plastics. He also serves as the series editor for the Jewish Publication Society's JPS Guides.
He is married to Rosalind who he calls "my first-line editor". They have three grown children and three grandchildren. Finkelstein lives in Framingham, Massachusetts.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A great introduction to American Jewish History,
By Dan Hazony (Newton, MA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Forged in Freedom: Shaping the Jewish-American Experience (Hardcover)
This is book is an excellent book for anyone interested in receiving an in-depth introduction to American Jewish History. Finkelstein utilizes his anecdotes in a fashion that allows the reader to understand the significance of major events in the lives of average American Jews. The book illustrates American Jewish life from the good through the bad.An excellent read for anyone wanting to know about key, unknown events.
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Front Cover | Front Flap | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Flap | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
For the nearly two million Jewish immigrants who came to America one hundred years ago there was but one Judaism: the traditional Orthodoxy of Eastern Europe. Read the first page Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
United States, New York, American Jews, American Jewish, Leo Frank, Lower East Side, Supreme Court, World War, Library of Congress, Mary Phagan, Eddie Cantor, Eastern Europe, State of Israel, Rabbi Wise, State Department, The Jazz Singer, Reform Jews, Six-Day War, Henrietta Szold, Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania, Rauh Archives, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Yom Kippur, Associated Press, Democratic Party New!
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Front Cover | Front Flap | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Flap | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
For the nearly two million Jewish immigrants who came to America one hundred years ago there was but one Judaism: the traditional Orthodoxy of Eastern Europe. Read the first page Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
United States, New York, American Jews, American Jewish, Leo Frank, Lower East Side, Supreme Court, World War, Library of Congress, Mary Phagan, Eddie Cantor, Eastern Europe, State of Israel, Rabbi Wise, State Department, The Jazz Singer, Reform Jews, Six-Day War, Henrietta Szold, Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania, Rauh Archives, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Yom Kippur, Associated Press, Democratic Party New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Front Flap | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Flap | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 35
books:
See all 35 books this book cites
- The Promised Land (Classic, 20th-Century, Penguin) by Mary Antin on page 92, page 106, and Back Matter
- New York Jews and the Quest for Community by Arthur A. Goren in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
- The Triangle Fire by Leon Stein in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
- Dissenter in Zion: From the Writings of Judah L. Magnes by Arthur A. Goren in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
- American Pastoral by Philip Roth on page 86, and page 93
See all 35 books this book cites
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