The Jewish Confederates (NS) [Hardcover]

Robert N. Rosen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 2000

"An eye-opening, myth-shattering, stereotype-breaking work of originality, elegance, and wisdom. A must-read for Civil War buffs, Jewish history fans, and all Americans interested in learning—and you will learn much—about Jewish southerners who placed loyalty to their adopted states above the moral teachings of their tradition (at least as we now interpret them). You may not agree with these Jewish Confederates, but you will surely understand them better." —Alan M. Dershowitz

Rosen N. Rosen's JEWISH CONFEDERATES shows that the breadth and strength of Southern Jews’ commitment to the Confederate cause is undeniable. Focusing on the Jewish communities throughout the South, Rosen explains each city's reasons for supporting the cause of Southern independence. Those motivations were as complex as their positions and roles in Southern society.

Profiling the prominent and humble, who volunteered for service, Rosen shows a Confederate army and government remarkably free of anti-Semitism and a Southern leadership, especially Jefferson Davis and Robert E. Lee, without prejudice against the Jews (as opposed to Union generals Ulysses S. Grant and William T. Sherman who issued anti-Semitic edicts).

The text is supplemented with 160 photographs and illustrations-- many previously unpublished and recently discovered images contributed by the descendants of Jewish Confederates.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

While prominent, largely forgotten Jewish leaders such as Confederate Secretary of State Judah Benjamin and Q.M. Gen. Abraham C. Myers are re-examined in Rosen's account of the Jewish confederacy, the real contribution of this book to Civil War scholarship is its thorough look at the contradictions and ironies implied by the title, and the capsule biographical sketches of quite a few of the 2,000 Jewish men who served in the Confederate army and navy. Looking at the total Southern Jewish population of less than 25,000Abased mainly in the cities of Memphis, Nashville, Mobile and ShreveportARosen concludes that, contrary to the commonly held idea of "old" Jewish families being the mainstay of the contingent, the typical Jewish soldier was a recent immigrant who "enlisted to prove he was a man and a worthy citizen"Aalbeit a citizen sometimes subject to prejudices just as virulent as anti-black racism. In addition to tracking the exploits of many soldiers, Rosen also chronicles the trials and tribulations of Jewish civilians behind the lines and the growth of anti-Semitism as the war progressed. This groundbreaking study is liberally illustrated with photographs and maps, and is written clearly and energetically as a trade book, despite its academic stamp and thoroughness. (Oct.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

A native of Charleston, SC, Rosen (Confederate Charleston: An Illustrated History of the Place and the People During the Civil War) uses his own background and experience to recount the lives of Southern Jews from the 1700s until well after the Civil War. Loyal Southerners, the Jews accepted living in a slaveholding society, and their young men flocked to enlist when war came. The author delves into the lives of a number of prominent individuals and families, among them two U.S. senators, Judah Philip Benjamin of Louisiana and David Levy Yulee of Florida. The experiences of many other enlisted men, officers, nurses, politicians, rabbis, doctors, and businessmen are also chronicled. Rosen also explains why so many Jews chose the South as their home and why they remained loyal to it, arguing that Southern society and the Confederate army and navy may have been more tolerant of Jews than the North. The glossary provides definitions of Judaic terms. Larger public and academic libraries should consider this readable book, as should all libraries with strong Judaic or military collections.DDavid Alperstein, Queens Borough P.L., Jamaica, NY
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 544 pages
• Publisher: University of South Carolina Press (October 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1570033633
• ISBN-13: 978-1570033636
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 7.2 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #863,960 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Cornerstone Book for Future Studies in this Area, February 19, 2002

By 

Walter Woodman (Shreveport, Louisiana United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Jewish Confederates (NS) (Hardcover)

This outstanding work is highly recommended. It shatters previous myths and misunderstandings about Jewish life in the old South and during the War for Southern Independence commonly called the "Civil War" by northern historians. Rosen has exhaustively covered the source material and brought to light information and facts that have been buried with the passage of time. This book will be the foundation starting point for any legitimate historical inquiry into this area for decades to come. The book is well printed, well illustrated, and a pleasure to behold and would make an outstanding addition to any library.

29 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Civil War History One Doesn't Normally Think Of., December 20, 2000

By 

Michael Charton - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Jewish Confederates (NS) (Hardcover)

I grew up, a Jew in the Northeast. I lived in a small Southern town for four years, working as a librarian. I became fascinated by what I read about Jews serving the Confederate cause. I read whatever I could get on Confederate Sec. of State Judah Benjamin. I wish Mr. Rosen had written this book 15 years ago. It is never too late, though. This book should be in every Civil War collection, Southern Genealogy and University collections, and educated American. Another look at a tragic war that nearly tore this nation apart.

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful, January 29, 2001

By 

Jonathan M. Fox (Bethesda, Maryland United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Jewish Confederates (NS) (Hardcover)

In Mongtomery Alabama, the spot were Jefferson Davis took the oath of Office as President of the Conferatate States of America is marked by a star of david. This is said to reflect the mark that J.P. Benjamian made on the Confederary. Although small in numbers the Jewish poplulation of the Confederacy seems to have fully invoved in the war effor. I guess when your flighting a war of national survival you do not have any time to be anti semantic. This book is just the type of new scholarship that is needed if we are to rescue Conferate history from the P.C. types that see the Union Amry as some sort of very well armed civil right protest movment, and the nuts that march with Nazi and Confederate Battle Flags