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American Judaism: A History Hardcover – February 1, 2004

by Jonathan D. Sarna (Author)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 40 ratings
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American Judaism: A History
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This magisterial work chronicles the 350-year history of the Jewish religion in America. Tracing American Judaism from its origins in the colonial era through the present day, Jonathan Sarna explores the ways in which Judaism adapted in this new context. How did American culture?predominantly Protestant and overwhelmingly capitalist?affect Jewish religion and culture? And how did American Jews shape their own communities and faith in the new world?
Jonathan Sarna, a preeminent scholar of American Judaism, tells the story of individuals struggling to remain Jewish while also becoming American. He offers a dynamic and timely history of assimilation and revitalization, of faith lost and faith regained.The first comprehensive history of American Judaism in over fifty years, this book is both a celebration of 350 years of Jewish life in America and essential reading for anyone interested in American religion and life.
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  1. Print length
    512 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Yale University Press
  4. Publication date
    February 1, 2004
  5. Dimensions
    6.5 x 1.5 x 9.75 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    9780300101973
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0300101973
  8. See all details
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4.5 out of 5 stars
40 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book provides an insightful and comprehensive account of Jewish history. They describe it as an interesting, lively read with a well-written writing style that is accessible and informative. The book helps readers understand key players and the general zeitgeist of the time period.

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6 customers mention "Information quality"6 positive0 negative

Customers find the book provides an insightful, comprehensive overview of American Jewish history. They appreciate its well-researched and factual content. The book helps readers understand the history, key players, and general zeitgeist of American Judaism.

"...On the other hand, it is a valuable for "fact checking" other writers' more opinion-laden efforts, because Sarna is meticulous in his footnotes and..." Read more

"...and traced trends in a logical readable way -- beautiful analysis of the origins, history and current status of the major movements of Judaism...." Read more

"...Sarna gives an insightful, comprehensive and fascinating overview of American Jewish history in "American Judaism" I really developed a..." Read more

"Excellent book that helps one to understand the history, key players and general zeitgeist of the major Jewish movements in the USA...." Read more

5 customers mention "Readability"5 positive0 negative

Customers find the book well-researched and engaging. They describe it as a brilliant chronicle of the Jewish history, with an optimistic tone. Readers praise the book for its readability and enthusiasm.

"...While the book is very readable and lively, I found his sense of optimism and his analysis of the challenges facing American Judaism in the future..." Read more

"Excellent book that helps one to understand the history, key players and general zeitgeist of the major Jewish movements in the USA...." Read more

"...That is what makes this book so engaging." Read more

"Excellent read!" Read more

3 customers mention "Writing style"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the writing style accessible and readable, but dense with facts.

"...While the book is very readable and lively, I found his sense of optimism and his analysis of the challenges facing American Judaism in the future..." Read more

"...While his writing style is accessible, it is dense and fact-filled...." Read more

"Well-written history..." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • James Schuyler
    5.0 out of 5 stars The book of the year for the 350th anniversary
    Reviewed in the United States on November 12, 2004
    Verified Purchase
    Professor Jonathan Sarna, pre-eminent scholar of the American Jewish experience, has written the book of the year for 2004, the 350th anniversary of Jewish settlement in America. Sarna's book is a brilliant chronicle of the 350 year history of the Jewish religion in America. Yes, his focus is on American Judaism and not another history of Jews in America. He asks all of the right questions: How has Judaism developed in America? How has it changed? What is its relationship to American religion? Where does it stand today? How have Jews been affected by the great turning points--the various awakenings, the Civil War, the women's movement, etc. He concludes that American Judaism is distinctive and different from Judaism in Israel or in Europe.

    While the book is very readable and lively, I found his sense of optimism and his analysis of the challenges facing American Judaism in the future to be the greatest contributions of this monumental work. Sarna observes that the age-old fear that Judaism would not survive here provided an important stimulus for creative innovations. Time and again, concern for the future of Judaism inspired religious renewal. And he is equally surprised by the quickening pace of change.

    Sarna has already won the National Jewish Book Award's 2004 Book of the Year and has traveled the country speaking to large and enthusiastic audiences. I think this is a book that will stand the test of time, and one that you will be coming back to as a reference for many, many years. What an excellent choice for gift-giving at this holiday time.
    27 people found this helpful
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  • A Guy from Chevy Chase
    4.0 out of 5 stars Comprehensive but a bit uneven
    Reviewed in the United States on February 2, 2011
    Verified Purchase
    Professor Sarna is to be congratulated for an outstanding scholarly contribution to the canon of historical works describing the American Jewish experience. As a teacher of the subject myself, I found his work comprehensive and authoritative.

    His utilization of a documentary approach fits in well with the Jewish tradition of text study. It's quite remarkable how much information seems new even to those previously well versed in the subject.

    While his writing style is accessible, it is dense and fact-filled. With careful culling, I have been able to use portions as a base text for high school students, although it would be more appropriate for a college (or even graduate school) survey course.

    This is probably not the kind of book one sits down and reads through. On the other hand, it is a valuable for "fact checking" other writers' more opinion-laden efforts, because Sarna is meticulous in his footnotes and citation of authorities.

    The author spends too much time on the early American experience. While the role of Jews in Ameerica friom the 1650's to the 1820's is interesting, at no time in that period did Jews represent more than a tiny fraction of the population. Further, their descendants either assimiliated into American culture or was overwhelmed by the subsequent immigration from Eastern Europe. In short, they had little lasting impact on subsequent Jewish life in America, and spending that much effort on a description of them is unwarrented.

    Perhaps the best aspect of this work is Sarna's demonstration of the impact of American culture of the development of the unique "American" styles of Judaism, with its congregationalism, denominationalism, and focus on "rights" as well as responsibilities.
    5 people found this helpful
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  • +
    5.0 out of 5 stars Could not put it down
    Reviewed in the United States on May 30, 2005
    Verified Purchase
    Jonathan Sarna's book is the first American Jewish History that I could not put down. Should be required reading for all American Jews. I have read Jewish history and studied in college under Arthur Hertzberg, Arnie Eisen, Michael Stanislawski, so that little here was actually new to me. The book, however, put everything into proper perspective and traced trends in a logical readable way -- beautiful analysis of the origins, history and current status of the major movements of Judaism.

    In case Dr. Sarna reads this -- here are my gripes: Personalities, such as Zalman Schachter-Shalomi merit too much of Sarna's attention. Similarly, Rebbetzin Jungreis is interesting but not far reaching in impact. Hadassah, and the extent to which it went hand in hand with Sisterhood's domination of suburban women's lives, barely gets passing mention. So too with the Soviet Jewry movement.

    While Sarna does a beautiful job tracing the origins and sequelae of Orthodoxy's shift "to the right," he makes a few important omissions in describing other movements, such as Conservative Judaism. For example, he neglects to point out that the Movement's Law Committee had already approved Women's ordination before the Rabbinical Assembly voted to include women or the JTS faculty put it to a vote. Sarna suggests that the JTS faculty decision was purely expedient and not based on halachic considerations, which at least institutionally if not to the lay people, remains crucial. Similarly, at one point, Sarna notes that there is little distance today between left-wing Conservative and right-wing Reform. Quite true. But also worthy of note is the little distance between left-wing Orthodox "Modern orthodox" and right -wing Conservative, both of those last groups a vanishing breed.

    Note too, Dr. Sarna, that Joe Leiberman carefully avoided describing himself as "Orthodox," preferring the word "observant."

    All in all, an absolutely magnificent work.
    16 people found this helpful
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  • Amazon Fan MD
    5.0 out of 5 stars comprehensive and fascinating overview of American Jewish history in "American Judaism" I really developed a great sense of how
    Reviewed in the United States on March 3, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Jonathan Sarna gives an insightful, comprehensive and fascinating overview of American Jewish history in "American Judaism" I really developed a great sense of how each school of thought and movement in Judaism developed, evolved, and adapted over time. I thoroughly enjoyed it and was sad for it to end.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Rabbi Beth
    5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommend
    Reviewed in the United States on March 14, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Excellent book that helps one to understand the history, key players and general zeitgeist of the major Jewish movements in the USA. I didn't think I had so much to learn but upon reading this, I really found that I learned many new details about American Judaism.
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