Summary

Judaism is considered by many to be both an ethnicity and a religion. This dual relationship has made Jews in America distinct from other minority groups. From the colonial period to the late 20th and early 21st century, waves of immigrant Jews have influenced the practice and overall identity of the American Jewish community based on the places from which they came. Today, Israel's policy of automatically granting Jews around the world dual citizenship has created a strong tie to that country and further complicated the intricate relationship American Jews have with America.

Written in an engaging and informative manner, The Jewish Americans offers students and general readers a fascinating glimpse into the history of this ethnic group, as well as their contributions and conflicts in American society. Features of this comprehensive new resource include black-and-white photographs, box features, and further reading lists.

Specifications

Black-and-white photographs and illustrations. Maps. Index. Glossary. Box features. Further reading lists.

About the Author(s)

General editor Rodney P. Carlisle earned his B.A. in history from Harvard and both his M.A. and Ph.D. in history from the University of California in Berkeley. He is a former chair of the history department at Rutgers University in Camden, where he taught for more than 30 years, specializing in 20th-century history. Carlisle is now professor emeritus there. He has written and edited many articles and more than 30 books on history, including Facts On File's Handbook to Life in America set.