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9781416573272

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A contextually rich story of Judaism's evolution in early America, containing surprises such as New York Jews' sympathy for the Confederacy, source of cotton for trade and clothing. -- American Jewish World Beginning with the mid-17th century, the author offers numerous illuminating anecdotes and outsized personalities to explain how and why the first Jews arrived in what became the U.S. more than a century later . . . Religious history that should interest Jews and non-Jews alike. -- Kirkus Reviews Expertly told . . . Anyone interested in American Judaism will be enlightened by this lucid and entertaining history. -- Publishers Weekly, starred review Weisman here gives a solid outline of the history of Jewish divisiveness that anyone can follow, an important beginning to understanding the truth over myth about Judaism in American history. -- New York Journal of Books Weisman's meticulously researched and fluently argued book is a compelling story of a glorious past. It is also a guide to the foreseeable future. The chosen wars rage on, but now, at least, we have a manual to help us fight them more mindfully. -- The Wall Street Journal Well-documented and compelling . . . Weisman demonstrates that Judaism was able to adapt itself to the New World in multiple ways that, despite the ongoing challenges, continue to thrive. -- The Washington Post The fascinating story of Jews in America has been told many times but seldom if ever with the narrative power and analytic acuity this fine book displays. Anyone interested in the intricate history of religion in the USA will find this volume endlessly informative. --Harvey Cox, Hollis Professor of Divinity Emeritus, Harvard University, author THE FUTURE OF FAITH The rise of Judaism in American is an astonishing, underappreciated saga with remarkable and eccentric personalities. Steve Weisman explains a lot about our country, about the Jewish people and tells a really great story. --Rabbi David Wolpe, Sinai Temple, author of David: The Divided Heart American Judaism underwent a radical shift in the 19th century, adapting its rituals and its theology alike for an open, modern society. Weisman offers a thorough and fascinating history of these decades, which gave birth to the liberal branches of Judaism and allowed Jews to feel at home and thrive in America. --New York Times Book Review (Editors' Choice) Only rarely does an author succeed in writing a book that reframes how we perceive our own history. The Chosen Wars is one such book, and it could not arrive at a more appropriate time in that history. . . . fascinating and provocative. -- Jewish Journal The Chosen Wars is a uniquely American story about how minority religious communities have grappled with the tension between being, as Weisman puts it, 'a part' of and yet 'apart' from our wider society. It's a book full of life about a living tradition. --E.J. Dionne Jr, New York Times bestselling author of Why the Right Went Wrong and co-author of One Nation After Trump The Chosen Wars is filled with light for dark times. It is an important and engaging narrative about the evolution of American Judaism. Gone are the old myths and suspicions, and in their place is a profound meditation on the nature of Jewish identity. --Amanda Foreman, New York Times bestselling author of A World on Fire A popular, readable account of the outsized personalities and dramatic conflicts that produced a distinctively American Judaism over the course of the Nineteenth Century. The Chosen Wars draws upon recent scholarship to produce a history that is as unforgettable as it is relevant to our times. --Jonathan D. Sarna, University Professor, Brandeis University and author of American Judaism: A History American Jews have shockingly little self-awareness about their place in an incredible saga. Life in the New World transformed their religion, creating distinctive beliefs and ritual. It is a fascinating tale, full of conflict and ingenuity. Steve Weisman has excavated this history with narrative flair and wisdom. The Chosen Wars is a book that will become a fixture on the shelves of the diaspora and beyond. --Franklin Foer, author of World Without Mind Steve Weisman shares important observations about the American Jewish past and the way it shaped and continues to shape today's Jewish communities. The Chosen Wars offers a framework to view a complex, often contentious but ever proud people struggle with tradition and innovation on a new and captivating shore. --Erica Brown, author of Jonah: The Reluctant Prophet

Weisman's meticulously researched and fluently argued book is a compelling story of a glorious past. It is also a guide to the foreseeable future. The chosen wars rage on, but now, at least, we have a manual to help us fight them more mindfully. --The Wall Street Journal Well-documented and compelling . . . Weisman demonstrates that Judaism was able to adapt itself to the New World in multiple ways that, despite the ongoing challenges, continue to thrive. --The Washington Post The rise of Judaism in American is an astonishing, underappreciated saga with remarkable and eccentric personalities. Steve Weisman explains a lot about our country, about the Jewish people and tells a really great story. --Rabbi David Wolpe, Sinai Temple, author of David: The Divided Heart Expertly told . . . Anyone interested in American Judaism will be enlightened by this lucid and entertaining history. --Publishers Weekly, starred review A contextually rich story of Judaism's evolution in early America, containing surprises such as New York Jews' sympathy for the Confederacy, source of cotton for trade and clothing. --American Jewish World Beginning with the mid-17th century, the author offers numerous illuminating anecdotes and outsized personalities to explain how and why the first Jews arrived in what became the U.S. more than a century later . . . Religious history that should interest Jews and non-Jews alike. --Kirkus Reviews Weisman here gives a solid outline of the history of Jewish divisiveness that anyone can follow, an important beginning to understanding the truth over myth about Judaism in American history. --New York Journal of Books The fascinating story of Jews in America has been told many times but seldom if ever with the narrative power and analytic acuity this fine book displays. Anyone interested in the intricate history of religion in the USA will find this volume endlessly informative. --Harvey Cox, Hollis Professor of Divinity Emeritus, Harvard University, author THE FUTURE OF FAITH Steve Weisman shares important observations about the American Jewish past and the way it shaped and continues to shape today's Jewish communities. The Chosen Wars offers a framework to view a complex, often contentious but ever proud people struggle with tradition and innovation on a new and captivating shore. --Erica Brown, author of Jonah: The Reluctant Prophet The Chosen Wars is a uniquely American story about how minority religious communities have grappled with the tension between being, as Weisman puts it, 'a part' of and yet 'apart' from our wider society. It's a book full of life about a living tradition. --E.J. Dionne Jr, New York Times bestselling author of Why the Right Went Wrong and co-author of One Nation After Trump The Chosen Wars is filled with light for dark times. It is an important and engaging narrative about the evolution of American Judaism. Gone are the old myths and suspicions, and in their place is a profound meditation on the nature of Jewish identity. --Amanda Foreman, New York Times bestselling author of A World on Fire A popular, readable account of the outsized personalities and dramatic conflicts that produced a distinctively American Judaism over the course of the Nineteenth Century. The Chosen Wars draws upon recent scholarship to produce a history that is as unforgettable as it is relevant to our times. --Jonathan D. Sarna, University Professor, Brandeis University and author of American Judaism: A History American Jews have shockingly little self-awareness about their place in an incredible saga. Life in the New World transformed their religion, creating distinctive beliefs and ritual. It is a fascinating tale, full of conflict and ingenuity. Steve Weisman has excavated this history with narrative flair and wisdom. The Chosen Wars is a book that will become a fixture on the shelves of the diaspora and beyond. --Franklin Foer, author of World Without Mind Only rarely does an author succeed in writing a book that reframes how we perceive our own history. The Chosen Wars is one such book, and it could not arrive at a more appropriate time in that history. . . . fascinating and provocative. --Jewish Journal American Judaism underwent a radical shift in the 19th century, adapting its rituals and its theology alike for an open, modern society. Weisman offers a thorough and fascinating history of these decades, which gave birth to the liberal branches of Judaism and allowed Jews to feel at home and thrive in America. --New York Times Book Review (Editors' Choice)

Weisman's meticulously researched and fluently argued book is a compelling story of a glorious past. It is also a guide to the foreseeable future. The chosen wars rage on, but now, at least, we have a manual to help us fight them more mindfully. --The Wall Street Journal Well-documented and compelling . . . Weisman demonstrates that Judaism was able to adapt itself to the New World in multiple ways that, despite the ongoing challenges, continue to thrive. --The Washington Post The rise of Judaism in American is an astonishing, underappreciated saga with remarkable and eccentric personalities. Steve Weisman explains a lot about our country, about the Jewish people and tells a really great story. --Rabbi David Wolpe, Sinai Temple, author of David: The Divided Heart Expertly told . . . Anyone interested in American Judaism will be enlightened by this lucid and entertaining history. --Publishers Weekly, starred review A contextually rich story of Judaism's evolution in early America, containing surprises such as New York Jews' sympathy for the Confederacy, source of cotton for trade and clothing. --American Jewish World Beginning with the mid-17th century, the author offers numerous illuminating anecdotes and outsized personalities to explain how and why the first Jews arrived in what became the U.S. more than a century later . . . Religious history that should interest Jews and non-Jews alike. --Kirkus Reviews Weisman here gives a solid outline of the history of Jewish divisiveness that anyone can follow, an important beginning to understanding the truth over myth about Judaism in American history. --New York Journal of Books The fascinating story of Jews in America has been told many times but seldom if ever with the narrative power and analytic acuity this fine book displays. Anyone interested in the intricate history of religion in the USA will find this volume endlessly informative. --Harvey Cox, Hollis Professor of Divinity Emeritus, Harvard University, author THE FUTURE OF FAITH The Chosen Wars is a uniquely American story about how minority religious communities have grappled with the tension between being, as Weisman puts it, 'a part' of and yet 'apart' from our wider society. It's a book full of life about a living tradition. --E.J. Dionne Jr, New York Times bestselling author of Why the Right Went Wrong and co-author of One Nation After Trump Steve Weisman shares important observations about the American Jewish past and the way it shaped and continues to shape today's Jewish communities. The Chosen Wars offers a framework to view a complex, often contentious but ever proud people struggle with tradition and innovation on a new and captivating shore. --Erica Brown, author of Jonah: The Reluctant Prophet The Chosen Wars is filled with light for dark times. It is an important and engaging narrative about the evolution of American Judaism. Gone are the old myths and suspicions, and in their place is a profound meditation on the nature of Jewish identity. --Amanda Foreman, New York Times bestselling author of A World on Fire A popular, readable account of the outsized personalities and dramatic conflicts that produced a distinctively American Judaism over the course of the Nineteenth Century. The Chosen Wars draws upon recent scholarship to produce a history that is as unforgettable as it is relevant to our times. --Jonathan D. Sarna, University Professor, Brandeis University and author of American Judaism: A History American Jews have shockingly little self-awareness about their place in an incredible saga. Life in the New World transformed their religion, creating distinctive beliefs and ritual. It is a fascinating tale, full of conflict and ingenuity. Steve Weisman has excavated this history with narrative flair and wisdom. The Chosen Wars is a book that will become a fixture on the shelves of the diaspora and beyond. --Franklin Foer, author of World Without Mind Only rarely does an author succeed in writing a book that reframes how we perceive our own history. The Chosen Wars is one such book, and it could not arrive at a more appropriate time in that history. . . . fascinating and provocative. --Jewish Journal American Judaism underwent a radical shift in the 19th century, adapting its rituals and its theology alike for an open, modern society. Weisman offers a thorough and fascinating history of these decades, which gave birth to the liberal branches of Judaism and allowed Jews to feel at home and thrive in America. --New York Times Book Review (Editors' Choice)

Author Information

Steven R. Weisman, vice president for publications and communications at the Peterson Institute for International Economics (PIIE), previously served as a correspondent, editor, and editorial board member at The New York Times. His book The Great Tax Wars: How the Income Tax Transformed America, received the Sidney Hillman Award in 2003.

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