New York's Jewish Jews : the orthodox community in the interwar years /

Joselit's book takes its place among a number of fine cultural histories about the Americanization of New York Jews. She examines the same period as did Deborah Dash Moore's outstanding history of second generation New York Jews, At Home in America (CH, May'81). Joselit, however, studies the Jews who are thought to be the most resistant to Americanization, the Orthodox. Her study reveals quite the opposite. The interwar years gave rise to an Orthodox Judaism whose adherents eagerly developed an institutional life that was to fortify their claim to the successful marriage of "Torah-true" Judaism and American Life. However, this modern Orthodox Judaism was to lose ground following WW II to a far more reactionary Judaism. Joselit examines the interwar orthodox synagogue, rabbinate, and day school to understand the worldview constructed by this community. A particularly original chapter on Orthodox women discusses not only their organizational life, but how they became integrated into synagogue life without challenging the place of women in halakah. This lucid study draws on both oral history and an impressive variety of written primary sources. Its cultural analysis would have been strengthened by a social foundation; the inclusion of information about who the Orthodox were--their occupational histories, social class, and other standard features--would have enhanced the meaning of their choice to Americanize. Advanced undergraduates and up. R.-E. Prell University of Minnesota