by David Geffen
What becomes very clear in ‘Jews and the Civil War’ is that Jews, depending, supported the ideology of their close neighbors.
For Jews in America,” Eli Evans, noted historian of Southern Jewry, begins his essay reprinted in this volume, “the Civil War was a watershed that involved Jewish soldiers from all over the nation.” He emphasizes that “Jews served in both armies and helped in the war effort in many other ways. Serving their countries under fire and fighting side by side with their gentile comrades in arms accelerated the process of acculturation, not only through their self-perceptions, but also because of the reactions of the community around them.”
Then Evans makes this key point about what the Civil War accomplished in terms of identity. “Jewish immigrants who had only recently arrived in America and thought of themselves as Germans came to see themselves not only as Americans, but as Americans who belonged.” Significantly, “the veterans, who were Jews, were largely treated that way when they returned home.” Read the rest of this entry »
Jacob’s Family Dynamics
November 24, 2010by Israel Drazin
Dishi, an educator, Orthodox rabbi, and lawyer, takes a different approach. He analyses the biblical narrative from a literary and psychological approach. This frequently reveals that the patriarchs did not act properly. They were human. In his introduction, he writes that he recognizes that his approach, which is not unique, may bother some readers, but he quotes good recognized Orthodox sources that support this kind of analysis.
Readers may or may not agree with his assessment of the nine episodes that he probes. But this is in not important. Even if and when they disagree, they will find that Dishi’s method provokes them to think about the issues Dishi raises and develop their own ideas. Read the rest of this entry »