Twentieth Century Jews

"Prof. Monty Noam Penkower has once again presented readers with a fascinating volume that focuses on a pivotal period in the modern Jewish experience. With chapters ranging from the Kishinev Pogrom of 1903, through an exploration of figures of secular and religious Jewish stature in the United States such as Justice Felix Frankfurter and Rabbi Abraham Selmanowitz, and up to a discussion of controversial political activists in Palestine such as Haim Arlosoroff and Shlomo Ben-Yosef, Penkower keeps readers spellbound with the depth and breadth of his knowledge. Drawing on archival material found on three continents, he has created a multidimensional picture of Jewish life in Europe, the United States and Israel during the first decades of the twentieth century, and captured the essence of the social, political, religious and economic dilemmas which world Jewry faced during those fateful years. He introduces us to the protagonists of his story in an extremely readable fashion, and skillfully guides us through their deliberations and decisions, giving us a sense of being privy to the behind-the-scenes activities in all cases. Reading this book is a must for anyone interested in understanding some of the complexities of the Jewish twentieth century experience." -- Judy Baumel-Schwartz, Chair of the Graduate Program in Contemporary Jewry, Department of Jewish History, Bar-Ilan University
"Twentieth Century Jews portrays critical movements and leading personages in the era's two fastest growing centers of Jewish life. It illuminates both the issues that shaped Jews in America and Israel, and the great questions that continue to divide them." -- Jonathan D. Sarna, Joseph H. & Belle R. Braun Professor of American Jewish History, Brandeis University
"This is a wide-ranging, deeply researched, carefully constructed series of studies dealing with significant subjects and personalities that adds considerably to our understanding of the major issues that confronted the Jewish people in the twentieth century. Its twin foci are American Jewry and developments in the Land of Israel. With regard to both, Penkower is a wise and erudite analyst, and a suggestive scholarly interpreter." -- Steven T. Katz, Director, Elie Wiesel Center for Judaic Studies, Alvin J. and Shirley Slater Chair in Jewish and Holocaust Studies, Boston University
"'Twentieth Century Jews' takes the long way around the identity journey—and it's well worth the trip." -- Jerome Chanes * The Forward *
“The articles of this volume are meticulously researched and are a fascinating read. The topics should interest scholars and students of American, Israeli, Near Eastern, and European history. Lay people eager to explore the undercurrents of the Middle East conflict and of American Jewish identity will also profit from this book." -- Catherine Hezser, University of London, UK * Journal of Modern Jewish Studies, vol. 12, issue 3 (December 2013) *