Reference Reviews

Lawrence Looks at Books

Encyclopedia of American Jewish History, edited by Stephen H. Norwood and Eunice G. Pollock. 2 vols. 806p. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, 2008. 978-1-85109-638-1; 2007-13889. $195.

Encyclopedia of American Jewish History This new encyclopedia examines the Jewish experience in the United States. The 189 essays are arranged thematically into 26 subject areas. The initial sections describe settlement patterns, immigrant experiences, demographics and the development of both Judaism and selected Jewish communities in America. These are followed with examinations of the influence of anti-Semitism, Zionism and the Holocaust on American Jews. The bulk of the encyclopedia is devoted to the collective contributions of Jewish Americans in different walks of life, including law, crime, politics, military, business, labor, sports, entertainment, literature, art, music, science, and education. Exemplary biographies highlight the achievements of individuals like Samuel Gompers, Harry Houdini, Benny Goodman, Albert Einstein, George Gershwin, Sandy Koufax, Leonard Bernstein, Man Ray, Woody Allen, Arthur Miller and Henry Kissinger. While essays on Leo Frank and the founding of the Anti-Defamation League or Golda Meir and Zionism emphasize Jewish history, examinations of Frank Boas and the development of graduate disciplines in American or Isaac Asimov's science fiction celebrate Jewish contributions to mainstream American culture. However, like the novels of Philip Roth, almost all the expert-written essays struggle with the question of what it has meant to be Jewish in America. Moreover, from the slave trade to rock and roll, many provide fresh approaches to questions of assimilation and cultural identity. This scholarly guide is highly recommended for both public and academic libraries.

— John Lawrence