Isaac Leeser and the making of American Judaism
By: Lance J. Sussman.
Series: American Jewish civilization series
Publisher: Wayne State University Press
Published: 1995
Place of publication: Detroit, MI
Language: eng
Number of pages: 311
Subjects: Leeser, Isaac.; Rabbis -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia -- Biography.; Judaism -- United States -- History -- 19th century.; Orthodox Judaism -- United States -- History -- 19th century.; Jews, European -- United States -- History -- 19th century.; Philadelphia (Pa.) -- Biography.
Description: More than any other person of his time, Isaac Leeser (1806-1868) envisioned the development of a major center of Jewish culture and religious activity in the United States. He single-handedly provided American Jews with many of the basic religious texts, institutions, and conceptual tools they needed to construct the cultural foundation of what would later emerge as the largest Jewish community in the history of the Jewish people.

In the first biography of Isaac Leeser, Lance Sussman makes extensive use of archival and primary sources to provide a thorough study of a man who has been largely ignored by traditional histories. Isaac Leeser and the Making of American Judaism also tells an important part of the story of Judaism's response to the challenge of political freedom and social acceptance in a new, modern society.

Judaism itself was transformed as it came to terms with America, and the key figure in this process was Isaac Leeser.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 294-300) and index.