American History

0 Culture Politics

Our grandparents made America great, but Trump would have trashed them, too

David Margolick in Forward · 28 Oct

David Margolick reflects on America’s immigrant history through a series of posters dedicated to his immigrant grandparents, juxtaposing their contributions to American society with former President Donald Trump’s derogatory rhetoric towards immigrants.

0 Culture Music

Reasons to be Hopeful with Peter Himmelman

Unorthodox · 23 Oct

Musician and author Peter Himmelman discusses the enduring power of hope, his Jewish faith, and his dedication to using his art to foster connection and hope in challenging times.

0 Communities History

Reinventing Black Jewish Relations: Learning from the Past and Embracing the New with Marc Dollinger, Eric K. Ward and Nadine Epstein

Moment in Moment · 10 Sep

The relationship between Black and Jewish Americans, solidified during pivotal moments in 20th-century civil rights history, is re-examined in a contemporary context by Marc Dollinger, Eric K. Ward, and Nadine Epstein.

0 History Communities

Holding Fast

Stuart Halpern in Tablet · 12 Aug

The article discusses the historical significance of national fasting in American history, drawing parallels to the Jewish fast day of Tisha B'Av.

0 Politics History

Trump says he had God on his side — Bob Dylan knew it was never that simple

PJ Grisar in Forward · 19 Jul

At the 2024 Republican National Convention, various speakers, including pastors and Trump's son, attributed Trump's survival of an assassination attempt to divine intervention, with Trump himself stating he had God on his side during the incident.

0 Communities Antisemitism

Wisdom Project | Reggie Schatz, 98, Says “Family Is Everything”

Pam Janis in Moment · 1 Jul

Reggie Schatz, a 98-year-old from Maryland, emphasizes the importance of love, family, and community in her life.

0 History Politics

Pulitzer Prize finalist tells story of the little-known Jewish lawyer who tried to keep Emma Goldman out of jail

Andrew Silow-Carroll in JTA · 16 Jun

In his book "American Anarchy," Pulitzer Prize finalist Michael Willrich sheds light on the little-known Jewish lawyer Harry Weinberger, who championed civil liberties by defending prominent anarchists like Emma Goldman and Alexander Berkman in the early 20th century.

0 Culture History

OJ's Nightmarish Legacy

The Commentary Magazine Podcast · 12 Apr

Reflecting on the cultural aftermath of OJ Simpson's trial, the podcast explores how it shifted public perception of justice, race, and media spectacle in America.

0 Politics Culture

Obama’s Americans

Michael Lind in Tablet · 10 Apr

Former President Barack Obama, in a speech at a fundraiser, highlighted the diversity of America as a crucial element that unites individuals under a common set of rules, challenging the concept of a shared American identity prior to 1965.

0 History Politics

How a 100-year-old law changed American immigration policy until this day

Andrew Silow-Carroll in JTA · 7 Apr

The 1924 Johnson-Reed Act, signed by President Calvin Coolidge, set quotas on immigrants' countries of origin and excluded Asians, impacting Jewish migration and establishing a more restrictive immigration policy.

0 History Antisemitism

Jews in America

Emes Ve-Emunah · 29 Feb

Meir Soloveichik, in a comprehensive article in the National Review, discusses the unique place of Jews in America compared to their historical treatment in other countries.

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Happy Thanksgiving 2023. We’re Going to Be OK.

Liel Leibovitz in Tablet · 22 Nov 2023

In this article, the author argues that despite the current challenges faced by America, the country is going to be fine and even better than before.

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Jews in Colonial America

Adventures in Jewish Studies · 24 Oct 2023

This episode of Adventures in Jewish Studies examines the experiences of Ashkenazi and Sephardic Jews who migrated to various American colonies in the late seventeenth century, such as Georgia, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and South Carolina.

0 History Communities

Her family escaped from pogroms to South Dakota — did they become complicit in the decimation of Native Americans?

Julia M. Klein in Forward · 20 Oct 2023

"Rebecca Clarren's book 'The Cost of Free Land' explores her Jewish family's history in South Dakota as beneficiaries of land taken from the Lakota people, prompting her to grapple with feelings of guilt and a desire for atonement. While her family did not actively harm the Lakota, she recognizes their complicity in systemic injustices. Clarren intertwines the narratives of Jewish settlement in the West and the oppression of the Lakota, drawing parallels between American policies towards Native Americans and Hitler's ideology. The book highlights the need for understanding and acknowledging historical injustices, emphasizing the complex legacy of privilege and responsibility."

0 History Literature

Was Life Better 50 Years Ago?

The Commentary Magazine Podcast · 5 May 2023

The podcast discusses a Pew Research poll revealing that a majority of Americans believe life was better 50 years ago despite challenges like a losing war, wage and price controls, Watergate, and an oil embargo.

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Songs About an Abusive Jim Crow-era Delinquents Home

David Meir Grossman in Tablet · 21 Apr 2023

The text discusses the story of the Alabama Industrial School for Negro Children, also known as Mt. Megis, which was a juvenile facility for Black kids during Jim Crow era.

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Houdini, J.D. Salinger and Elvis: Your ideas for our list of Jews who made history

Matthew Litman in Forward · 12 Jan 2023

The Forward recently published a list of the 125 most influential American Jews since its launch in 1897.

0 Philosophy Politics

Liberal Zionism & the Idea of the Idea

Yehuda Kurtzer in Sources · 2 Dec 2022

This article delves into the concept of "the idea of the idea" within the context of liberal Zionism, which reflects broader themes in Jewish and religious contemplation—distilling complex traditions to core principles.

0 Culture Food

Family Hold Back: Ep. 331

Unorthodox · 22 Sep 2022

This episode of Unorthodox features kosher chef Kim Kushner discussing her Moroccan-influenced kosher cuisine and cookbook, while filmmakers Ken Burns and Sarah Botstein explore America's response to the Holocaust in their PBS documentary.

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BUGSY SIEGEL

Jewish Lives · 24 Feb 2021

In this episode of the "Jewish Lives Podcast," author Michael Shnayerson explores the life of Bugsy Siegel, a Jewish gangster who became famous for his involvement in organized crime and his role in the development of the Las Vegas strip.

0 History Literature

The Three Stigmata of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

B. Duncan Moench in Tablet · 15 Jan 2021

The text discusses the idea of giving the baby boomer generation a drug called Chew-Z to envision an alternate reality where Martin Luther King Jr. was not assassinated in 1968, hypothesizing what could have been if King had lived to lead the Poor Peoples Campaign for economic transformation.

0 Politics History

The WASP Roots of the Social Justice Movement

B. Duncan Moench in Tablet · 19 Oct 2020

The text discusses the roots of the social justice movement in Anglo Protestant culture, highlighting its authoritarian tendencies and influence on American institutions.

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Remembering Congressman John Lewis

People of the Pod · 23 Jul 2020

In this article, Sherry Frank, former Director of AJC Atlanta and a close friend of Congressman John Lewis, reflects on her memories of the civil rights leader who passed away on July 17.

0 Politics History

The ‘Year Zero’ Mentality

The Commentary Magazine Podcast · 22 Jun 2020

There is ongoing unrest surrounding the removal of statues honoring historical figures in the United States, along with disappointment over President Trump's poorly attended post-coronavirus rally.

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The Exodus, America’s Ever-Present Inspiration

Stuart Halpern in Lehrhaus · 13 Apr 2020

Throughout American history, the story of the Exodus has provided inspiration during times of uncertainty, danger, and hardship.

JL;DR

Tag: American History