A dramatic history of how American Jews re ckoned with slavery―and fought the Civil War.
\nSince ancient times\, the Jewish people have recalled the story of Exodus and reflected on the implications of having been slaves. Did the tradition teach that J ews should speak out against slavery and oppression everywhere\, or act ca utiously to protect themselves in a hostile world?
\nIn Fear No Pharaoh\, the journalist and historian Richard Kreitner sets this que stion at the heart of the Civil War era. Using original sources\, he tells the intertwined stories of six American Jews who helped to shape a tumult uous time\, including Judah Benjamin\, the brilliant\, secretive lawyer wh o became Jefferson Davis&rsquo\;s trusted confidante\; Morris Raphall\, a Swedish-born rabbi who defended slavery as biblically justified\; and Raph all&rsquo\;s rival rabbis―the celebrated Isaac Mayer Wise\, who urg ed Jews to stay out of the slavery controversy to avoid attracting attenti on\, and David Einhorn\, whose fiery sermons condemning bondage led to a p ro-slavery mob threatening his life. We also meet August Bondi\, a veteran of Europe&rsquo\;s 1848 revolutions\, who fought with John Brown in &ldqu o\;Bleeding Kansas&rdquo\; and later in the Union Army\, and the Polish &e acute\;migré\; Ernestine Rose\, a feminist\, atheist\, and abolition ist who championed &ldquo\;emancipation of all kinds.&rdquo\;
\nAs h e tracks these characters\, Kreitner illuminates the shifting dynamics of Jewish life in America―and the debates about religion\, morality\, and politics that endure to this day.
\n&ldquo\;Riveting . . . While surfacing fascinating new details . . . Krei tner also points to intriguing ways in which the slavery debate spurred re flection on assimilation vs. insularity that defined the next century of J ewish American thought. Readers will be engrossed.&rdquo\; ―Publish ers Weekly
\nThis moderated one-hour program will be followe d by a book signing with Richard Kreitner. ASL interpretation will be provided for discussion and Q&\;A. Assisted listening device technology is also available upon request.
\nDoors open at 5:30pm. Advanc ed registration is suggested to ensure a seat in the theater.
\nThis program honors Rabbi Ira Sanders and his commitment t o intellectual freedom.
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