Conservative Judaism in America: A Biographical Dictionary and Sourcebook

(Hardback)

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Pamela Nadell's biographical dictionary and sourcebook is a landmark contribution to American, Jewish, and religious history. For the first time, a great American Jewish religious movement is portrayed with amplitude, authority, and personality. In the most revolutionary era in two millenia of Jewish history, this surely is an important volumn. Moses Rischin, Professor of History, San Francisco State University Conservative Judaism in America: A Biographical Dictionary and Sourcebook is the first extensive effort to document the lives and careers of the most important leaders in Conservatism's first century and to provide a brief history of the movement and its central institutions. It includes essays on the history of the movement and on the evolution of its major institutions: The Jewish Theological Seminary of America, The Rabbinical Assembly, and The United Synagogue of America. It also contains 135 biographical entries on the leading figures of Conservative Judaism, appendices, and a complete bibliography on sources of study.

Reviews

It was hoped that this pioneering effort would pave the way for the publication of similar volumes devoted to the various movements within American Judaism. Pamela S. Nadell's book on Conservative Judaism in America has more than fulfilled this hope. In several skilled essays on the history of the Conservative movement and its various institutions as well as in biographical sketches of well over a hundred of the movement's key rabbinic and lay leaders, Nadell has created an important evaluation of the American Jewish intellectual heirs to the Historical School of Judaism. Nadell had also included the Reconstructionist Jewish movement, founded by Conservative rabbi Mordecai Kaplan, within the framework of her study of Conservatism. That may satisfy forces within Conservative Judaism, but will most likely be rejected by those Reconstructionists seeking to maintain a separate identity as the fourth movement within American Judaism.-American Jewish Archives
Pamela Nadell's biographical dictionary and sourcebook is a landmark contribution to American, Jewish, and religious history. For the first time, a great American Jewish religious movement is portrayed with amplitude, authority, and personality. In the most revolutionary era in two millennia of Jewish history, this surely is an important volume.-Moses Rischin, Professor of History, San Francisco State University
This is an excellent reference work for any individual who is interested in learning about the history of Conservative Judaism in the United States. Well-written, throughly researched, and comprehensive in scope, this biographical dictionary and source book will become the standard reference work for Conservative Judaism.-Jay P. Dolin, Professor of History, University of Notre Dame, and Director, Cushwa Center for the Study of American Catholicism
"Pamela Nadell's biographical dictionary and sourcebook is a landmark contribution to American, Jewish, and religious history. For the first time, a great American Jewish religious movement is portrayed with amplitude, authority, and personality. In the most revolutionary era in two millennia of Jewish history, this surely is an important volume."-Moses Rischin, Professor of History, San Francisco State University
"This is an excellent reference work for any individual who is interested in learning about the history of Conservative Judaism in the United States. Well-written, throughly researched, and comprehensive in scope, this biographical dictionary and source book will become the standard reference work for Conservative Judaism."-Jay P. Dolin, Professor of History, University of Notre Dame, and Director, Cushwa Center for the Study of American Catholicism
"It was hoped that this pioneering effort would pave the way for the publication of similar volumes devoted to the various movements within American Judaism. Pamela S. Nadell's book on Conservative Judaism in America has more than fulfilled this hope. In several skilled essays on the history of the Conservative movement and its various institutions as well as in biographical sketches of well over a hundred of the movement's key rabbinic and lay leaders, Nadell has created an important evaluation of the American Jewish intellectual heirs to the Historical School of Judaism. Nadell had also included the Reconstructionist Jewish movement, founded by Conservative rabbi Mordecai Kaplan, within the framework of her study of Conservatism. That may satisfy forces within Conservative Judaism, but will most likely be rejected by those Reconstructionists seeking to maintain a separate identity as the fourth movement within American Judaism."-American Jewish Archives

Author Bio

PAMELA S. NADELL is Assistant Professor of Jewish Studies and History at American University. MARC LEE RAPHAEL is Professor of History at Ohio State University and an ordained rabbi.