The second section of the book covers what rosen estimates as about 2,000 jews who served the confederate military establishment in virtually all branches and ranks other than general though rarely in the cavalry, since jewish confederates generally hailed from urban areas and had limited familiarity with horseback riding. Benjamin, jewish confederates are largely unknown even to specialists of american jewish history and civil war history. Rosen describes the jewish communities in the south and explains their reasons for supporting the south. Rosen estimates as the 2,000 jews out of a confederate force of more than a million who went into battle on behalf of dixie. An illustrated history of the place and the people during the civil war uses his own background and experience to recount the lives of southern jews from the 1700s until well after the civil war. This is a book about jewish life in the south during the war of secession. Freedom and equality in the old south, the soldiers, the jewish confederate home front, and the end of an era. They had chosen freedom over tyranny and now they had to choose between two versions of freedomone union and one confederate.
Rosen divides his story into four major parts entitled. In his prescient introduction, adam mendelsohn pays homage to the scholars who paved the way to understanding the jewish experience of the civil war, including isaac markens, bertram w. Libraries rosen reveals the remarkable breadth of southern jewrys participation in the war and the strength of jewish commitment to the confederate cause. Myers are reexamined in rosens account of the jewish confederacy, the real contribution of this book to civil war scholarship is. Rosen 2000, hardcover at the best online prices at ebay. The jewish confederates university of south carolina. Why are there no statues of jewish confederate judah benjamin to tear down.
Apr 17, 2014 and like many southerners, confederate jews who joined the rebel army did so for a number of reasons. From abraham lincolns election as president of the united states in november 1860, through the secession winter of 1860, to the bombardment of fort sumter in april 1861, jewish southerners from virginia to texas weighed their devotion to the union and to their states. Sep 03, 2001 the jewish confederates takes up this challenge. He has been recognized as one of the best lawyers in america for more than 10 years, published four books, served as president of the jewish historical society of south carolina, and is the chairman of the arts and history commission of the city of charleston.
Southern jews and the confederacy the jewish press. Rosen diligently did his research, then regurgitated what he found. Benjamin, jewish confederates are largely unknown even to specialists of american jewish. In the jewish confederates, rosen explores the lives of jews in the american south from the 1700s until the years beyond the civil war. The hot dog vendor from the carol burnett show full sketch duration. Oct 14, 2000 panel members discussed the daily lives of civil war soldiers. Rosen, 2000, university of south carolina press edition, in english. Sep 03, 2001 reading the jewish confederates, and then rereading korn, one is impressed anew by the qualities that made american jewry and the civil war a classic. Making his case in history by scottie schwarz davis attorney and native of charleston, s. Jun 27, 2018 for telling this story, robert rosen deserves credit. The carol burnett show official recommended for you.
Most jewish johnny rebs, like their fellow countrymen, believed they were fighting for their own liberty and in defense of their homes, wrote robert rosen in his book the jewish confederates. Sep 06, 2018 rosen also has an article on jewish confederates in jonathan sarnas jews and the civil war. He is know in the us as the author of schindlers list. Rosen tells us in his book the jewish confederates that the old south was remarkably free of prejudice against jews. Intrigued by the apparent irony of their story, rosen weaves a surprisingly complex chronicle that dispels common misconceptions about the confederacy, its leadership and soldiers, and its jewish population. Suggested books with jewish themes east meadow public. In paducah, kentucky, the union military gave 30 jewish families, all long term residents, with 2 of jewish inhabitants being union army veterans 24 hours to leave. Jews and focused on the jewish community qua community, rosen is far more inclusive. Savannahs jewish community started about 60 days after. Barbara kingsolvers novel, prodigal summer recently read. Roosevelt and the holocaust thunders mouth press, 2006, is a shareholder in the rosen law firm in charleston, south carolina.
Intrigued by the apparent irony of their story as a. Comprehensive and readerly, the jewish confederates offers an informative look at what robert n. Robert rosen gives a tour of the historic sites of the civil war in charleston. Myers are reexamined in rosens account of the jewish confederacy, the real contribution of this book to civil war scholarship is its thorough look at the. The book is a reprint of the original published in the 1980s when keneally was doing a sabbatical in the us.
These southern jews, up to 25,000 in all, recognized and accepted the ramifications of living in the slaveholding confederacy. I didnt know much about jewish involvement in the civil war until i read rosen s book jewish confederates. He relates the experiences of officers, enlisted men, politicians, rabbis and doctors. Robert rosen is the author of a short history of charleston, confederate charleston, and the jewish confederates. The fact that he would attempt such a book, a historical novel of the american civil war from the southern point of view, shows both great skill and a great intellect. Where korn deliberately ignored individuals who happened to be jews and focused on the jewish community qua community, rosen is far more inclusive. Confederate jewish firebrand eugenia phillips sentenced to. While prominent, largely forgotten jewish leaders such as confederate secretary of state judah benjamin and q. Rosen s book, for all of its many virtues, does justice to one side of the conflict alone. The exodus of the jews was not happening fast enough for gen. Eugenia phillips, jewish confederate firebrand, an extensive excerpt from the authors unpublished thesis entitled, unconditional loyalty to the cause.
No obvious damage to the cover, with the dust jacket if applicable included for. Myers are reexamined in rosens account of the jewish confederacy, the real contribution of this book to civil war scholarship is its thorough look at the contradictions and ironies implied by the title, and the. Reveals the breadth of jewish participation in the american civil war on the confederate side. Rosen finds that although many members of the established, prominent jewish communities of charleston, richmond, and savannah volunteered for battle, the majority of jewish confederates were recent immigrants. Rosen about jewish citizens of the confederate states of america who served in the. Among those fighting for the confederacy were 2,000 members of the jewish community. Click to read more about the jewish confederates ns by robert n. Most jewish southerners, however, were ashkenazi immigrants who in the 1840s. Numerous southern jews served in state legislatures, city councils, and in other positions of authority including three jewish.
Goldsmith and lesser known jewish confederates and a reason. Sarnas collection of essays on jews during the civil war era includes information on the support of some jews in the south for slavery, secession, and the confederacy. Independent scholar rosen the jewish confederates seeks to correct what he regards as a major imbalance in the historiography of the united states and the holocaust. Rosen estimates as the 2,000 jews out of a confederate force of more than a million. Throughout the south, jews assumed prominent roles in the confederate government and armed forces. This is a tribute to all those brave men of jewish ancestry that honorably and proudly served the confederacy during the war between the states. Robert rosen s jewish confederates represents one of the most provocative treatments ever written about the history of southern jewry. It has lots of photographs of places, people, young men and women who worked hard to support the confederacy. Panel members discussed the daily lives of civil war soldiers. Again your talk is attacking me rather than addressing the neutrality of the article.
Future students of southern jews during the civil war might pick up where rosen left off. In his latest study of the civil war, rosen reveals the remarkable. Reading the jewish confederates, and then rereading korn, one is impressed anew by the qualities that made american jewry and the civil war a classic. Robert rosen s engaging essay on jewish confederates comes from the subjects premier historian. Though there were less than 25,000 jewish people living in the south, they enjoyed comparatively unprecedented freedom and exercised considerable influence. But the writing in the jewish confederates is pedestrian at best. There is only one known statue of a jewish confederate leader. The jewish confederates is a 2001 history book authored by robert n.
Myers are reexamined in rosens account of the jewish confederacy, the real contribution of this book to civil war scholarship is its thorough look. The secret jewish history of the civil war immigrants. Arts automobiles books diversions job market real estate travel. Robert rosen begins his classic book, the jewish confederates, by describing how at the outbreak of war, the jews of charleston, proud of their history and patriotism dating from the american revolution, rallied to the cause. The jewish confederates ns by robert n rosen 20001031. Rosens book, for all of its many virtues, does justice to one side of the conflict alone. Jewish confederates by robert n rosen powells books. Still, the jewish confederates is a richly nuanced volume, easily one of the best books in southern. Frank and virginia williams collection of lincolniana mississippi state university.
But it was in his third book, the jewish confederates, published by the university of south carolina press in october 2000, that he perfected the art. The jewish confederates robert rosen signed civil war ebay. Robert rosen, a charleston attorney and published historian, brings together in this wellproduced volume a wealth of scattered information from published and unpublished sources concerning the jews of the south during the civil war. Why are there no statues of jewish confederate judah.
Its title hardly does it justice, as rosen relates far more than the story of jews during the confederacys brief history. Rosen developed the ability to laser in on facts, as he puts it, while researching his first two historical books about charleston, where his grandparents settled in the early 1900s. In holley springs, mississippi, jewish traders had to walk 40 miles to evacuate the area. Numerous educational institutions recommend us, including oxford university, michigan state university, and university of minnesota we have also been recommended for educational use by the following publications. Details about the jewish confederates robert rosen signed civil war. Anything related to the jews of the confederacy falls within his purview. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Mar 06, 2017 this is a tribute to all those brave men of jewish ancestry that honorably and proudly served the confederacy during the war between the states. What i had expected was a book written as a history but instead it is written as an encyclopedia.
Numerous southern jews served in state legislatures, city councils, and in other positions of authority including three jewish members of congress before the war. Rosen estimates as the 2,000 jews out of a confederate force of more than a million who went. And like many southerners, confederate jews who joined the rebel army did so for a number of reasons. It tells matter of factly where the jews lived, how they lived, and what they did in order to live. Jan 28, 2001 comprehensive and readerly, the jewish confederates offers an informative look at what robert n.
Rosen finds in the talmud the key to living with the multiple worlds he has inherited with an assist from the internet. The jewish confederates this is a large book and very factual. The book is a meditation on faith, technology, literature and love. According to rosen the jewish confederates, fdr may have told ethnic jokes about jews, but he also surrounded himself with jewish friends and advisers like henry morgenthau jr.
The fact that there were jews in the confederacy was largely forgotten until the publication in 2000 of robert rosen s book, the jewish confederates, which meticulously documented how jews participated in every aspect of the confederacy from the battlefield to home life. Myers are reexamined in rosen s account of the jewish confederacy. Oct 31, 2000 reveals the breadth of jewish participation in the american civil war on the confederate side. Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers. Rosen introduces readers to the community of southern jews of the 1860s, heretofore lost to historians and the general public. The jewish confederates robert rosen signed civil war.
Sep 01, 2001 reading the jewish confederates, and then rereading korn, one is impressed anew by the qualities that made american jewry and the civil war a classic. Rosen about jewish citizens of the confederate states of america who served in the confederate states army csa during the american civil war of 18611865. Yet before this monumental event, amidst the often tumultuous sea of the diaspora, there did briefly exist another corner of the world in which calm waters were found for the jewish people. Rosen talked about his book the jewish confederates, published by university of south carolina press. A native of charleston, sc, rosen confederate charleston. Why are there no statues of jewish confederate judah benjamin. Myers are reexamined in rosen s account of the jewish. Most chapters consist of paragraph after paragraph of short recaps of the military service of people with nothing in common other than being jewish. A book that does not look new and has been read but is in excellent condition. Rosen reveals the remarkable breadth of southern in his latest study of the civil war, robert n. Robert rosen, practicing lawyer and author of the jewish confederates, offered a slightly more thorough evaluation of a wholly different crypto group of. Rosen finds that although many members of the established, prominent jewish communities of charleston, richmond, and savannah volunteered for battle, the majority of jewish confederates. Cspans local content vehicles lcvs made a stop in their 2011 lcv cities. Rosen estimates as the 2,000 jews out of a confederate force of more than a million who.
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