Sample Sources
The sources below are those contained in our three curated collections—covering themes of Passover, Gender Roles, and Holocaust Resistance. They represent a fraction of the thousands of sources that will be available when the full site launches in 2024.
Jewish Voices Divided: Slavery and Morality in 1861 America
As the Civil War loomed, Jewish leaders clashed over the morality of slavery—one invoking scripture to defend it, another proclaiming divine justice to oppose it.
A Biblical Justification of American Slavery
A rabbi in 1861 argued that slavery was sanctioned by scripture, revealing how faith and politics collided before America’s Civil War.
Emma Goldman’s Trial and the Meaning of American Democracy
At her trial, Jewish anarchist Emma Goldman defended dissent for reflecting true democracy, declaring that America must secure freedom before exporting it.
“Americanization” and the Cultural Prospect
Jewish philosopher Horace Kallen argued that the “melting pot” erased diversity and that true democracy required cultural pluralism, not conformity.
A Biblical Justification of American Slavery
A rabbi in 1861 argued that slavery was sanctioned by scripture, revealing how faith and politics collided before America’s Civil War.
A Jewish Peddler’s Diary
A 19th-century Bavarian Jewish immigrant recounts hardship, loneliness, and disillusionment in America—revealing the struggles behind the dream of freedom.
The Split Human in Greek Thought
Plato’s Symposium imagines the first humans split by Zeus; love is the longing for reunification.
“To Bigotry No Sanction”: George Washington and Newport’s Jews
George Washington’s 1790 letter to Newport’s Jewish congregation affirmed liberty of conscience for all—a cornerstone of American religious freedom.
Jews and the Naturalization Act of 1790: Who Belonged?
The Naturalization Act of 1790 defined U.S. citizenship as “free white,” exposing tensions over identity and national belonging for early American Jews.
Touro Synagogue: America’s Oldest Jewish House of Worship
Built in 1763, Newport’s Touro Synagogue reflects colonial Palladian design and stands as a symbol of early Jewish life and liberty in America.
How a Jewish Appeal Shaped America’s Religious Freedom
In 1787, a Jewish Revolutionary War veteran urged the Constitutional Convention to ban religious tests—helping define America’s ideal of liberty.
Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins
In this children's book, the legendary Jewish hero Hershel of Ostropol outwits goblins.