Fear No Pharaoh

Since 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 Jews should act against slavery everywhere, or act cautiously to protect themselves in a hostile world, or both? In this book, Kreitner sets this question 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 tumultuous time. As he tracks these characters, the author illuminates the shifting dynamics of Jewish life in America - and the debates about religion, morality, and politics that endure to this day.