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Judaism in America
Background / Overview:
Judaism in America
Publisher: New York : Columbia University Press, c2003.
Besides the excellent overview articles, check the bibliography starting on page 207 for suggetions for further reading.
Jewish-American history and culture
Publisher: New York : Garland, 1992.
Has good survey articles with bibliographies. The only drawback is that it was published in 1992.
The Jewish Americans
Publisher: Hollywood, Calif. : PBS Home Video : c2008.
Production: Narrator, Liev Schreiber ; cinematography, James Callanan ; edited by Susan Fanshel, Don Bernier ; music by Michael Bacon.
Format: DVD; NTSC, region 1; stereo.; widescreen format.
This DVD covers 350 years of American Judaism in six hours. Good general narrative that trys not to overgeneralize. Some of it's side stories are less successful.
The Columbia history of Jews and Judaism in America
Publisher: New York : Columbia University Press, c2008.
Reference Works:
Encyclopaedia Judaica
With more than 21,000 articles this encylopedia should be consulted for any topic that you are researching.
Encyclopedia of American Jewish history
Publisher: Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c2008.
Published in 2007 it is arranged into twenty-six thematic sections each of which has essays which end with suggestions for further reading. It also has an index.
Jews and American popular culture
Publisher: Westport, Conn. : Praeger Publishers, 2007.
This three volume work published in 2007 has fifty essays covering a wide range of Jewish popular culture. Each essay ends with suggestions for further reading.
Indexes:
Besides the more general indexes listed below, check the Subject Portal to find more specialized indexes.
RAMBI: Index of articles on Jewish studies
Offers citations to articles in the field of Jewish Studies and in the study of Eretz Israel. Material comes mainly from the holdings of the Jewish National and University Library. Covers 1966-present.
ProQuest Research Library
Provider: ProQuest
Provides citations and full-text magazine and journal articles in a wide variety of disciplines, both scholarly and popular in scope. Covers 1971-present.
LexisNexis academic
Provider: LN
Full-text of thousands of newspapers, magazines, news transcripts, reference works, and legal materials. Includes NY Times (1980-current)
Histories:
American Judaism
Publisher: New Haven : Yale University Press, c2004.
Includes a timeline, "Critical Dates in The History of American Judaism" starting on page 429.
The Jews of the United States, 1654 to 2000
Publisher: Berkeley : University of California Press, c2004.
United States Jewry, 1776-1985
Publisher: Detroit : Wayne State University Press, 1989-
A four volume history.
The colonial American Jew, 1492-1776
Publisher: Detroit : Wayne State University Press, 1970.
A three volume work.
Denominations:
Orthodox
Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America
Official website
Contemporary Orthodox Judaism's response to modernity
Publisher: Jersey City, N.J. : KTAV Pub. House, Inc., c2004.
Summarizes Orthodox Judaism's views of thirty-one topics.
Reform
Union for Reform Judaism
Official website
American Reform Judaism
Publisher: New Brunswick, N.J. : Rutgers University Press, c2003.
The focus is on recent issues and developments. Typical chapters are "The Struggle for Women's Equality", "The Acceptance of Gays and Lesbians", "The Worship Revolution in the Synagogue".
Conservative
United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism
Official website
Conservative Judaism in America
Publisher: New York : Greenwood Press, 1988.
Also has information on Reconstructionist Judaism.
Reconstructionist
Jewish Reconstructionist Federation
Official website
Synagogues:
American synagogues
Publisher: New York : Rizzoli ; 2003.
A chronological Survey of synagogues in the twentieth century. Has excellent photographs and an informed text which discusses the architectural and art elements of the synagogues.
Contemporary synagogue art
Publisher: New York : Union of the American Hebrew Congregations [1966]
Well illustrated survey of synagogue art and architecture of the period covered. It can also be used as a primary source as it expresses a contemporary reaction to the then new develolpments.
The American synagogue
Publisher: Westport, Conn. : Greenwood Press, 1996.
Has a short essay on the history of the synagogue in America. The rest of the book contains profiles of individual synagogues which are arranged by state.
Synagogue architecture in America
Publisher: Mulgrave, Vic. : Images, 2004.
After starting with two survey essays, this book features short profiles of forty synagogues. It also has high quality photographs.
Synagogue architecture in the United States
Publisher: Philadelphia : Jewish Society of America, 1955.
Shul with a pool
Publisher: Hanover, NH : University Press of New England, c1999.
Focus is on the synagogue and community center as institutions and their changing roles.
Shopping for a future
Publisher: 2002.
The subtitle of the book captures its content, "A History of the American Synagogue Gift Shop."
Literature:
The Cambridge Companion to Jewish American literature
Publisher: Cambridge, U.K. ; Cambridge University Press, 2003.
Jewish American literature
Publisher: New York : Norton, c2001.
An anthology of 350 years of selections from all genres of Jewish American writing. Has good section introductions as well as short introductions to each author. "Selected Bibliographies" at the end of the book has bibliographies for each section as well as for each author.
Contemporary Jewish-American dramatists and poets
Publisher: Westport, Conn. : Greenwood Press, 1999.
Has short chapters on twenty=four dramatists and fifty-seven poets who were active in the twentieth century. Each entry includes the following: biography; major works and themes; critical reception; and a bibliography.
Contemporary Jewish-American novelists
Publisher: Westport, Conn. : Greenwood Press, 1997.
This book has chapters on forty-three novelists whose major works (usually) apppeared after World War II. The entry for each novelist includes the following: biography; major works and themes; critical reception; and a bibliography.
Jewish American women writers
Publisher: Westport, Conn. : Greenwood Press, 1994.
Features chapters on fifty-eight women writers. Each entry includes the following: biography; major themes; survey of criticism; and a bibliography. the introduction starting on page one and the essay "Jewish American Women's Autobiography" starting on page 502 are worth reading.
Jewish American literature
Publisher: Westport, Conn. : Libraries Unlimited, 2004.
Short summaries of books are arranged by genres (mysteries, historical fiction etc.). A useful feature is the Subject Index at the end of the book. It allows you to look up a subject and then see which books cover that subject.
Graphic Novels / Comic Books:
American Jewish graphic novelists include: Will Eisner (who some credit with coining the term 'graphic novel'); Ben Katchor; Neil Kleid; Joe Kubert; Harvey Pekar; and Art Spiegelman.
Jews and the Graphic Novel
A visual essay by David Ganz.
Disguised as Clark Kent
Publisher: New York : Continuum, 2007.
Subititle of this book is: "Jews, Comics, and the Creation of the Superhero."
Up, up, and oy vey!
Publisher: Baltimore, Md. : Leviathan Press : c2006.
Subtitle of this book is: "How Jewish History, Culture, and Values Shaped the Comic Book Superhero."
Shaloman.
Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : Al Wiesner, 1988-
Al Wiesner of Philadelphia has created thirty-eight issues of Shaloman. The first was published in 1988 and the most recent issue appeared in 2007.
Jewish Comics: A Select Bibliography
A bibliography compiled by Steven Bergson. Last updated June 2005.
Jewish Comics
A blog maintained by Steven Bergson
Art:
Jewish art in America
Publisher: Lanham : Rowman & Littlefield, c2007.
First general narrative history.
Encyclopedia of Jewish American artists
Publisher: Westport, Conn. : Greenwood Press, 2007.
Consists of two to three page entries on individual artists with a bibliography for each artist. Has few illustrations.
American artists, Jewish images
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : Syracuse University Press, 2006.
Traces the Jewish influences of fifteen major American artists.
Fixing the world
Publisher: Hanover [N.H.] : University Press of New England [for] Brandeis University Press, c2003.
Heavily illustrated look at over eighty artists who worked i the twentieth century.
The harvest of freedom
Publisher: Chicago, IL : American References, c1989.
This book is useful as an introduction to hundreds of Jewish artists. The bulk of the book consists of short to very short entries on individual artists often accompanied by an illustration representative of their work.
Women and Judaism
Publisher: Omaha, NE : Creighton University Press ; c2003.
See the essay, "Fixing It and Fixing In: Contemporary Jewish American Women Artists" starting on page 143.
The new authentics
Publisher: Chicago, IL : Spertus Press, c2007.
Catalog of a 2007-2008 exhibit featuring young artists of the "post-Jewish" generation.
Jewish-American artists and the Holocaust
Publisher: New Brunswick, N.J. : Rutgers University Press, c1997.
The Jewish heritage in American folk art
Publisher: New York : Universe Books, 1984.
Has over one hundred illustrated and described examples of folk art.
Film and Television:
To find a selective lisitng of films owned by the three colleges which are mainstream American films which take place in America and discuss Jewish Idenity or have a significant major Jewish character do a "Subject Search" in TRIPOD for "Judaism United States Drama".
Entertaining America
Publisher: New York : Jewish Museum, under the auspices of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America ; c2003.
Heavily illustrated survey of American Jews role in radio, motion pictures and television. Also discusses the depiction of Jews in these media. A good introductory book.
An empire of their own
Publisher: New York : Crown Publishers, c1988.
Subtitle: How the Jews Invented Hollywood.
The Jew in American cinema
Publisher: Bloomington : Indiana University Press, c1984.
Chronological survey ending at 1980.
The Jews of prime time
Publisher: Hanover, NH : Brandeis University Press/University Press of New England, c2003.
"How did it happen that in a time when networks were run by Jewish men, and many television shows were written by Jewish writers, there were so few identifiably Jewish characters on television? "
Over the top Judaism
Publisher: Lanham, Md. : University Press of America, c2003.
Subtitle is: Precedents and Trends in the depiction of Jewish Beliefs and Observances in Film and Television.
The chosen image
Publisher: Jefferson, N.C. : McFarland, c1999.
Subtitle is: Television's Portrayal of Jewish Themes and Characters.
The haunted smile
Publisher: New York : PublicAffairs, c2001.
Subtitle: The Story of Jewish Comedians in America.
Music:
Jewish Music Web Center
This site was comiled by Judith Shira Pinnolis of Brandeis University. It is a good place to start your research on Jewish music topics
Synagogue song in America
Publisher: Crown Point, Ind. : White Cliffs Media Co., c1989.
Chapter 8, "The Americanization of Synagogue Song: A Survey" provides a brief overview.
Chosen voices
Publisher: Urbana : University of Illinois Press, c1989.
Tells the story of the American Cantorate.
Tenement songs
Publisher: Urbana : University of Illinois Press, c1982.
Besides presenting overviews, the book also features discussions of individual songs as well as thirty reproductions of sheet music covers.
American Jewish year book.
Publisher: Philadelphia [etc.] American Jewish Committee [etc.]
See "Contemporary Jewish Music in America" on pages 88-141 of vol. 101 (2001)
The Lord's song in a strange land
Publisher: Oxford ; Oxford University Press, 2000.
The author looks at five congregations with different denominational affiliations in the Boston area to show jow they use music to negotiate identity.
Robert and Molly Freedman Jewish Sound Archive
Based on the collection which is housed at the University of Pennsylvania, this catalog has over 28,000 Yiddish and other Jewish songs.
Judaism and Reggae
Youth
Publisher: New York, NY : Epic : p2006.
Performer: Matisyahu, vocals ; Roots Tonic (Josh Werner ; Aaron Dugan ; Jonah David)
Recorded: Recorded at various studios in N.J., Colo., and N.Y.
CD by Matisyahu. It was nominated for a Grammy in 2006 in the Best Reggae album of the year category.
No place to be
Publisher: New York, NY : Epic : p2006.
Performer: Matisyahu (vocals) with backup band: Roots Tonic: Josh Werner (bass, keyboards) ; Aaron Dugan (guitar) ; Jonah David (drums, bass) ; additional musicians: Robbie [Shakespeare] (bass) ; Sly [Dunbar] (drums)
Recorded: DVD has title: Live in Israel ; recorded live in concert in Tel Aviv, 2005 ; also includes street footage and interviews.
This CD by Matisyahu also includes a DVD with live concert footage.
Awake Zion
Publisher: New York, NY : Distributed by Cinema Guild, c2006.
Format: Recorded DVD.
In this DVD the filmaker explores similiarities between Judaism and Rastafarianism. Includes segment on Matisyahu.
The Jewish Americans
Publisher: Hollywood, Calif. : PBS Home Video : c2008.
Production: Narrator, Liev Schreiber ; cinematography, James Callanan ; edited by Susan Fanshel, Don Bernier ; music by Michael Bacon.
Format: DVD; NTSC, region 1; stereo.; widescreen format.
This DVD has a six minute segment on Matisyahu.
Everyday Life / Material Culture:
The wonders of America
Publisher: New York : Hill and Wang, c1994.
"Drawing on advertisements and etiquette manuals, sermons and surveys, Jenna Weissman Joselit offers a lively, mordant, and richly illustrated account of how American Jews created their distinctive culture....she describes how they raised their children, decorated their homes, shopped and cooked, celebrated holidays, and marked birth, marriage, and death as they became at home in America. "
Becoming American women
Publisher: Chicago : Chicago Historical Society, 1994.
Subtitle is: Clothing and the Jewish Immigrant Experience, 1880-1920.
Getting comfortable in New York
Publisher: New York : The Jewish Museum, 1990.
Subtitle is: The American Jewish Home 1880-1950.
Jewish cooking in America
Publisher: New York : Alfred A. Knopf, 1998
The introduction provides an overview of jewish cooking in America. While the bulk of the book consists of 335 recipes, Nathan weaves useful information as well as interesting sidebars around the recipes. An appendix on page 473 lists sample menus.
Hungering for America
Publisher: Cambridge, Mass. : Harvard University Press, 2001.
See the Hasia Diner essay on pages 178-219, "Food Fights: Immigrant Jews and the Lure of America"
Matzoh ball gumbo
Publisher: Chapel Hill : University of North Carolina Press, c2005.
Discusses food habits of the Jewish South.
Material religion
Publisher: Oxford, Eng. : Berg, 2005-
The November 2007 issue (Vol.3 issue 3) is a special issue on "Material Cultures of American Jewry"
Modiya
"The MODIYA Project is an open source resource for exploring the interrelation of Jews, media, and religion as an area of research and teaching" The site does not appear to have been significantly updated since 2006.
Magazines and Newspapers:
Haverford has print subscriptions to the following popular print journals: Heeb; Jewish Living; JVibe; Tikkum. Swarthmore has print subscriptions to Lillith and Tikkum.
American Jewish Press Assoication Directory
Listings of newspapers and magazines are arranged by state.
Ethnic newswatch
Change the default search term in the "Ethnic Group" field to "Jewish". Covers 1990-present.
LexisNexis academic
Provider: LN
Full-text of thousands of newspapers, magazines, news transcripts, reference works, and legal materials. Includes NY Times (1980-current) You can limit your search to finding articles from a particular newspaper or magazine.
ProQuest Research Library
Provider: ProQuest
Provides citations and full-text magazine and journal articles in a wide variety of disciplines, both scholarly and popular in scope. Covers 1971-present. You can limit your search to finding articles from a particular magazine.
The New York times on the Web
Holdings:
(Bryn Mawr College) Available from 1851-present.
(Haverford College) Available from 1851-present.
(Swarthmore College) Available from 1851-present.
Publisher: [New York, N.Y.] : New York Times.
Museums / Archives:
The following are some of the museums and archives in the mid-atlantic area.
National Museum of American Jewish History
55 North Fifth Street
Philadelphia
Philadelphia
Philadelphia Jewish Archives Center
125 North Eighth Street, Sixth Floor
Center for Jewish History
15 West Sixteenth Street
New York City
New York City
Musem of Jewish Heritage - A Living Memorial to the Holocaust
36 Battery Place
New York City
New York City
Jewish Children's Museum
792 Eastern Parkway
Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Lower East Side Conservancy
235 East Broadway
New York City
Offers tours of synagogues and Jewish Landmarks of the Lower East Side.
New York City
Offers tours of synagogues and Jewish Landmarks of the Lower East Side.
Lower East Side Tenement Museum
108 Orchard
New York City
Two of the tours feature apartments of Jewish families from 1873 and 1916.
New York City
Two of the tours feature apartments of Jewish families from 1873 and 1916.
Jewish Museum of Maryland
15 Lloyd Street
Baltimore
Has one of the largest collections in the country. Many of the the permanent and special exhibits cover aspects of American Jewish Life.
Baltimore
Has one of the largest collections in the country. Many of the the permanent and special exhibits cover aspects of American Jewish Life.
Jewish Historical Society of Greater Washington
Jewish museums of the world
Publisher: [Westport, CT] : Hugh Lauter Levin Associates, c2003.
The "Directory of Museums" section starting on page 397 provides a listing of and information about Jewish related museums as of 2003.