One hundred and fifty years after Abraham Lincoln's death, the full story of his extraordinary relationship with Jews is revealed for the first time. This work offers a captivating narrative of his interactions with Jews, complemented by rare manuscripts and images from the Shapell Lincoln Collection that present Lincoln in a new light. During Lincoln's lifetime, the Jewish population in the United States grew significantly, from about 3,000 in 1809 to over 150,000 by 1865, largely due to immigration from central Europe. While many Americans, including members of Lincoln's cabinet, viewed Jews as second-class citizens, Lincoln took a different stance. He demonstrated a deep understanding of the Old Testament, incorporating its language into his writings. From a young age, he befriended Jews, advocated for their equality, appointed them to public office, and engaged with Jewish advisors and supporters throughout his political career. Notably, he adapted his rhetoric to be more inclusive, replacing terms like "Christian nation" with "this nation under God." This groundbreaking work by historian Jonathan D. Sarna and collector Benjamin Shapell reveals how Lincoln's remarkable relationship with American Jews influenced his path to the presidency and his policy decisions, uncovering a new aspect of his life that broadened both him and America.
Jonathan D. Sarna Bücher
Jonathan D. Sarna ist ein herausragender Historiker des amerikanischen Judentums, der sich mit der reichen und oft übersehenen Geschichte jüdischer Erfahrungen in den Vereinigten Staaten befasst. Seine Schriften untersuchen die tiefen kulturellen, religiösen und sozialen Strömungen, die die amerikanisch-jüdische Identität geprägt haben. Sarna erforscht, wie jüdische Gemeinschaften Assimilation und Tradition meisterten, sich an die amerikanische Landschaft anpassten und gleichzeitig ihr besonderes Erbe bewahrten. Seine Arbeit bietet den Lesern eine fesselnde Auseinandersetzung mit der komplexen Beziehung zwischen jüdischem Erbe und der amerikanischen Erfahrung.
