Publisher's Synopsis
Jewish immigrants -- from the first Spanish and Portuguese refugees from Brazil who stepped ashore in 1654 to the millions who emigrated from Russia, Poland, and other Eastern European countries from 1880 to 1920 -- have come to America to escape persecution and hardship, and to make a better life for their families. Through insightful prose and 200 dramatic photographs, this book presents the history of Jewish culture and communities in American cities and rural towns. The author explores how the immigrants adjusted to their new lives, blending Jewish traditions with American ideals, and how their presence contributed immeasurably to America's politics, arts, commerce, and culture.
