Haven of Liberty 1654-1865 (Volume 1, City of Promises: A History of the Jews of New York)

401 Pages·2012·8.375 MB·English

by  Moore, Deborah Dash

Haven of Liberty
New York Jews in the
New World, 1654 – 1865
CITY OF PROMISES was made possible in part through the generosity of
a number of individuals and foundations. Th eir thoughtful support will
help ensure that this work is aff ordable to schools, libraries, and other
not-for-profi t institutions.
Th e Lucius N. Littauer Foundation made a leadership gift before a word
of CITY OF PROMISES had been written, a gift that set this project on
its way. Hugo Barreca, Th e Marian B. and Jacob K. Javits Foundation,
Mr. and Mrs. Peter Malkin, David P. Solomon, and a donor who wishes
to remain anonymous helped ensure that it never lost momentum.
We are deeply grateful.
CITY OF PROMISES
A HISTORY OF THE JEWS OF NEW YORK
GENERAL EDITOR: DEBORAH DASH MOORE
Volume 1
Haven of Liberty
New York Jews in the
New World, 1654 – 1865
Howard b. Rock
Volume 2
Emerging Metropolis
New York Jews in the
Age of Immigration, 1840 – 1920
Annie Polland and
Daniel Soyer
Volume 3
Jews in Gotham
New York Jews in a
Changing City, 1920 – 2010
Jeffrey S. Gurock
Advisory Board:
Hasia Diner (New York University)
Leo Hershkowitz (Queens College)
Ira Katznelson (Columbia University)
Th omas Kessner (CUNY Graduate Center)
Tony Michels (University of Wisconsin,
Madison)
Judith C. Siegel (Center for Jewish History)
Jenna Weissman-Joselit (Princeton University)
Beth Wenger (University of Pennsylvania)
CITY OF PROMISES
A HISTORY OF THE JEWS OF NEW YORK
HAVEN OF
L I B E R T Y
N E W Y O R K J E W S I N T H E N E W W O R L D , 1 6 5 4 – 1 8 6 5
HOWARD B. ROCK
WITH A FOREWORD BY
DEBORAH DASH MOORE
AND WITH A VISUAL ESSAY BY
DIANA L. LINDEN
a
NEW YORK UNIVERSITY PRESS ■ NEW YORK AND LONDON
NEW YORK UNIVERSITY PRESS
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© 2012 by New York University
All rights reserved
References to Internet websites (URLs) were accurate at the time of writing.
Neither the author nor New York University Press is responsible for URLs that
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
City of promises : a history of the Jews of New York / general editor, Deborah Dash Moore.
v. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Contents: v. 1. Haven of liberty: New York Jews in the New World, 1654 – 1865 / Howard B.
Rock — v. 2. Emerging metropolis: New York Jews in the age of immigration, 1840 – 1920 /
Annie Polland and Daniel Soyer — v. 3. Jews in Gotham: New York Jews in a changing city,
1920 – 2010.
ISBN 978-0-8147-7632-2 (cl : alk. paper) — ISBN 978-0-8147-4521-2 (ebook) —
ISBN 978-0-8147-7692-6 (ebook) — ISBN 978-0-8147-1731-8 (boxed set : alk. paper) —
ISBN 978-0-8147-2932-8 (e-set)
1. Jews — New York (State) — New York. 2. New York (N.Y.) — Ethnic relations. I. Moore,
Deborah Dash, 1946 – II. Rock, Howard B., 1944 –
F128.9.J5C64 2012
305.892'40747 — dc23 2012003246
New York University Press books are printed on acid-free paper,
and their binding materials are chosen for strength and durability.
We strive to use environmentally responsible suppliers and materials
to the greatest extent possible in publishing our books.
Manufactured in the United States of America
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
■ For my sisters, Elaine Gluck and Marcia Rock,
Who through the years have given me so much
love and support
And for my grandson,
Caleb Joseph Rock,
May he fi nd a life of peace and fulfi llment
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C O N T E N T S
Foreword by Deborah Dash Moore, General Editor xi
General Editor’s Acknowledgments xxv
Author’s Acknowledgments xxvii
■ Introduction 1
1 ■ A Dutch Beginning 5
2 ■ A Merchant Community 25
3 ■ A Synagogue Community 43
4 ■ Th e Jewish Community and the American Revolution 71
5 ■ Th e Jewish Community of Republican New York 93
6 ■ A Republican Faith 113
7 ■ New York’s Republican Rabbi and His Congregation 137
8 ■ Beyond the Synagogue in Antebellum New York 151
9 ■ Division, Display, Devotion, and Defense: Th e Synagogue in
Antebellum New York 181
10 ■ Th e Challenge of Reform 205
11 ■ Politics, Race, and the Civil War 227
■ Conclusion 255
■ Visual Essay: An Introduction to the Visual and
Material Culture of New York City Jews, 1654 – 1865 261
Diana L. Linden
Notes 299
Select Bibliography 345
Index 351
About the Author 370
ix