“A well-researched, well-written, and all-too-timely account of the antisemitic riot that marred the 1902 funeral of New York’s chief rabbi, Jacob Joseph. Prejudice, police brutality, and widespread corruption lay at the root of the riot, Scott Seligman shows. His analysis of how Jews held government accountable for punishing the rioters and penalizing the police who abetted them carries instructive lessons for our time.”—Jonathan D. Sarna, University Professor and Joseph H. and Belle R. Braun Professor of American Jewish History, Brandeis University
“A fascinating and sad account of a low moment in the history of American Jews. To his credit, the author recognizes complexity on many levels. . . . Most significantly, Scott Seligman describes the new efforts of the Jewish community to stand up for itself, a harbinger of advocacy work on behalf of the community that remains so vital to this day.”—Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO and national director of the Anti-Defamation League
“Until now no one has detailed this outbreak with such detail as Scott Seligman, in his lively discussion of the story of victims, perpetrators, observers, police, and city officials. Individuals who previously were but names noted in a newspaper or police blotter come alive.”—Jeffrey S. Gurock, Libby M. Klaperman Professor of Jewish History at the Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies of Yeshiva University
“In this well-written book, based on a treasure trove of sources thus far overlooked, Scott Seligman revisits the events that took place at Chief Rabbi Jacob Joseph’s funeral, uncovers numerous aspects, insights, and unknown details, and provides an intimate, sensitive, and flowing narrative of this event. . . . [A] warmly recommended read for whoever is interested in the mass immigration era, the Jewish immigrant community in New York, and the history of Jewish Orthodoxy in the United States.”—Kimmy Caplan, professor of Jewish History and Contemporary Jewry at Bar-Ilan University
