Kurt F. Stone is a rabbi, writer, lecturer, political activist, professor, actor, medical ethicist, and currently the spiritual leader of North Broward Havurah in Coral Springs, Florida. He has worked as a political campaign manager, a press secretary, and a political journalist, and he has been a staff member for United States Senator Mike Gravel, former California Governor Jerry Brown, and the late California Speaker Jesse Unruh.
In July 2009, following eight months of ballot recounts and court
challenges, the celebrity comedian-turned-politician Al Franken
took the oath of office as a United States senator from Minnesota.
In so doing, as Kurt F. Stone notes in his fascinating new book The
Jews of Capitol Hill, Minnesota became the first state in U.S.
history to have elected four Jewish senators: Rudy Boschwitz, Paul
Wellstone, Norm Coleman and Franken. Even more interesting, notes
Stone, is the fact that it was not New York, New Jersey, Florida,
California, Pennsylvania “or some other state with a large Jewish
population to elect four Jewish senators, but Minnesota, whose
Jewish population amounted to less than 1 percent.” This is only
one of the many little-known and surprising facts contained in
Stone’s meticulously researched, well-organized and highly readable
compendium of historical facts and biographical information about
the Jewish experience in Congress, past and present.
*Jewish Weekly*
If you are interested in Jews and politics, this is a book that
should not be missed….It's fascinating and authoritative and
probably the best resource book on Jews in Congress that has ever
been written….Make sure your synagogue library and your public
library have this book.
*Florida Jewish Journal*
New biographies and a new plan of organization highlight this
revision of Stone's 2000 publication, Congressional Minyan: The
Jews of Capitol Hill (KTAV Pub.). For example, Stone updates the
biography of Sen. Paul Wellstone of Minnesota, who died while in
office in October 2002, and profiles Rep. Theodore Deutch of
Florida, elected in April 2010. Yet the biggest change is replacing
the alphabetical order of profiles with chronological order, by the
year of an individual's election. Stone groups the profiles into
six generations, aiming to create a political history. A new
section with a time line titled "What Was Happening" introduces
each generation. Providing a history of Jewish participation in
Congress represents a unique, worthy goal.... Profiles average
three pages in length and include detailed family background, as
well as educational and professional history. A list of references
for further reading concludes each article. Written in a serious
yet accessible tone with room for humor....BOTTOM LINE Offering a
wealth of information with a distinctive focus...this work is
recommended for political students and those interested in Jewish
American history.
*Library Journal*
Until 1953, Minnesota Jews were not allowed to join the state
automobile association. But from 1978 to the present, almost all
the U.S. senators—Democrat and Republican—from this midwestern
state have been Jewish. (And the same state has now elected the
first Muslim to the U.S. Congress.) Arranged chronologically, this
hefty volume covers Jews who have served in the U.S. Congress from
1841 to the present. Each section begins with a time line of
significant events and then provides biographies of the Jews
elected to Congress during that period. The biographies are very
well researched, and the author helpfully provides references for
each entry. Black-and-white photographs enhance the text; an index
provides easy access to both the biographies and individuals
mentioned in each entry. Several appendixes (including lists of
members by Congress and by state) should be very useful for
students and researchers. Although the topic of this work is
specialized, in many ways, this volume is a model reference source,
combining meticulous research, lucid and lively text, detailed
factual appendixes, and superb bibliographic references. Most
remarkable: this 714-page work was compiled by only one person!
Highly recommended.
*Booklist*
This coffee table book...will provide hours of passing interest to
Jewish followers of American politics. There are hundreds of pages
of surprisingly in-depth biographies of the 198 members of the
"Congressional Minyan"....makes for fascinating reading.
*Jewish Book World*
This resource provides users with an interesting look at the
history of Jews serving as members of Congress. Up until now this
specific topic has not been thoroughly studied, but Stone's work
puts Jewish history at the forefront of politics in the United
States with this latest biographical source. The work is arranged
in chronological order, beginning in 1841 with David Levy Yulee who
was elected to the 27th Congress as a delegate from the Territory
of Florida. It concludes with Jewish members of Congress who are
currently serving in the 111th Congress, including Barney Frank,
Dianne Feinstein, Joseph Lieberman, and Al Franken. The entries
provide information on each member's political party allegiance,
their years of service, a biographical sketch, and references for
further research. Black-and-white photographs are scattered
throughout the text and several appendixes will provide additional
information, including lists of members by Congress and by state.
The concluding index is a valuable addition. Users will discover
that Jewish representatives have included Democrats and
Republicans, Socialists, and Radicals, and cover the gambit of all
ideologies. This work will be a valuable addition to most academic
libraries, large public libraries, and any library serving a Jewish
population.
*American Reference Books Annual*
 |
Ask a Question About this Product More... |
|
