(Isaac Leeser, “The Jews and Their Religion”). pp. 350-69 In: I. Daniel Rupp, An Original History of the Religious Denominations At Present Existing in the United States

(AMERICAN JUDAICA).

J. Y. Humphreys

Philadelphia

1844

Singerman 855; Rosenbach 549

When compiling this anthology of articles on American religions, I. Daniel Rupp sought the assistance of prominent clergy and laymen. It is thus no surprise he invited Isaac Leeser, America’s most prominent Jewish clergyman, to contribute the chapter on Judaism. Leeser’s chapter contains an apologia of Jewish contributions to Western civilization, a review of Jewish theology and a survey of the American Jewish community (history, population statistics, communal organization, educational institutions, publications, etc.) The inclusion of a chapter on the Jews (and by a Jew) in a volume on American religion testifies to the great respect American gentiles had for their Jewish neighbors. See Lance Sussman, Isaac Leeser and the Making of American Judaism, pp. 149-50