e any religious faith, what it means to belong in that faith can embrace a spectrum of tenants and practices. In the 19th century, German Jewish immigrants to the U.S. were faced with many questions of assimilation, but one with the greatest import was the question of slavery. Should it be supported? Or should one join the growing ranks of abolitionists? This is the central question in Richard Kreitner's Fear no Pharaoh: American Jews, the Civil War, and the Fight to End Slavery..

Through the known biographies of six representative figures, Kreitner traces the Jewish discourse around this issue. Three of the figures were Rabbis, each with a different viewpoint. One support slavery, one abolition and the third urged silence for the sake of social security. The other three were secular Jews with a wide variation in experience. One was a European Revolutionary who fought with John Brown in Kansas. Another, Ernestine Rose, was born to a religious family but instead spent her life speaking and actively working for women's rights and the abolition of slavery.
The last figure was Judah Benjamin, slave owner, Senator and member of Jefferson Davis' cabinet. All of this is framed by the yearly observance of Passover, with its focus of the Jews being freed from Egyptian slavery. As with much of Jewish history and tradition what the true meaning of Passover is could be debated and interpreted many different ways. For African Americans however, the iconography of Passover made for compelling songs and hopes.

Kreitner moves chronologically, beginning the in the mid 1800s showing the rising tensions of the two opposed American ideologies. As the nation grew more divided, so too did the American Jewish community, though the closest it would come to any sort of national unification would not occur until after the Civil War.

In the conclusion Kreitner speaks of writing this book due to the one he wanted to read not existing. And there are several points where he challenges or proves false some notable quotes or claims about Jews in various positions during the Civil War. Kreitner also demonstrates there was no one, clear viewpoint, there were many and of the six figures who spoke publicly took a stand and position, even if we consider them differently for it both then and now.

A compelling Jewish American historical examination.

Recommended to readers or researchers of American History, the American Civil War or Jewish Studies.

'Fear No Pharaoh' is an insightful history book. It looks at the different roles American Jews played during the Civil War. Kreitner shows how Jewish people in America dealt with their faith, politics, and social pressures in a divided country. This book adds new understanding to both Jewish American history and the Civil War, exploring how faith and identity met social justice.