In 1914, seven million Jews across Eastern Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean were caught in the crossfire of warring empires in a disaster of stupendous, unprecedented proportions. In response, American Jews developed a new model of humanitarian relief for their suffering brethren abroad, wandering into American foreign policy as they navigated a wartime political landscape. The effort continued into peacetime, touching every interwar Jewish community in these troubled regions through long-term refugee, child welfare, public health, and poverty alleviation projects. Against the backdrop of war, revolution, and reconstruction, this is the story of American Jews who went abroad in solidarity to rescue and rebuild Jewish lives in Jewish homelands. As they constructed a new form of humanitarianism and re-drew the map of modern philanthropy, they rebuilt the Jewish Diaspora itself in the image of the modern social welfare state.

Awards

• Winner, 2021 National Jewish Book Award for Writing based on Archival Material, Jewish Book Council

Reviews & endorsements

‘The Great War was a pivotal moment in the evolution of humanitarian activism. Granick's landmark study breaks new ground by recognizing the central place of Jews and Jewish causes at this critical juncture: it represents essential reading not just for Jewish historians, but for historians of US foreign policy, humanitarian activism and global civil society.' Abigail Green, author of Moses Montefiore: Jewish Liberator, Imperial Hero

Customer reviews

Product details

• Date Published: August 2021
• format: Hardback
• isbn: 9781108495028
• length: 418 pages

• dimensions: 236 x 160 x 27 mm
• weight: 0.73kg
• availability: In stock