Facilitated by Howard Schickler
ZOOM PROGRAM
This stop on the Random Walk takes us much closer to home. In fact into many of our own homes.
The program is a book launch event for “A Rosenberg by Any Other Name: A History of Jewish Name Changing in America.” The presentation is by the author and it is a summary presentation of her findings.
This first history of name changing in the United States offers a previously unexplored window into American Jewish life throughout the twentieth century. “A Rosenberg by Any Other Name” demonstrates how historical debates about immigration, antisemitism and race, class mobility, gender and family, the boundaries of the Jewish community, and the power of government are reshaped when name changing becomes part of the conversation.
Mining court documents, oral histories, archival records, and contemporary literature, Fermaglich argues convincingly that name changing had a lasting impact on American Jewish culture. Ordinary Jews were forced to consider changing their names as they saw their friends, family, classmates, co-workers, and neighbors do so. Jewish communal leaders and civil rights activists needed to consider name changers as part of the Jewish community, making name changing a pivotal part of early civil rights legislation. And Jewish artists created critical portraits of name changers that lasted for decades in American Jewish culture.
Howard Schickler, who is facilitating the program may find supplemental materials. If you wish to receive them, please click here.
As always, the presentation stands on its own and the supplemental material need not be read in order to enjoy the program.