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190 <strong>American</strong> <strong>Jewish</strong> <strong>Archives</strong><br />
could compete more effectively. Had political equality been the only<br />
or even primary motivation, I suspect more Jews would have come<br />
sooner, but the majority were either satisfied with their position in<br />
Europe or too impoverished to make the attempt.<br />
Though the Godfreys stretch their point a bit too far, all in all,<br />
Search Out the Land provides a thoroughly researched and readable<br />
account of the <strong>Jewish</strong> contribution to early North America. The God-<br />
freys have challenged the prevailing historiography in an extremely<br />
engaging way, and their work will undoubtedly spark much de-<br />
bate. Search Out the Land broadens our understanding of the history<br />
of North America and demonstrates the importance of examining<br />
ideological developments in their broader contexts. This work will<br />
surely be mandatory reading for students of Canadian <strong>Jewish</strong> his-<br />
tory, while scholars of <strong>American</strong> <strong>Jewish</strong> history will also find it<br />
very useful.<br />
- Jay Eidelrnan<br />
Jay Eidelman teaches Judaic Studies at Hobart and William Smith Colleges in<br />
Geneva, New York. He recently completed a dissertation entitled "In the Wilds of<br />
America": The Early Republican Origins of <strong>American</strong> Judaism, 1790-1830.'' He has<br />
a Ph.D. in Religious Studiesfrom Yale University. He completed his B.A. at McGill<br />
University in Montreal, his hometown.<br />
Notes<br />
1. <strong>American</strong> <strong>Jewish</strong> Year Book 56,1946,48.
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