Embracing a Western Identity: Jewish Oregonians, 1849–1950 . By Ellen Eisenberg.

Abstract

Embracing a Western Identity: Jewish Oregonians, 1849–1950 . By Ellen Eisenberg. Oregon State University Press, 2015. x + 304 pp. Illustrations, tables, notes, bibliography, index. $24.95, paper.) Ellen Eisenberg has written a meticulously researched book on nearly a century of Jewish experience and influence in Oregon. Building upon her previous work on Jews on the West Coast, Eisenberg provides a sophisticated analysis of the ways in which living in Oregon influenced Jewish identity and practices. She also offers description and analysis of the ways in which Jewish individuals and organizations have helped shape life in Oregon—from early businesses and community organizations to political leadership and civil rights activism. She succeeds in making more complex our understanding of … dsoden{at}whitworth.edu