MICHAEL HOBERMAN. New Israel/New England: Jews and Puritans in Early America.

Abstract

The merits of Michael Hoberman's book depend upon the expectation of the reader. Those looking for substantial insight into Puritanism or Reformed Hebraism as theological or social movements will likely be disappointed. Those looking for a narrative about the interaction of particular Puritan leaders with Jews in New England will likely be pleased. When Hoberman attempts insight into Puritan theology or culture itself (as is especially the case in chapter one), weaknesses become apparent. When Hoberman uses primary sources to explore the relationships of famous Puritans and Jews, he is on firmer ground. Hoberman is not trying simply to retell the stories of prominent Jews in New England. He rightly acknowledges that other historians have already told those stories. Instead, Hoberman hopes to demonstrate that Jews had a “centralizing influence” upon Puritan theology and identity (p. 3). This reviewer was not persuaded that Hoberman's study had the scope necessary to provide insight into something so unwieldy as Puritan theology and identity. His command of Puritan social thought lacks confidence and insight and is largely dependent on the summaries and interpretations of others. But if one restricts Hoberman's ambition to the theological opinions of particular Puritans such as Cotton Mather or Ezra Stiles (two prominent case studies in his book), his study is more persuasive and his narrative more valuable.