The First to Cry Down Injustice? Western Jews and Japanese Removal during WWII by Ellen Eisenberg

Abstract

today's classes on the West. But that isaminor quibble. Who can saywhat Pomeroy might have included had he started this project at least tenyears earlier? Itmight be added thatPomeroy's chapter notes alone comprise a total of nearly 120 pages and are themselvesfilledwith additional comments and information. The book also includes an up-to-date supplemental bibliog raphyprepared by historian David M. Wrobel. An excellent index concludes thevolume and adds to itsenduring usefulness as an important reference tool. Though The American FarWest in the20th Century is an advanced and no-nonsense approach to thehistory of the region, itcould be read profitablyby anyone seeking in-depth knowledge of themodern West. The book belongs on the scholar's bookshelf along with theother landmarkpublications thathave done somuch to spur and advance thinking about the West. We are indebted toPomeroy, Etulain, Wrobel, Howard Lamar, who wrote the fore word, and Yale University Press forcollectively creating a highlyuseful and attractiveaddition to the Western history library. Carlos A. Schwantes University of Missouri-St. Louis THE FIRST TO CRYDOWN INJUSTICE? WESTERN JEWS AND JAPANESE REMOVAL DURING WWII byEllenEisenberg Lexington Books, Lantham, Md. 2008, Illustrations, notes, bibliography, index. 204 pages. $24.95 paper. Eisenberg's book recounts a story littleknown in standard works on Japanese American internment, namely the role of the Western Jewish community. Her thesis is simple: one would suppose that Jews,themselves thevic timsof discrimination, would have sidedwith the JapaneseAmerican community as itfaced discrimination and eventual internmentduring World War II. This was not the case, however, and herwork laysout the reasonswhy. Briefly,this work describes the Jewishcom munities in Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. The communities had worked hard to constitute themselves and had strong ties to one another, focused around the syna gogues and businesses. The passage of the Alien Land Laws and the National Origins Act of 1924, ending immigrationofAsians to America, were early signs of discrimination against Japanese Americans. Facing discrimination itself,the Jewishcommunity remained silentbefore these discriminatorymeasures. In thedays following PearlHarbor, the leading rabbi inSeattle urged his congregation to remain calm and be assured thattheUnited Stateswould ultimatelyprevail. JapaneseAmericans were more fearful. While only the Issei feared overt discrimination, the Nisei were cautiously optimistic. The Nikkei, relativelycalm, trusted their long tradition of loyaltyto the United Stateswould protect them. Some organizations, such as the American Civil LibertiesUnion, offered tentativesupport,but only a few came to theirdefense once Execu tiveOrder 9066 was announced and plans for removalwere publicized. The Jewishcommu nities, it should be noted, put great emphasis on their "whiteness," and this caused them to feel their "differentness" from the Japanese Americans. The Jewish community, being solidly behind thewar effortand supporting PresidentRoosevelt inallhiswartime measures to defeatNazi Germany, became overwhelm inglyanti-Japanese. There was some tendency to differentiatebetween the Japan-born Issei and the citizenNisei, butmost concluded the Japanese communitywould sticktogetherand sidewith Japan. Although the prewar years were crucial in the formation of ethnic communities, the year 1942was most significant in the shaping of attitudes between the two groups about internment.The attitude of the Jewishpress 472 OHQ vol. 107, no. 3 was critical. Instead of sidingwith theoutsid ers, the press chose to remain silent, not from ignorance but ratherfromdiscomfortwith the concept ofmass internment. Support for the war remained the primary sentiment. Exceptional individuals, however, do stand out for theiropposition to internment.They spoke forthemselves and not foranyorganiza tion.The makeup of the individual communi ties played a role.Where the Jewishand the Japanese American communities were physi cally close and people knew each other, there tended to be feelings of support for citizen Nisei. Personal ties and religious connections also helped forman opposition to internment. The Bay Area Fair Play Committee voiced strongopposition to internment; its member ship included college faculty and students as well as religious leaders.The ACLU did not for mally oppose internment,although a number of its members did. The Nikkei community in theBay Area was close to its white and Jewish neighbors,many ofwhom opposed internment and helped theirneighbors. Seattle had a large Nikkei population, and itsJewishcommunity members were individually sympathetic. Still, therewas no organized opposition to intern ment, although Christian groups such as the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) helped departing and returningNikkei. The...