Celia Gurevitch Jewish Community Library

As today is Abraham Lincoln‘s 200th birthday let me introduce you to a slim volume by Naphtali J. Rubinger titled “Abraham Lincoln and the Jews.” The six chapters on 92 pages are filled with stories and historical references you may not find elsewhere. First we learn about “Jews in the Ante-Bellum Period” and “Lincoln’s Jewish friends.” After touching on “The effects of the Civil War” we get a detailed description of “The Chaplaincy issue,” i.e. whether and how Jewish clergyman can serve the spiritual needs of Jewish soldiers. After a lengthy controversy “Lincoln signed the Bill in July of 1862, permitting Jews to serve as chaplains.” (page 60). Before the concluding chapter of “The final tribute” the specifics of “Grant’s order No. 11,” in which he expelled Jews from the army in December 1862, is discussed. (The short version: the president revoked the order. )

What better way to celebrate president’s day than borrowing and reading this book.