Forward – The Jewish Daily Forward (Forverts) Ne – Immigrants, Socialism and Jewish Politics in New York, 1890–1917

This book examines the role the Jewish Daily Forward (JDF) played during the heyday of Jewish immigration to the US, from 1897 to 1917. The JDF was a focal point for the 'Jewish street,' as it dealt with issues of labor and strikes, Zionism and the American-Jewish Committee, and world war, issues that were at the heart of Jewish everyday experience and concern. Although previous research and observation brought to the fore the inevitable policy and viewpoint contradictions expressed throughout its columns, this book is the first critical assessment of this eminent newspaper as its lead writers and columnists engaged with the centenary transition that saw myriad political and social changes. The primary motivation for this investigation is the discrepancy between the paper's declared socialism on the one hand, and the cooperation between Abraham Cahan, JDF's editor, with the hard-line conservatives, such as Jacob Schiff, on the other hand. By following Cahan's cooperation with the American-Jewish plutocracy, author Ehud Manor suggests that the JDF was actually conservative in outlook, rather than progressive. The importance of such an historical account is not only in the uncovering of the checks and balances between different Jewish groups and Jewish polity and media, but also serves as an insight into the mechanism of Jewish modern politics. FORWARD is based on Yiddish sources, the Forverts (JDF) issues, and other primary and secondary material. It is essential reading for all those engaged and interested in modern Jewish history.