Wondering Jews with Mijal and Noam The Rhymes of History with Professor Jonathan Sarna
Mar 4, 2026
Jonathan Sarna, Professor Emeritus of American Jewish History at Brandeis and author of American Judaism, joins to trace late 19th-century American antisemitism. He recounts exclusionary incidents like the Seligman affair and the rise of parallel Jewish institutions. Conversations cover shifts in Jewish identity, what ended that wave of prejudice, and the role of Israel and education in Jewish continuity.
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1870s Shift From Inclusion To Exclusion
- Late 1870s America flipped Jewish optimism into exclusion as high-profile incidents signaled growing public antisemitism.
- Joseph Seligman's 1877 exclusion from the Grand in Saratoga exemplified elite rejection and triggered wider exclusions like Coney Island and resort bans.
Parallel Institutions And Identity Reclamation
- Jewish responses to exclusion included creating parallel institutions and reclaiming Jewish identity language.
- Jews founded hotels, YMHA became Jewish Community Centers, and terms like 'Jew' returned after younger activists rejected assimilationist labels.
Technology Both Amplified Hate And Mobilization
- New technologies amplified both antisemitic publications and Jewish mobilization in the late 19th century.
- Cheaper printing spread anti-Jewish tracts while Jewish communities responded by organizing socially and economically.