Days of Challenge: The Making of a Modern American Jewish Leader. This item is unavailable.Days of Challenge: The Making of a Modern American Jewish Leader

In 60-plus years of active public life, Jacob Stein has won the respect and friendship of political and religious leaders from around the world. Admired by friends and opponents for his unfailing integrity and dedication, Stein has stood at the forefront of most of the struggles and triumphs of American and world Jewry throughout the second half of the 20th century. Stein's upbringing gave him profound reverence for Jewish tradition and instilled a desire to reach out to his fellow Jews. This led him to become active with Temple Israel, a Conservative synagogue in Great Neck, New York where Stein rose quickly to become Temple President. In 1969, as a maverick candidate for President of United Synagogue, Conservative Jewry's main body, Stein won a surprise victory. Even though he was a newcomer to the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, Stein was soon asked to serve as Acting Chairman. Stein participated in meetings with President Richard Nixon and Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir to negotiate the terms of American aid to Israel. As twice elected Chairman of the Presidents Conference, he suffered bitter criticism when he defended the Nixon Administration's decision to maintain relations with the Soviet government while attempting to free oppressed Soviet Jewry. Stein became ever more embroiled in the challenges of Jewish affairs as an advisor to the Reagan White House staff. His calming influence made him successful in the role of liaison to the Jewish public during battles over the sale of AWACS military aircrafts to Saudi Arabia. Stein spent six weeks in Geneva as a member of the United States delegation to the 1982 United Nations Human Rights Commission. In 1986 he visited Israel with Vice President Bush as a member of the "Gang of Eight," a group of Jewish supporters who encouraged presidential candidate Bush to reach out to Jewish voters as well as the Christian right. Over the next two years of campaigning, Stein offered Vice President Bush insight on gaining Jewish America's support. Their friendship continued throughout Bush's presidency, even when they disagreed. Despite his great success in business and his deep commitment to family, Jacob Stein has devoted untold time and energy to the American Jewish community. His memoirs reveal a life fully and richly lived in service to his people and his country.