Jewish Starts in Texas; Rabbis and Their Work

xxiv, 302 pages. Illustrations. Notes. Bibliography. Index. Foreword by Rabbi Jimmy Kessler. Inscribed by author on fep. Gift note not from author laid in. DJ has slight wear and soiling. Hollace Ava Weiner, a journalist turned historian, is a native of Washington, D.C., and a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Maryland. After college, she wrote for the Baltimore News American. While raising two children, she freelanced for the Washington Post until her family relocated to Texas. From 1986 to 1997, Hollace was a news and feature reporter at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Hollace is a past president of both the Southern Jewish Historical Society and the Association for Women Journalists. She has won research grants from the Jewish Women's Archive in Brookline, Mass., the Southern Jewish Historical Society, the Texas Jewish Historical Society, and the American Jewish Archives in Cincinnati. A fraction of Texans are Jewish, yet Texas rabbis are among the most influential, colorful, and celebrated figures in the state's history and culture. In "Jewish Stars in Texas, "Hollace Ava Weiner examines eleven rabbis whose wisdom and leadership were felt not only by their congregations but also by their communities. Of Weiner's eleven rabbis, ten grew to lead Reform congregations, stressing social justice and community service, and one was affiliated with Conservative Judaism, which seeks to balance tradition with modernity. "Jewish Stars in Texas" begins with the first large wave of Jewish immigrants to arrive in Texas in the 1870s. Weiner addresses the rabbis' roles as mixers, who bridged Jewish traditions with the cultural demands of Texas, and as motivators, who stirred up involvement in social causes. The influence of these Texas rabbis--whether it involved fighting the Ku Klux Klan or founding a symphony--can be appreciated by everyone who benefitted from the causes they championed. Jews and Texans who wish to learn more about their heritage will find this book essential reading and an engaging source of informative and colorful stories. First Edition [stated], presumed first printing. …