The Last Generation of the German Rabbinate: German Refugee Rabbis in the United States, 1933–2010. By Cornelia Wilhelm. Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Press, 2024. Pp. 322. Paperback: 45. ISBN: 9780253070197

Key Points

• The aim is to explore the role and influence of German refugee rabbis in shaping Jewish life and community in the United States from 1933 to 2010.
• Historical analysis of the migration of German rabbis to the U.S.
• Examination of cultural and religious impacts of these rabbis on American Jewry.
• Interviews and personal narratives from surviving community members.
• German refugee rabbis significantly shaped Jewish religious practices in America.
• They facilitated cultural adaptations that influenced Jewish identity in the U.S.
• The legacy of these rabbis continues to impact modern Jewish communities.