Abraham Lincoln: The Tribute of the Synagogue

New York: Bloch Publishing Company, 1927. First edition. vg. Large octavo. xxi, (3), 682pp. Later acetate dust jacket over burgundy cloth lettered in gilt. Illustrated with a frontispiece portrait of Lincoln, several facsimiles of documents and 24 photographic portraits. A large article from the Yiddish language "Forward", dated January 8, 1955, has been pasted to the front free endpapers, with expected attendant browning, but the book itself is still a very good reading copy with no other problems.

A fascinating work containing a cross section of sermons and essays both written and delivered by America's Jewish spiritual leaders marking the life of Lincoln from the very weekend of his murder to the first decades of the 20th century. This remarkable collection includes various references to the numerous encounters that Lincoln had with American Jews and of the problems they faced as they evolved into an American based faith community. This included the problems dealing with the recognition of the Jewish faith as an equal religious expression both in civilian life and of its clergy in the military. Much of what we know of Lincoln's regard for the Jewish people comes to us from those who were to play a part in his rise to power, such as Abraham Jonas and Simon Wolf. There was never even the faintest hint of any disregard both to the Jewish people or their faith by this president. He was a true friend of the Jewish people, and his legacy is further testimony to this. This book also details the loving and affectionate regard that American Jewry had for the slain president both during his lifetime and in the decades to follow.