The Allied Countries and the Jews

Delivered as Sabbath sermons at New York’s Temple Emanu‑El in the autumn of 1917, these talks offer a survey of how the Jewish people were situated in each Allied nation during the war. The speaker weaves together centuries‑old episodes—from medieval expulsions in France to the revolutionary grant of full citizenship—to show how the ebb and flow of democracy repeatedly reshaped Jewish life. At the same time, he ties those historic patterns to the urgent realities of 1917, urging American listeners to see the war’s outcome as a chance for broader religious liberty.

Each address focuses on a different ally—France, England, Russia, Italy, Palestine, and the United States—highlighting both the hopeful promises and the harsh hardships faced by Jews on each front. The tone remains balanced, acknowledging the turmoil in Russia and the lingering prejudice in Europe while celebrating the strides made in places like revolutionary France. Listeners will come away with a richer understanding of how a global conflict intersected with the quest for Jewish civil rights, and why the hope for lasting democracy felt so vital at that moment.