The American Hebrew Jewish Messenger

"From all the evidence presented, the congregational rabbi emerges as a pioneer, the leader of a congregation, as well as spokesman for the Jews in the larger society, forging an independence from his European counterparts and laboring for the preservation of the Jewish faith and heritage in an unfamiliar environment."--BOOK JACKET.

Isaac Mayer Wise (1819-1900) strove for unity among American Jews and for a college to train rabbis to serve them. The establishment of the Hebrew College in 1875 was the crowning achievement of his life. Temkin's account of Wise's life captures the vigor of his personality and the politics and concerns of contemporary Jewish life and leadership in America. Photos.