During the American Civil War, the majority of Jews supported the Union, due to larger populations living in the North. Much like the American population at large, however, Jews in America were divided in their allegiances, representing a small but significant minority in the South as the Confederacy waged its war. Jews fiercely fought on both sides of the conflict, but not without facing the same antisemitism that had been a stain on the country before its division, most notably through General Grant's Order No. 11, which called for the expulsion of Jews from multiple southern communities. Featuring Shari Rabin and Adam Mendelsohn, and hosted by AJHS Executive Director Gemma R. Birnbaum.

Episode Image: Confederate bank note from 1864, from the Judah P. Benjamin Collection at the American Jewish Historical Society, P-45.

All We Have Standing Between Us is made possible thanks to generous funding from the Knapp Family Foundation. Additional funding provided by the Leon Levy Foundation, the Achelis and Bodman Foundation, the Atran Foundation, and Anonymous. Special thanks to SOFA Entertainment.

In 1654, the first Jews arrived in New Amsterdam. Sephardic refugees from Recife, Brazil, they came to the Dutch-controlled colony to escape the Spanish/Portuguese Inquisition. These 23 individuals became the anchor of a fledging Jewish community in the colonies, and over the next century and beyond, American Jews found their place in society, commerce, and soon, revolution.

From patriots to loyalists, this episode featuring historians Laura Arnold Leibman and Adam Jortner kicks off our new podcast series with stories pulled from some of the oldest and rarest materials from the AJHS archives. Hosted by AJHS executive director Gemma R. Birnbaum.

Episode Image: Haym Salomon (1740-1785) served as a Patriot spy in British-occupied New York during the Revolutionary War. He later used his financial skills to help keep the U.S. government solvent in the 1780s. From the collection of the American Jewish Historical Society, P-41.

All We Have Standing Between Us is made possible thanks to generous funding from the Knapp Family Foundation. Additional funding provided by the Leon Levy Foundation, the Achelis and Bodman Foundation, the Atran Foundation, and Anonymous.