Sacred Bonds of Solidarity: The Rise of Jewish Internationalism in Nineteenth-Century France

by Lisa Moses Leff

Starting around 1840, French Jews began to reach out in new ways to Jews elsewhere, especially in North Africa and the Middle East. In describing these activities, they spoke of feelings of solidarité and a mission to bring civilisation to Jews everywhere, a language more meaningful in the French public arena than in Jewish tradition. Far from a remnant of ancient feelings, Jewish solidarity is a modern phenomenon with roots in its inventors' integration into French political culture. Why did acculturation inspire elite French Jews to affirm their Jewishness through international aid? What did their actions mean in the French public sphere, and how did they transform Jewish identity? In a book that speaks to French historians and Jewish historians alike, Sacred Bonds of Solidarity explores the historical roots of Jewish international aid and the language of "solidarity" that accompanied it. In using this language, French Jews redefined Jewish identity in lasting ways. At the same time, they helped shape state secularism and the "civilizing mission" in French foreign and colonial policy.

Genres: History

344 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Lisa Leff is a historian of Europe whose research focuses on Jews in France since 1789. Her first book, Sacred Bonds of Solidarity (Stanford UP, 2006), examines the rise of Jewish international aid in 19th century France. Her most recent book, The Book Thief (Oxford University Press) tells the story of Zosa Szajkowski, who moved tens of thousands of documents from France to the U.S. during his time as a soldier in WWII. It examines a larger set of questions about Jewish nationalism, Jewish archives, and Jewish history writing in the era of the Holocaust and its aftermath. She received her BA from Oberlin College and her PhD from the University of Chicago.

Dr. Leff's work has been funded by the Charlotte W. Newcombe Foundation.