Looking Backward: True Stories from Chicago's Jewish Past

by Walter Roth

The history of Jews in Chicago is a fascinating, complex and largely unknown story. Thanks to the unstinting efforts of Walter Roth, much of this history has been preserved. Now, for the first time, this material has been distilled into a single volume, chronicling events and people from the late nineteenth century to the end of World War II. There are six broad themes, each of which includes several the first of which is "Chicago Jews and the Secular Builders, Movers, Shakers" about HL Mettes' huge 1924 history of Chicago Jews; financier Lazarus Silverman; the U of C Centennial; Jewish participation in the World's Columbian Exposition; Julius Rosenwald and the Museum of Science & Industry and the Jewish Day Pageant at the Century of Progress in 1933. The other five themes are "Chicago Jews and Tragedy Abroad, Challenges at Home"; "Chicago Jews and Local Idealists"; "Chicago Jews and Renowned Visitors"; "Chicago Jews and the The Page and the Stage" and "Chicago Jews on Both Sides of the Colorful Characters. "Anyone interested in Chicago history, ethnic history, Jewish history, will find Looking Backward a fascinating and informative read.

305 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2003

Reviews

[Rachel]

Well written short articles about various aspects of Jewish-related historical events in Chicago. I especially enjoyed reading about the Columbian Exposition