By
– August 23, 2011
This coffee table book is heavy enough, and it will provide hours of passing interest to Jewish followers of American politics. There are hundreds of pages of surprisingly in-depth biographies of the 198 members of the “Congressional Minyan.” Starting with Floridian David Levy Yulee in 1841, right through to Eric Cantor in the 111th Congress, there have been a lot of fascinating Jews in the U.S. Senate and House. Stone’s book gives the reader chapter and verse.
The “minyanaires” are nothing if not a varied lot, and many are known for far more than their Congressional pedigrees. Jefferson Monroe Levy (D‑NY 1852 – 1924) deserves the nation’s thanks for his single-minded purchase and restoration of his namesake’s famed home, Monticello. California’s Julius Kahn (R‑CA 1861 – 1924) was the country’s first actor to take his place on Capitol Hill, regaling his colleagues with “many mannerisms he had acquired in his theatrical career.” It seemed as if he felt Congress was a more secure profession than the stage.
Facts and stories engage the attention. Gabrielle Giffords (D‑AZ 1970 – ) is actress Gwyneth Paltrow’s first cousin. Anthony Weiner (D‑NY 1965 – ) was one of the very first members of Congress to text and receive instant messages; Meyer London (S‑NY 1871 – 1926) was elected as the Lower East Side’s Socialist Representative no less than 3 times, and spoke to his polyglot constituency in fluent Italian, English, German and Yiddish! South Carolinian Lewis Charles Levin (A‑PA 1809 – 1860) made his name as a leading light of the “Know-Nothing” Anti-Immigrant party. Though the connection between these biographies relies on the slender tie of some form of “Jewishness” it still makes for fascinating reading.
The “minyanaires” are nothing if not a varied lot, and many are known for far more than their Congressional pedigrees. Jefferson Monroe Levy (D‑NY 1852 – 1924) deserves the nation’s thanks for his single-minded purchase and restoration of his namesake’s famed home, Monticello. California’s Julius Kahn (R‑CA 1861 – 1924) was the country’s first actor to take his place on Capitol Hill, regaling his colleagues with “many mannerisms he had acquired in his theatrical career.” It seemed as if he felt Congress was a more secure profession than the stage.
Facts and stories engage the attention. Gabrielle Giffords (D‑AZ 1970 – ) is actress Gwyneth Paltrow’s first cousin. Anthony Weiner (D‑NY 1965 – ) was one of the very first members of Congress to text and receive instant messages; Meyer London (S‑NY 1871 – 1926) was elected as the Lower East Side’s Socialist Representative no less than 3 times, and spoke to his polyglot constituency in fluent Italian, English, German and Yiddish! South Carolinian Lewis Charles Levin (A‑PA 1809 – 1860) made his name as a leading light of the “Know-Nothing” Anti-Immigrant party. Though the connection between these biographies relies on the slender tie of some form of “Jewishness” it still makes for fascinating reading.
Jeff Bogursky reads a lot, writes a little and talks quite a bit. He is a media executive and expert in digital media.
