The photographs and archival material trace the history of the Jewish presence from the earliest Jewish settlements to contemporary times. Synagogues, religious items, ritual practices, old and new, are beautifully shown in archival photographs, illustrations, and drawings. However, the reader must be forewarned that the book’s title is misleading. It is not a photographic study of all streams of Jewish observance in America. Photographs and archival material about Conservative, Reform, or Reconstructionist synagogues and leaders are noticeably absent from the local history and photographs presented by Landa. The book emphasizes the role of traditional or Orthodox Jewish practices, (both Ashkenazim and Sephardic) in the communities he visits. Nonetheless, the book is beautifully done and well worth reading. It is an informative travel and history guide that reveals an important dimension in the development of American Jewish city life.
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