The Population History of German Jewry 1815-1939

<span><p dir=ltr><span><b>AJL 2024 Judaica Reference & Bibliography Awards Honorable Mention<br></b></span></p><p dir=ltr><span>The late Steven Lowenstein was a brilliant social historian who after retiring from his academic position at the University of Judaism toiled for years-and up to his final days—to complete this monumental book which is the definitive demographic history of German Jewry. Lowenstein took the research of Hebrew University demographer </span><span>Professor Osiel Oscar Schmelz </span><span>and brought it to life in the daily lived experiences of German Jews. </span></p><p dir=ltr><span>The book is organized chronologically from Napoleon to German Unification (1815-1871) Imperial Germany and then the post- World War I era through the Nazi period. Later chapters are regional and topical studies.  </span></p><p dir=ltr><span>Lowenstein's calling as a social historian required him to examines every leaf on every tree in the forest; but he never lost sight of the trees and the forest - larger context. </span></p><p dir=ltr><span>We know the ending of the story of German Jewry. Lowenstein’s great achievement is to document the extraordinary demographic resources that bespoke a vibrant German Jewish culture—and made that ending especially tragic. </span></p></span>