They Came for Good - A History of the Jews in the United States - Present at the Creation, 1654-1820

They Came for Good - A History of the Jews in the United States - Present at the Creation, 1654-1820


Starring:Amram Nowak
Studio: SHANACHIE
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
The story of Jews in America is told in "Present at the Creation 1654-1820," the first installment of a series that was shown on PBS, They Came for Good. Beginning with the arrival of 23 Brazilian Jews who fled persecution and arrived unwelcome at the Dutch settlement of New Amsterdam in 1654, the story involves a number of heroic figures who fought for the rights of Jews to own property and practice their religion in the New World. One such colonist, Asher Levy, whose name is memorialized on several landmarks in New York City today, was a successful merchant who fought against being treated as a second-class citizen. During the American Revolution, Jewish financiers helped the Colonial cause, and in what would have been startling in a European country of that era, President George Washington wrote a letter expressing his wishes that America not practice bigotry directed at Jews. Actors in period costume appear as Jews of the time, telling stories derived from diaries and letters of how they managed to mesh in the new country while at the same time keeping to the strict Jewish customs. This is a very intelligently produced look at an aspect of early American history that is often overlooked. --Robert J. McNamara
They Came for Good - A History of the Jews in the United States - Present at the Creation, 1654-1820
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • A video history of Jews in the U.S. (part 1 of 2)
  • Lots of good info, but a glaring error
  • A historical documentary worth seeing.
  • really good i learned alot
 They Came for Good - A History of the Jews in the United States - Present at the Creation, 1654-1820
Starring: Amram Nowak
Manufacturer: SHANACHIE
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

GeneralGeneral | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video
GeneralGeneral | History | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video
Jewish HeritageJewish Heritage | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video
JudaismJudaism | Religion & Spirituality | Special Interests | Genres | DVD | Video
DVDs Under $9.99DVDs Under $9.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video
( T )( T ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Used DVDsUsed DVDs | Stores | DVD | Video | Action & Adventure | African American Cinema | Animation | Anime & Manga | Art House & International | Classics | Comedy | Cult Movies | Documentary | Drama | Educational | Fitness & Yoga | Gay & Lesbian | Horror | Kids & Family | Military & War | Music Video & Concerts | Musicals & Performing Arts | Mystery & Suspense | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Special Interests | Sports | Television | Westerns
Similar Items:
  1. They Came for Good - A History of the Jews in the United States - Taking Root, 1820-1880
  2. Heritage - Civilization and the Jews
  3. A Life Apart - Hasidism in America
  4. The Chosen
  5. Frontline: The Longest Hatred

ASIN: B00005A1TG
Release Date: 2001-04-01

Amazon.com

The story of Jews in America is told in "Present at the Creation 1654-1820," the first installment of a series that was shown on PBS, They Came for Good. Beginning with the arrival of 23 Brazilian Jews who fled persecution and arrived unwelcome at the Dutch settlement of New Amsterdam in 1654, the story involves a number of heroic figures who fought for the rights of Jews to own property and practice their religion in the New World. One such colonist, Asher Levy, whose name is memorialized on several landmarks in New York City today, was a successful merchant who fought against being treated as a second-class citizen. During the American Revolution, Jewish financiers helped the Colonial cause, and in what would have been startling in a European country of that era, President George Washington wrote a letter expressing his wishes that America not practice bigotry directed at Jews. Actors in period costume appear as Jews of the time, telling stories derived from diaries and letters of how they managed to mesh in the new country while at the same time keeping to the strict Jewish customs. This is a very intelligently produced look at an aspect of early American history that is often overlooked. --Robert J. McNamara

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars A video history of Jews in the U.S. (part 1 of 2).......2007-03-03

This hour-long video is the first part of a two-disc series on the history of Jews in the United States. This part covers the period from 1654, when the first Jews arrived, to 1820, the beginning of the massive wave of Jewish immigration from Germany and Central Europe. (The second part, "Taking Root," covers the period from 1820 to 1880.) Both parts are informative and interesting, and I expect to use excerpts from them in teaching undergraduate religion courses.

One complaint: Like another reviewer, I found it strange that the film refers to North America prior to European colonization as "empty" and "unexplored." Also, one commentator says that "there was very little anti-slavery sentiment in the colonies," but I imagine there was plenty of anti-slavery sentiment among the slaves, who constituted something like fifteen percent of the population by the time of the Revolution.

Chapter titles:
- 23 Brazilian Jews land on Manhattan
- Asher Levy fights for equal rights
- First Jewish synagogue built in 1720
- Rhode Island welcomes Jewish settlers
- Jews and the Revolutionary War
- Influence of Mordecai Manuel Noah
- Rebecca Gratz's life of public service
- Uriah Levy versus the U.S. Navy
- Next exodus of European Jews begins

Another good video on Judaism in the U.S. is "A Life Apart: Hasidism in America." And an excellent book on the history of Judaism in the U.S. is Jonathan Sarna's "American Judaism: A History."

3 out of 5 stars Lots of good info, but a glaring error.......2002-11-25

This documentary is filled with lots of good information and many interesting stories. I learned much from it. However, at one point, the narrator refers to North America at the time of European colonization as an "Empty Continent". Such a gaff calls into question the perspective of the entire program. In describing the oppression of the Jewish people and their struggle to overcome it, the program does an immense disservice to that struggle by implicitly denying the oppression of another people - an oppression that all Europeans contributed to.

4 out of 5 stars A historical documentary worth seeing........2001-04-28

A documentary of the Jewish history during and after the creation of the United states of America.

It speaks about the role of the Jews in the American life and history.

Whether during the constitution or civil war they were always there as American Jews. Soldiers ,philosphers ,lawyers and economists .

A worth watching tape.

4 out of 5 stars really good i learned alot.......2001-04-25

intresting over view educational and should be viewed by peoiple inrtrested in hostory as well as the jewish peopl really fasanating

DVD:

  1. Coca-Cola - The History of an American Icon
  2. Olympia
  3. Understanding Wine
  4. Ancient Secrets of the Bible - Boxed Set
  5. The Perfect Storm - Rescues
  6. Lamborghini Experience 40 Years of Excellence
  7. Rod Serling: Submitted for Your Approval
  8. Belcanto - Tenors of the 78 Era, Part One / Enrico Caruso, Beniamino Gigli, Tito Schipa, Leo Slezak, Joseph Schmidt, Richard Tauber
  9. The Films of Charles & Ray Eames, Vol. 3: The World of Franklin & Jefferson
  10. Thug Immortal - The Tupac Shakur Story

DVD

DVD

DVD

Park Day

Zatoichi, Episode 19: Samaritan Zatoichi

Wing Chun: Self Defense

DVD: Death Wish 3

Der kleine König 1 - Auf Drachejagd/Im Schloss..