They Came for Good: A History of the Jews in the United States

Detailing the arrival and settlement of European Jews in the United States, this comprehensive two-volume documentary, which recently aired on public television, covers the timeframe from 1654-1880 and is loaded with information not widely known outside the Jewish community. In 1654, the arrival of 23 Sephardic Jews in New Amsterdam raised the ire of then governor Peter Stuyvesant, who sought to expel the new arrivals, but was foiled by the pressure from Jewish notables in The Netherlands. That handful of Sephardim, expelled from Brazil when Portugal regained Brazil from Holland and brought the Inquisition to South America, had indeed come for good, and many others soon followed. After the Revolutionary War and the codification of the freedom of religious practice, America became the promised land for European Jews until the establishment of Israel in the 20th century. Combining archival photographs, actor readings from letters and journals, and Mason Adams' solid narration, Amram Nowak's film does an exceptional job of presenting this engaging story in an entertaining and cogent manner. From Asher Levy's fight to stand guard duty in New Amsterdam to Levi Strauss' clever pants idea to Emma Lazarus' sonnet "The New Colossus," inscribed on the Statue of Liberty, They Came for Good offers a stirring reminder to everyone of what America is supposed to be all about. Highly recommended. Editor's Choice. Aud: H, C, P. (P. Van Vleck)