Family of Strangers: Building a Jewish Community in Washington State

by Molly Cone, Jacqueline Williams, Howard Droker, et al.

2004 Washington State Book Award Finalist Family of Strangers draws on hundreds of newspaper accounts, articles, and oral histories to provide the first comprehensive account of Washington State's Jewish residents. The first Jewish immigrants came in a small trickle during the middle of the nineteenth century, and then in larger numbers during the open-door era that stretched to 1924. They included Ashkenazim primarily from the cities, towns, and...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0295982977
• ISBN13: 9780295982977
• Release Date: July 2003
• Publisher: University of Washington Press and Washington
• Length: 416 Pages
• Weight: 2.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 7.4" x 10.3"

Customer Reviews

Washington's Jewish History

Family of Strangers was a delight to read, especially after having hosted one of its authors, Mr Howard Droker, at our library. The book is a product of extensive research and very well done. Having been to many places in Washington and having come across several of the facts cited in this book, it brought the information to life. I especially enjoyed reading about the parts dealing with Seattle and its surrounding areas but throughout the book I had the sense that more could have been added. It seemed to present a brief overview of the many different areas in the state where development was affected in some way by the Jewish settlers. Though overall the book is a greatly needed addition to the collection of historical books on Washington state, it lacks the excitement of showing rather than telling. Nevertheless, as a whole it was an eye-opener and did present some information I had never seen before such as the Home Colony period and the existence of congregations in places like Aberdeen and the fact that there was a Jewish mayor in Port Townsend. This book should be in every library's history and/or Judaica section.