The Congressional Minyan: The Jews of Capitol Hill

Since 1841, when the first Jew was elected to Congress, 179 Jewish men and women have served in either the House or Senate. Some were unrecognizable as Jews; others were steeped in Jewish religious customs and traditions. Among them have been Harvard-trained doctors and self-taught lawyers, journalists, and high-school teachers, businessmen--and even a few Jewish farmers. From Bela Abzug to Edward Zorinsky, the Jewish members of Congress, though overlooked in standard American history texts, have played a role in shaping some of America's most significant legislation. The Congressional Minyan is an encyclopedic look at their family histories, idiosyncrasies, and accomplishments. Exhaustively researched and lavishly illustrated, it is a groundbreaking work of political biography. An essential addition to synagogue libraries.