Jewish Community's Surprising Levels of Civic Participation

Despite being a minority, the Jewish community has had a long and storied impact on American politics. From Supreme Court Justices Brandeis and Ginsburg to leaders of labor and social movements, including Emma Goldman, Samuel Gompers, and Nadine Strossen, Jews have been active in American politics for centuries.

Even before immigrating en masse to the United States in the late 19th century, many European Jews were socially engaged and vocal about inequalities. Numerous scholars have documented that Jews from around the world brought a tradition of political activism to American shores.