THEY CAME FOR GOOD: A HISTORY OF JEWS IN - DVD-PRESENT AT THE CREATION 1654-1820

Details

• Release Year: 2001
• Genre: Documentary
• Plot: THEY CAME FOR GOOD is the first comprehensive series to tell the little known story of 250 years of Jewish immigration in America. From the first Brazilian Jews who landed on Manhattan Island in 1654 through the end of the 19th Century, over 250,000 Jews came to our shores. THEY CAME FOR GOOD looks at where they settled, how they adapted, survived and helped shape our country. Thoroughly researched using letters, diaries and documents of the time, the series also brings to light the first Jewish Americans who made significant contributions to American society. Assimilating into this society while maintaining a separate group identity was an issue for Jews from the very beginning, and with our collective heritage as a nation of immigrants, this story is therefore about all Americans.; ; Part 1: Present at the Creation 1654 - 1820; It was the beginning of a new chapter in the story of an ancient civilization. A group of 23 Brazilian Jews landed on Manhattan Island, then the Dutch settlement of New Amsterdam. Never fully accepted, these Jews and their descendants kept their Jewish identities hidden so as to better mix in their host society. Colonial paintings of upwardly mobile Jews are indistinguishable from those of their Gentile contemporaries. Unwilling to accept second class citizenship, one of these new Americans, Asher Levy, spent his life fighting for equal rights. Later, the American Revolution galvanized most American Jews into zealous support for the patriotic cause. PRESENT AT THE CREATION also profiles the lives of other important figures including Rebecca Gratz, who became the role model for Jewish women on public service, and Uriah Levy, who fought for equal rights in the U.S. military.; ; 1. Start Program; 2. 23 Brazilian Jews land on Manhattan; 3. Asher Levy fights for equal rights; 4. First Jewish synagogue built in 1720; 5. Rhode Island welcomes Jewish settlers; 6. Jews and the Revolutionary War; 7. Influence of Mordecai Manuel Noah; 8. Rebecca Gratz’ life of public service; 9. Uriah Levy versus the U.S. Navy; 10 Next exodus of European Jews begins
• Cast: Mason Adams, Stuart Burney, Rita Gam, Adam Heller, Devora Millman, Richard Poe, Stuart Steinberg, Bruce Winant, Federico Bonadeo, Sharon Laufer, Amram Nowak, Manya Starr
• Director: Amram Nowak
• Runtime: 1:00
• Company: Shanachie
• Media Format: Movie