A gripping history of how American Jews confronted slavery, morality, and power during the Civil War.

SYNOPSIS

In this acclaimed history, Richard Kreitner examines how American Jews wrestled with slavery and moral responsibility during the Civil War era. Through vivid portraits of rabbis, revolutionaries, politicians, and activists, Fear No Pharaoh reveals deep debates within Jewish life about power, ethics, and survival in a divided nation. The book sheds new light on how ancient Jewish memory shaped—and complicated—responses to American injustice.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Richard Kreitner is the author of 'Booked: A Traveler's Guide to Literary Locations Around the World' (2019); 'Break It Up: Secession, Division and the Secret History of America's Imperfect Union' (2020); and "Fear No Pharaoh: American Jews, the Civil War, and the Fight to End Slavery' (2025). He has written for The New York Times, the Washington Post, Slate, and many other publications. He is a contributing writer for The Nation and Hudson Valley magazines, and he hosts a podcast, "Think Back," about American history. He lives in Beacon, New York.

richardkreitner.com