PREFACE In this, the thirteenth issue of THE AMERICAN JEWISH YEAR BOOK, most of the lists which experience has proven to be useful, have been continued. Owing, however, to the exigencies of space, it has been necessary to omit the list of Articles of Jewish Interest, and the American Jewish Bibliography, which have appeared in a number of the previous issues. In the List of Events, the endeavor has been made to give, concisely, all the important events happening in Jewry, of which record could be found. As in previous lists, there must be some considerable omissions, but it is believed that the future historian will be grateful to the editors of THE AMERICAN JEWISH YEAR BOOK for having in so concise a form given the main drift of events in Jewry throughout the world. We are happy to be able to record that the past year has witnessed no serious attempt at the passage of a bill restricting immigration, though the abstracts of the reports of the United States Immigration Commission and the recommendations of the Commission, which appeared in December, 1910, show a leaning towards the adoption of restrictive measures, this conclusion being based on what are stated to be economic as against sentimental considerations. But if immigration matters have been comparatively quiescent, the Passport Question has once more come to the fore, and may properly be said to be the leading Jewish question in the United States to-day. Accordingly, the principal article this year, supplementing the YEAR BOOKS of 5665 and 5670, gives the latest phases of the Passport Question. This comprises an account of the endeavors of the American Jewish Committee to induce successive administrations to terminate the Treaties of 1832 and 1887 with Russia. In view of the failure to accept the views of the American Jewish Committee, which it is convinced is the only way to begin a settlement of this important question, appeal is made from the Government to the people of the United States, by a candid presentation of the issues involved. By arrangement between the American Jewish Committee and The Jewish Publication Society of America, the manuscript of the YEAR BOOK has again been compiled by the former, and the publication undertaken by the latter. For the first time THE AMERICAN JEWISH YEAR BOOK is deprived of the services of Miss Henrietta Szold in its preparation. None but those who have had a share in the compilation of previous issues of the YEAR BOOK can appreciate adequately the invaluable nature of her careful co-operation. For aid in the preparation of this issue, I am again indebted to the valuable assistance of Dr. Cyrus Adler, of Philadelphia, and also to Mr. I. George Dobsevage, Assistant Secretary of The Jewish Publication Society of America, for his careful revision of a considerable part of the manuscript. HERBERT FRIEDENWALD. NEW YORK, JULY 19, 1911. SPECIAL ARTICLES IN PREVIOUS ISSUES OF THE AMERICAN JEWISH YEAR BOOK THE ALLIANCE ISRAÉLITE UNIVERSELLE, 5661, pp. 45-65. THE JEWS OF ROUMANIA (two articles), 5662, pp. 25-87. THE AMERICAN PASSPORT IN RUSSIA, 5665, pp. 283-305. THE PASSPORT QUESTION IN CONGRESS, 5670, pp. 21-43. DIRECTORIES OF NATIONAL AND LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS, 5661, pp. 67495; 5668, pp. 21-430; 5669, pp. 19-64; 5670, pp. 146-189; 5671, pp. 229-253. STATISTICAL SUMMARY BY STATES (JEWISH ORGANIZATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES), 5662, pp. 126-156. THE JEWISH POPULATION OF MARYLAND, 5663, pp. 46-62. A LIST OF JEWISH PERIODICALS IN THE UNITED STATES, 5660, pp. 271-282; and in subsequent issues. PRELIMINARY LIST OF JEWISH SOLDIERS AND SAILORS WHO SERVED IN THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR, 5661, pp. 525-622. THE HUNDRED BEST AVAILABLE BOOKS IN ENGLISH ON JEWISH SUBJECTS, 5665, pp. 309-317. ONE HUNDRED AVAILABLE BOOKS IN ENGLISH ON PALESTINE, 5666, pp. 153-162. A LIST OF AVAILABLE STORIES OF JEWISH INTEREST IN ENGLISH, 5667, pp. 130-142. A SYLLABUS OF JEWISH HISTORY, 5666, pp. 163-170. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF RABBIS AND CANTORS OFFICIATING IN THE UNITED STATES, 5664, pp. 40-108; 5665, pp. 214-225; 5666, pp. 119-125. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF JEWS PROMINENT IN THE PROFESSIONS, ETC., IN THE UNITED STATES, 5665, pp. 52-213. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF JEWISH COMMUNAL WORKERS IN THE UNITED STATES, 5666, pp. 32-118. |