Q: James Traub – Judah Benjamin – Intro

A:

• Author, Journalist, Lecturer

• New York University

• Had written a range of Books

• Approached by Yale Press

• Jewish Lives Series

• Studied Eli Evans bio on Benjamin

Q: What were the early influences that shaped Judah Benjamin?

A: 

• Born in the Caribbean

• Parents were shopkeepers

• Moved to North Carolina

• And then to Charleston, South Carolina

• Largest Jewish community in USA 1820

• Southern Identity

• Story of Assimilation

Q: Did Judah Benjamin receive a Jewish education?

A:

• Synagogue burned down – no records

• Do not know if he had a Bar-Mitzvah

• Father traditional but part of breakaway group

• Mother kept store open on the Sabbath

• Not a member of New Orleans synagogue

Q: What was Judah Benjamin’s Personality?

A:

• Winning Personality

• Charming

• Sweet to Kids

• Elderly loved him

• Told funny stories

• Loved to play literary games

• But extremely Hard Working

Q:  Did Judah Benjamin face anti-Semitism?

A:

• New Orleans featured many racial elements

• As such there was  a great black/white divide

• Benjamin fit into the “white category”

• Higher he climbed, more he faced anti-Semitism

• In the Senate & later as leader in Confederacy

Q: Why did Judah Benjamin choose politics?

A:

• Virtue of Public Service

• Wealth a perquisite to political position

• Model of Judah Touro

• US Senate highest achievement for a Jew

Q: Judah Benjamin & Slavery?

A:

• Argued McCargo Case

• Passionate anti-slavery defense

• Cited by abolitionists

• Evoked Merchant of Venice

• But condemned by his knowledge

• Bought sugar plantation

• Largest Jewish slave owner

Q: Jefferson Davis and Judah Benjamin:

A:

• Jefferson Davis: temperamental, fearful

• Judah Benjamin: calming influence

• Fought in Senate, challenged to a duel

• Found Benjamin to be indispensable

• Benjamin could do the work of 10 men

• Balance Wheel, “Court Jew”

Q: Was Judah Benjamin an effective Secretary of War?

A:

• Jefferson Davis wanted to be commanding general

• Judah Benjamin served as a buffer

• Hard to deal with hero generals of the South

• South lacked guns, cannons, uniforms

• Very suited as Secretary of State

• Model, effective, diplomat

• Attempted to get support of England & France

Q: How does Judah Benjamin escape capture by the North?

A:

• South on cusp of defeat

• Confederate cabinet flees southward

• David intent on fighting to the end

• Judah Benjamin begins his escape from USA/North

• Daring, adventurous, dangerous journey

• Pulls it off & reaches England

Q: How does Judah Benjamin rebuild himself after the Civil War?

A:

• Fits it, assimilates into, English society

• Begins a new legal career

• Becomes highly successful

• Authors, Benjamin on Contracts

• Leading 1,000 page textbook

Q: What is Judah Benjamin’s Legacy?

A:

• Basically disappeared from history

• Very few remembrances

• Not admired in South

• Non Jewish life

• Story of highly successful assimilationist

• Spokesperson for evil of slavery

Q: Why Should We Study Judah Benjamin?

A:

• Live in times of simple moral judgments

• Need to distinguish between beliefs and character

• Judah Benjamin was far reaching

• But prey to ambition, assimilation