Milton Himmelfarb
Encyclopedia
Milton Himmelfarb was an American sociographer
of the American Jewish community.
Himmelfarb worked for four decades at the American Jewish Committee
where he was director of information and research services. He edited various versions of the American Jewish Yearbook. He also was a contributing editor of Commentary
, the monthly journal of opinion.
In 1986 President
Ronald Reagan
appointed Himmelfarb to the United States Holocaust Memorial Council. Himmelfarb held several academic posts: visiting professor at the Jewish Theological Seminary
and the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College
and visiting lecturer at Yale College
. He earned a BA in 1938 and MS in 1939 from City College of New York
.
Himmelfarb coined the aphorism
on the Jewish community's political persuasions: "Jews earn like Episcopalians, and vote like Puerto Ricans."
Himmelfarb's sister is the historian Gertrude Himmelfarb
. He died in New York City at the age of 87.
Sociography
Sociography is writing on society, societal sub-divisions, and societal patterns, done without first conducting the in-depth study typically required in the academic field of sociology...
of the American Jewish community.
Himmelfarb worked for four decades at the American Jewish Committee
American Jewish Committee
The American Jewish Committee was "founded in 1906 with the aim of rallying all sections of American Jewry to defend the rights of Jews all over the world...
where he was director of information and research services. He edited various versions of the American Jewish Yearbook. He also was a contributing editor of Commentary
Commentary (magazine)
Commentary is a monthly American magazine on politics, Judaism, social and cultural issues. It was founded by the American Jewish Committee in 1945. By 1960 its editor was Norman Podhoretz, a liberal at the time who moved sharply to the right in the 1970s and 1980s becoming a strong voice for the...
, the monthly journal of opinion.
In 1986 President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
appointed Himmelfarb to the United States Holocaust Memorial Council. Himmelfarb held several academic posts: visiting professor at the Jewish Theological Seminary
Jewish Theological Seminary of America
The Jewish Theological Seminary of America is one of the academic and spiritual centers of Conservative Judaism, and a major center for academic scholarship in Jewish studies.JTS operates five schools: Albert A...
and the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College
Reconstructionist Rabbinical College
The Reconstructionist Rabbinical College , is located in Wyncote, Pennsylvania, about 10 miles north of central Philadelphia. RRC is the only seminary affiliated with Reconstructionist Judaism. It is accredited by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and...
and visiting lecturer at Yale College
Yale College
Yale College was the official name of Yale University from 1718 to 1887. The name now refers to the undergraduate part of the university. Each undergraduate student is assigned to one of 12 residential colleges.-Residential colleges:...
. He earned a BA in 1938 and MS in 1939 from City College of New York
City College of New York
The City College of the City University of New York is a senior college of the City University of New York , in New York City. It is also the oldest of the City University's twenty-three institutions of higher learning...
.
Himmelfarb coined the aphorism
Aphorism
An aphorism is an original thought, spoken or written in a laconic and memorable form.The term was first used in the Aphorisms of Hippocrates...
on the Jewish community's political persuasions: "Jews earn like Episcopalians, and vote like Puerto Ricans."
Himmelfarb's sister is the historian Gertrude Himmelfarb
Gertrude Himmelfarb
Gertrude Himmelfarb , also known as Bea Kristol, is an American historian. She has written extensively on intellectual history, with a focus on Britain and the Victorian era, as well as on contemporary society and culture....
. He died in New York City at the age of 87.
Selected works authored, co-authored or edited by Himmelfarb
- Jews and Gentiles (Encounter Books), 2007,
- American Jewish Year Book (Jewish Publication Society of America, various years)
- The Jews of Modernity (Basic Books, 1973) (ISBN 0-465-03674-0)
- Jews in Unsecular America: Essays (Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1987) (ISBN 0-8028-0206-0)
- Zero Population Growth—For Whom? Differential Fertility and Minority Group Survival (Greenwood Press, 1978) (ISBN 0-313-20041-6)
- Numerous magazine and journal articles
External links
- Archive of Himmelfarb's articles in Commentary
- President Reagan's appointment of Himmelfarb to the United States Holocaust Memorial Council. Includes a brief career summary.
- Himmelfarb's eulogy by his son Edward Himmelfarb
- Profile of Himmelfarb by Joseph Bottum
- Appreciation of Himmelfarb by Benjamin Balint in The ForwardThe ForwardThe Forward , commonly known as The Jewish Daily Forward, is a Jewish-American newspaper published in New York City. The publication began in 1897 as a Yiddish-language daily issued by dissidents from the Socialist Labor Party of Daniel DeLeon...