Stepmother Russia, Foster Mother America ― Identity Transitions in the New Odessa Jewish Commune, 1881-1891

Friedgut tells the story of a group of young Zionist Jews in Odessa who fled pogroms in Russia to found a commune in rural Oregon, New Odessa, one of about 100 such communities that the group Am Olam formed in the US and elsewhere. He covers the beginning of Am Olam, the birth of New Odessa, first stop in New York, beginnings in Oregon, William Frey's background and beliefs, building New Odessa, the culture of New Odessa, fruition and decline, after New Odessa, and a balance sheet. He also includes Israel Mandelkern's 100-page memoir of life at New Odessa, "Recollections of a Communist." Annotation c2015 Ringgold, Inc., Portland, OR (protoview.com)

Theodore H. Friedgut is Emeritus Professor of Russian Studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. The most recent of his six books, The Lipton Jewish Agricultural Colony, 1901-1951: Pioneering Canada’s Prairies was awarded the 2009 Switzer-Cooperstock Prize in Western Canadian Jewish History.