Jewish Destinies: Citizenship, State, and Community in Modern France

Pierre Birnbaum's book has an envious quality among history books to transcend describing events by time but rather movements in thought. He describes events from as early as the French Revolution in the same breath as current happenings. He is not shy to express a viewpoint that strongly supports the French model of the Jewish Citizen. Birnbaum is confounded with the destiny of french Jewry because French Jews today do not all share his vision of the Republic. This Americanization of France (multi-culturism, etc.) and the traditions of the Sephardic immigrants frighten Birnbaum slightly, but he does not provide firm answers as to what exactly he is afraid of. The book also covers many overlooked topics through many primary sources.