The American Jewish Philanthropic Complex: The History of a Multibillion-Dollar Institution

Lila Corwin Berman's book explores the complex relationship between American Jewish philanthropy, democracy, and capitalism, revealing how philanthropy has been influenced by government regulatory efforts and the growing investment in capitalism.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 280 pages
Publication date: 13 September 2022
Publisher: Princeton University Press

For years, American Jewish philanthropy has been celebrated as the proudest product of Jewish endeavors in the United States, its virtues extending from the local to the global, the Jewish to the non-Jewish, and modest donations to vast endowments. Yet, as Lila Corwin Berman illuminates in The American Jewish Philanthropic Complex, the history of American Jewish philanthropy reveals the far more complicated reality of changing and uneasy relationships among philanthropy, democracy, and capitalism. With a fresh eye and lucid prose, and relying on previously untapped sources, Berman shows that from its nineteenth-century roots to its apex in the late twentieth century, the American Jewish philanthropic complex tied Jewish institutions to the American state. The governments regulatory efforts—most importantly, tax policies—situated philanthropy at the core of its experiments to maintain the public good without trammeling on the private freedoms of individuals. Jewish philanthropic institutions and leaders gained financial strength, political influence, and state protections within this framework. However, over time, the vast inequalities in resource distribution that marked American state policy became inseparable from philanthropic practice. By the turn of the millennium, Jewish philanthropic institutions reflected the states growing investment in capitalism against democratic interests. But well before that, Jewish philanthropy had already entered into a tight relationship with the governing forces of American life, reinforcing and even transforming the nations laws and policies.

The American Jewish Philanthropic Complex uncovers how capitalism and private interest have shaped American Jewish philanthropy, from its nineteenth-century roots to its apex in the late twentieth century. Berman explores how Jewish institutions have been both beneficiaries and victims of the states regulatory efforts, as they have sought to maintain their independence while also contributing to the public good. She also examines how Jewish philanthropy has been influenced by the broader social and political context of the United States, from the rise of conservatism to the civil rights movement.

One of the most striking aspects of The American Jewish Philanthropic Complex is Berman's analysis of the relationship between philanthropy and democracy. She shows how Jewish philanthropic institutions have played a critical role in promoting democratic values and institutions, from funding education and social welfare programs to supporting civil rights and political activism. However, she also highlights how philanthropy has been used to undermine democratic values and institutions, such as when foundations have funded conservative think tanks and political campaigns that promote anti-democratic policies.

Another important theme in The American Jewish Philanthropic Complex is the relationship between philanthropy and capitalism. Berman argues that Jewish philanthropy has been both a beneficiary and a victim of the states growing investment in capitalism against democratic interests. On the one hand, Jewish philanthropic institutions have gained financial strength and political influence as a result of their close relationship with the governing forces of American life. On the other hand, they have also been criticized for promoting inequality and contributing to the growing wealth gap between the rich and the poor.

In conclusion, The American Jewish Philanthropic Complex is a groundbreaking work that offers a fresh and nuanced perspective on the history of American Jewish philanthropy. Berman's analysis of the complex relationships between philanthropy, democracy, and capitalism is insightful and thought-provoking, and her book will be of interest to scholars and practitioners of philanthropy, politics, and social policy. As the United States continues to grapple with the challenges of inequality and social justice, it is essential to understand the role that philanthropy has played in shaping the nation's social and political landscape.

Weight: 444g
Dimension: 155 x 231 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780691242118