- Joshua de Sola Mendes
The Diary of Asser Levy: First Jewish Citizen of New York
The Diary of Asser Levy: First Jewish Citizen of New York by Daniela Weil
American patriot Asser Levy began life in Vilna (part of today's Lithuania) and, after stops in Poland and Amsterdam, eventually made his way to colonial New York in 1654 where he became a prominent advocate for Jewish political and civil rights, successfully petitioning the Dutch governor, Peter Stuyvesant, who sought to limit them. All the while, he adhered to his Jewish faith, providing an inspirational model for other Jewish immigrants. Purchase here:
Joshua de Sola Mendes
