MARCH 2025

The Jewish Presence in the Civil War

By Peter Tarlow 

(The Bryan Eagle published this article on March 1,  2025. It is republished here with their permission.)

More than a hundred and fifty years ago America’s  bloodiest and most tragic war took place. The war is  still so controversial that neither side can yet agree on  its name. Southerners call the war that began in April  of 1861 “The War between the States” and  Northerners call this same war the “Civil War.” Additionally, the war’s causes and purpose are still  disputed. Southerners tend to see it as a war about  states’ rights and federalism. Northerners insist that  the war revolved around the issue of slavery and the fact that all humans are equal in the eyes of God. In  reality, the issues were a lot more complex and go  beyond simplistic answers. For example, although  Juneteenth celebrates the abolition of slavery in  Texas, that was not the end of slavery. It would only  be six months later that New Jersey, after the  passage of the Thirteenth Amendment, would finally  free its last 16 Black slaves.  

Understanding the Jewish role in the conflict is  complex. By the time the war occurred both the nation  and its Jewish community had grown considerably.  The issue of slavery dominated the thinking and  politics of both southern and northern Jewry. Jews  are one of the only people to have begun their national history with an epic recording of their liberation from slavery and human degradation. They  were, therefore, highly sensitive to the arguments  posed by those who opposed slavery. Indeed, the  Passover Seder and the Book of Exodus are universal symbols of humanity’s desire to be free. 

Despite the lessons teaching the importance of  freedom and human dignity found throughout the  Passover Seder and the inspirational passages found  throughout the Book of Exodus, Jews – as was the  case with their Christian neighbors – tended to side  with the people among whom they lived. That is to  say, Northern Jews viewed the war as a battle for the  liberation of enslaved souls and spiritually connected  the battle to free the slaves to their own enslavement,  while Southern Jews defended their states and their  states’ right to withdraw from the union and seek  independence.  

Although the exact numbers are mere approximations, it is safe to say that, like their  Christian friends and neighbors, thousands of Jews  volunteered, fought and died on both sides of the  conflict. For example, we know that nine Northern and  seven Southern generals were Jewish. The war saw a  divided Jewish community that reflected a divided  United States. Just as in the case of Christian  America, the war tore Jewish communities apart.

Despite the fact that Twenty-First century American  Jews are uncomfortable with the fact that Southern  Jews stood with their fellow Southerners, the reality is  that Jewish Americans supported their states’  positions. During the war Southern Jews contributed  to what was called the “southern cause” as political  leaders, warriors, and financiers. Although few Jews  owned slaves, many Southern Jews, out of a sense of  duty to their states, were loyal to the Confederacy.  Additionally, Southern Jews saw the need to defend  their homes and many were afraid that if they were  not loyal to the Confederacy, they might be subject to acts of antisemitism.  

Perhaps the most famous Jewish confederate was  Judah P. Benjamin. Benjamin is an important figure  in American history. Due to his political acumen, he became a member of the Confederacy cabinet and an  important advisor to Confederate President Jefferson  Davis. Born on the island of St. Croix his family  moved to Charleston, South Carolina where he studied law. After law school he moved to Louisiana where he became involved in that state’s politics.  Benjamin was the first practicing Jew to be elected to  the Louisiana state legislature and then to the United  States Senate. When Louisiana seceded from the  Union, Benjamin resigned from the United States  Senate and moved to Richmond where he served in  Jefferson Davis’ cabinet first as Attorney General,  then as secretary of war, and finally as the  Confederacy’s Secretary of State. After the  Confederacy’s defeat. Benjamin fled to England  where he became a successful barrister. He spent his  final years in Paris where in 1883 he died.  

Northern Jews were not only loyal to the Union but  fully embraced the desire to end slavery. We see this  anti-slave bias in the writing of such prominent Jewish  abolitionists as Ernestine Rose and Rabbi David  Einhorn. Not only did Rose fight against slavery, but she was also one of the first to fight for women’s  rights. She spoke across the nation for the liberation  of both Blacks and women and argued that “Emancipation from every kind of bondage is my  principle.”  

It was not easy to be a Jewish soldier in either army.  Like their Christian brothers-in-arms, Jewish soldiers faced the hardships of war. Jewish soldiers, however, also faced overt acts of antisemitism and prejudice  from both their fellow soldiers and from military  leaders. The height of this prejudice brought about  General Grant’s notorious Order Number 11, which demanded the expulsion of Jews as a class from the  Memphis region. Grant’s orders were immediately  overridden by President Lincoln. Grant almost immediately regretted his mistake, apologized for it, and during his term as President went out of his way  to appoint Jews to government positions. In 1876  Grant attended the opening ceremonies of  Washington D.C. ‘s Adas Israel Congregation’s new  building thus becoming the first president to attend  such a dedication. Grant also fought antisemitism throughout the rest of his life. When Grant died in 1885 the Philadelphia Jewish Record wrote: “None  will mourn his loss more sincerely than the Hebrew.”  

Grant’s life perhaps symbolizes some of the lowest  points of American history, and his life also serves as  a beacon of light teaching us that while sincere  repentance and good deeds can never totally erase  the past, it can provide a bridge to healing in the  future.  

________________________

Dr. Peter Tarlow directs the Center for Latino-Jewish  Relations. Tarlow is a police chaplain for the College  Station Police Department and the Rabbi Emeritus of  Texas A&M Hillel Foundation.