This collection is located on-site.
Student papers are restricted for 75 years from the date of their creation.
The collection contains copies of articles and photocopies of archival material used for research, drafts of speeches and manuscripts, handwritten and typed research notes, correspondence, clippings, photographs, and teaching and course material such as syllabi, readings, notes, and bibliographies. These materials were gathered by Goren between approximately 1960 and 2005, as he conducted research in, wrote about, and taught American Jewish history at universities in the United States and Israel.
Dates given for copied materials refer to the dates of the original materials, not the date on which the copy was made.
Arranged in one series.
You will need to make an appointment in advance to use this collection material in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room. You can schedule an appointment once you've submitted your request through your Special Collections Research Account.
This collection is located on-site.
Student papers are restricted for 75 years from the date of their creation.
Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. The RBML maintains ownership of the physical material only. Copyright remains with the creator and his/her heirs. The responsibility to secure copyright permission rests with the patron.
Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Arthur A. Goren papers; Box and Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.
Arthur A. Goren papers: Another group of Goren's research, teaching, and publishing files, in the American Jewish Historical Society's collections at the Center for Jewish History.
Materials may have been added to the collection since this finding aid was prepared. Contact rbml@columbia.edu for more information.
2016.2017.M144: Source of acquisition--Rebecca Kobrin. Method of acquisition--Gift; Date of acquisition--4/27/2017.
Columbia University Libraries, Rare Book and Manuscript Library
Papers processed by Albert Kohn, 2017
Finding aid written by Celeste Brewer, 2018
Some materials in Goren's papers were incorporated into the Institute for Israel and Jewish Studies records in the Columbia University Archives.
2018-05-25 File created.
2019-05-20 EAD was imported spring 2019 as part of the ArchivesSpace Phase II migration.
Arthur Aryeh Goren was born Arthur Gorenstein on February 15, 1926, in Chelsea, Massachusetts. His parents, Saul and Lillian Gorenstein, were Labor Zionists and Goren was raised in Habonim ("the builders"), a halutz (pioneer) youth movement in Washington, D.C., and New York City. He enlisted in the army reserves when he turned eighteen in February 1944 and completed his freshman year of Hebrew Studies at the Teacher's Institute of Yeshiva College while preparing for the army. He entered the service in July 1944 and trained in Mississippi. He was never posted overseas and was discharged in December 1945, at which point he went directly to a Habonim convention.
He made aliyah (immigrated) to Israel in 1951 "to fulfill his youthful Zionist dreams. Those ideals also included fighting 'with like-minded people everywhere for the emergence of a better society.'"1 He completed a Bachelor of Arts in Jewish History at the Hebrew University in 1957, and continued with some graduate studies in History at the same institution from 1958 to 1959. As a veteran, he attended the Hebrew University on the GI Bill. He then returned to the United States, completing both a Master's of Arts in 1964 and a PhD in United States History in 1966 at Columbia University. Just prior to graduation, he Hebraicized his last name to "Goren." (His research papers from his time as a student at the Hebrew University all bear the last name "Gorenstein.").
Goren returned to Israel and taught at the Hebrew University from 1966 to 1988. He then went back to Columbia University and was the Russell and Bettina Knapp Professor of American Jewish History from the chair's establishment in 1988 through his retirement in 2005. Specializing in "social and cultural Jewish history of the United States"2 he has published numerous books and articles, including seminal works in the field. Some of his publications include The Politics and Public Culture of American Jews (1999), Studies in American Civilization (1987), The American Jews: Dimensions of Ethnicity (1982), Dissenter in Zion: From the Writings of Judah L. Magnes (1982), and New York Jews and the Quest for Community: The Kehillah Experiment 1908-1922 (1970), which "is considered a landmark contribution to the field of American Jewish history.".
Goren held visiting positions at Brandeis University, the University of Pennsylvania, and the Jewish Theological Seminary, and a Charles Warner Fellowship at Harvard University. He has held numerous positions on boards and committees, including Chairman of the Department of American Studies at the Hebrew University from 1970 to 1973 and again in the 1980s. He was a member of the American Jewish Historical Society's Academic Council, and served on the editorial boards of American Jewish History, the Journal of American Ethnic History, and the YIVO Annual. In 1998, he received a Jewish Cultural Achievement Award for Historical Studies from the National Foundation for Jewish Culture.
The subject headings listed below are found in this collection. Links below allow searches for other collections at Columbia University, through CLIO, the catalog for Columbia University Libraries, and through ArchiveGRID, a catalog that allows users to search the holdings of multiple research libraries and archives.
All links open new windows.
Box 1 Folder 1
Box 1 Folder 2
Proofs of project proposals and guides.
Box 1 Folder 3
Reviews of Goren's bookThe Kehilah Experimentand op-eds discussing Jewish criminality.
Box 1 Folder 4
Information and correspondance about an exhibit at the Lower East Side Tenement Museum called "Sitting Shiva."
Box 1 Folder 5
English and Yiddish materials about Adath Israel of New York, includes synagogue constitution and publications.
Box 1 Folder 6
Closed to researchers until 2073.
Student written papers about American Jewish History, some not submitted for a course with Goren.
Box 1 Folder 7
Transcription of letters written during the war by American soldier, Kieve Skidell; pages bookmarked; appears identical to folder 10.
Box 1 Folder 8
Documents about the celebration of 300th anniversary of Jewish arrival in America.
Box 1 Folder 9
Articles about American life by Philip Gleason.
Box 1 Folder 10
Transcription of letters written during the war by American soldier, Kieve Skidell; pages bookmarked; appears identical to folder 7.
Box 1 Folder 11
Tenure materials closed to researchers until 2085.
Materials considering the granting of tenure to a faculty member at University of Pennsylvania; Haaretz article reviewing Goren book on Judah Magnes.
Box 1 Folder 12
Varied material. Papers concerning Zionism in America, translation of article concerning "Jewish Criminality," handwritten letters by Judah Magnes from Central Archives for the History of the Jewish People collection (http://cahjp.nli.org.il/webfm_send/1027), article by Kaplan about God idea in Reconstructionism.
Box 2 Folder 1
Letters to newspapers and Israeli President Navon concerning American perceptions of Zionism.
Box 2 Folder 2
Various publications and reports.
Box 2 Folder 3
Assorted publications fromJewish Frontierregarding Zionism and Israel.
Box 2 Folder 4
Student seminar paper closed to researchers until 2074.
Articles; student seminar paper.
Box 2 Folder 5
Sources about dedication of synagogues; correspondance with Haym Soloveitchik; personal letter about Oslo Accords.
Box 2 Folder 6
Articles discussing the filmLand of Promise;personal notes; Hebrew and English material.
Box 2 Folder 7
Photocopies of newspapers, articles and images about pre-state relationship with the British in Mandate Palestine.
Box 2 Folder 8
Print-out of manual guiding Israel Independence Day and Jerusalem Day celebrations.
Box 2 Folder 9
Jerusalem Postarticles about the Israel Parade in New York City.
Box 2 Folder 10
Socialism discussion packets, articles.
Box 2 Folder 11
Photocopies of dedication services for various American synagogues.
Box 6 Folder 12
International Cultures Parade printout, article.
Box 2 Folder 13
Article "Reconsidering the Rosenbergs" and a response to it.
Box 2 Folder 14
Articles, photocopies of newspapers, concerning synagogue dedications.
Box 2 Folder 15
Photocopy of Magnes article "What has Zionism given the Jews" with Goren comments.
Box 2 Folder 16
Articles (both academic and journalistic) about American and Jewish crime.
Box 2 Folder 17
Closed to researchers until 2067.
Student essay, "The Five Points: The Myth of the Immigrant Experience in 19th Century New York City."
Box 3 Folder 1
Collection of documents about Louis Brandeis, as well as assorted other articles and addresses on Zionism by other influential Jewish Americans.
Box 3 Folder 2
Collection of articles and an email.
Box 3 Folder 3
Articles about both American Zionism and Americanism.
Box 3 Folder 4
Various articles, syllabi, letter written to Judah Magnes, list of people to be sent copy of book.
Box 3 Folder 5
Articles about Jewish historiography, materials related to the American Jewish Historical Society, emails relating to classes taught.
Box 3 Folder 6
Articles and some personal notes.
Box 3 Folder 7
Various articles about public culture.
Box 3 Folder 8
Articles and photocopied materials about public culture.
Box 3 Folder 9
Article of same title.
Box 3 Folder 10
Article about and book review of Oscar Handlin.
Box 3 Folder 11
Copy of "Statement on the Palestine Situation" which concerns Judah Magnes.
Box 3 Folder 12
Personal letters in English, Hebrew and German by and to Judah Magnes.
Box 3 Folder 13
Actual and photocopies of materials about the Central Synagogue and American Jewish/religious life, personal notes.
Box 3 Folder 14
Primary documents about American Jewish Tricentenary and other materials, personal notes.
Box 3 Folder 15
Articles and a photocopied handwritten section of a book, primary documents about Jewish funerals.
Box 4 Folder 1
Images and Illustrations from Yiddish newspapers concerning Magnes and Brandeis, Zionism.
Box 4 Folder 2
Articles about crime and Jewish crime.
Box 4 Folder 3
Lecture to IIJS notes, personal notes and newspaper clipping; marked "mail to Israel."
Box 4 Folder 4
Teaching documents, personal bio.
Box 4 Folder 5
Letters with editor of Forward, 11/25/61 copy of theForward.
Box 4 Folder 6
Collection of articles and documents.
Box 4 Folder 7
Article by Salo Baron.
Box 4 Folder 8
Assorted teaching and personal materials, some research photocopies and newspaper clippings.
Box 4 Folder 9
Box 4 Folder 10
Teaching materials, personal emails, photocopies of articles.
Box 4 Folder 11
Article sent to Goren by Soloveitchik.
Box 4 Folder 12
Newspaper clippings and photocopies of documents.
Box 4 Folder 13
Materials concerning corner stones and building dedications; appears to be compiled by Judith Farkas and not Goren.
Box 4 Folder 14
Organized materials about Central Synagogue.
Box 5 Folder 1
Course Reader.
Box 5 Folder 2
Course Reader.
Box 5 Folder 3
Course Reader.
Box 5 Folder 4
Course Reader for 9th-12th grade.
Box 5 Folder 5
Course Reader, Co-taught with Zvi Kaplan.
Box 5 Folder 6
Box 5 Folder 7
Closed to researchers until 2075.
Final Paper by MA student.
Box 5 Folder 8
Course Reader.
Box 5 Folder 9
Closed to researchers until 2072.
Honors Thesis for BA at Harvard.
Box 6 Folder 1
Course Book.
Box 10 Folder 2
Occasional notes and tabs.
Box 6 Folder 3
Course book.
Box 6 Folder 4
Different from materials in Box 10, Folder 3.
Box 6 Folder 5
Closed to researchers until 2075.
BA Thesis from Colby College.
Box 6 Folder 6
Collection of letters and telegrams to and from Stephen Wise.
Box 6 Folder 7
Book on Jewish summer camping.
Box 6 Folder 8
Book
Box 7 Folder 1
Dissertation for University of Haifa.
Box 7 Folder 2
Binder of course and bibliographic material.
Box 7 Folder 3
Assorted Pamphlets; Previously unsorted, folder title by archival processor, not Goren.
Box 7 Folder 4
Assorted Pamphlets; Previously unsorted, folder title by archival processor, not Goren.
Box 7 Folder 5
Assorted addresses by Magnes; in English, Hebrew, Yiddish, German.
Box 7 Folder 6
Assorted Documents and Reports.
Box 7 Folder 7
Picture of Goren and personal note.
Box 7 Folder 8
Box 8 Folder 1
Loose pamphlet without folder; Belin Lectures.
Box 8 Folder 2
Original type-up and photocopies of a story by same title; identified as "Story #14."
Box 8 Folder 3
Copies and translations of letters; copied in Israel.
Box 8 Folder 4
Images and cartoons; some developed pictures, most photocopied.
Box 8 Folder 5
Newspaper clippings, Kehillah charter.
Box 8 Folder 6
Articles.
Box 8 Folder 7
Articles, materials for Goren Book of same name.
Box 8 Folder 8
Articles, materials from HUC graduations.
Box 8 Folder 9
Teaching materials and personal notes.
Box 8 Folder 10
Articles and copies of primary documents.
Box 8 Folder 11
Articles, Newspaper copies and Hebrew material.
Box 8 Folder 12
Articles, teaching material, primary documents.
Box 8 Folder 13
Articles, copies of primary documents.
Box 8 Folder 14
Articles.
Box 8 Folder 15
Articles.
Box 8 Folder 16
Articles, newspaper clippings, music, extensive personal notes.
Box 8 Folder 17
Syllabi, reading lists.
Box 9 Folder 1
Articles.
Box 9 Folder 2
Articles.
Box 9 Folder 3
Catalog of films with descriptions.
Box 9 Folder 4
Bibliographic material, article photocopy, personal notes.
Box 9 Folder 5
Articles fromThe Reconstructionist.
Box 9 Folder 6
Articles, manuscript of article, handwritten feedback for article.
Box 9 Folder 7
letters, material from American Jewish Year Book, Baron article.
Box 9 Folder 8
Articles, primary documents, newspaper clippings.
Box 9 Folder 9
Extracts of primary documents from published books.
Box 9 Folder 10
Articles.
Box 9 Folder 11
Materials for Munich conference on American Jewish History.
Box 9 Folder 12
Articles and news clipping.
Box 9 Folder 13
Pamphlet from Scranton lecture, Yiddish article.
Box 9 Folder 14
Article and Bancroft award catalog.
Box 9 Folder 15
Article from library.
Box 9 Folder 16
Conference materials about dance; title by archives processor, not Goren.
Box 9 Folder 17
Articles, newspapers, Hebrew writing by Goren.
Box 9 Folder 18
Magnes material, Zionism-related primary sources.
Box 9 Folder 19
Letter of recommendation closed to researchers until 2063.
Article, Magnes letters, letter of recommendation.
Box 9 Folder 20
Article by Kallen, copies ofThe Nationfrom 1915
Box 9 Folder 21
Articles, mostly about dual loyalties for Americans.
Box 9 Folder 22
Box 9 Folder 23
Conference and meeting proceedings.
Box 10 Folder 1
Conference materials, personal correspondence.
Box 10 Folder 2
Closed to researchers until 2079.
Seminary paper with Goren's comments, bibliographic information.
Box 10 Folder 3
Articles about pluralism, Furrow article from 1950.
Box 10 Folder 4
Closed to researchers until 2068.
Seminar Paper on Salo Baron.
Box 10 Folder 5
Sequence of articles from on book.
Box 10 Folder 6
Box 10 Folder 7
Articles by Gleason and Hansen.
Box 10 Folder 8
Articles on Jewish education in America and Israel.
Box 10 Folder 9
Materials about the Lower East Side; maps, newspapers, synagogue programming.
Box 10 Folder 10
Bibliographic material, humorous personal emails (with Ezra Mendelsohn), German newspaper clipping, Hebrew article.
Box 10 Folder 11
Reflections on life between Israel and America.
Box 10 Folder 12
Two articles.
Box 10 Folder 13
Materials about Jacob Weinberg, Jewish Music and scattered references to American Zionist Public Culture.
Box 10 Folder 14
Copies of published editions of Louis Brandeis letters.
Box 10 Folder 15
Civil Religion in America, Bellah and Pluralism and Assimilation, Gleason.
Box 10 Folder 16
Newspaper clippings, Jerusalem Post notes, and interviews.
Box 10 Folder 17
Personal handwritten notes, primary documents.
Box 11 Folder 1
Images (prints and copies) and notes on index cards.
Box 11 Folder 2
Syllabi and an article.
Box 11 Folder 3
Images with notes and emails/faxes.
Box 11 Folder 4
Articles: Hebrew and English.
Box 11 Folder 5
Articles with primary documents mixed in.
Box 11 Folder 6
One article with images.
Box 11 Folder 7
Newspaper clippings from 1889, articles.
Box 11 Folder 8
Manuscript for Goren article/book and handwritten notes.
Box 11 Folder 9
Newspaper article, maps and personal notes.
Box 11 Folder 10
Images and articles.
Box 11 Folder 11
Butler Article.
Box 11 Folder 12
Archival materials, email, articles.
Box 11 Folder 13
Program for concert.