The “Jewish Jefferson” is the name given Justice Louis D. Brandeis by Jeffrey Rosen, author of “Louis D. Brandeis: American Prophet.” Brandeis was the critic of bigness in government, in business, even in farming. His idyllic vision of an agrarian American Utopia comprised of small farms and family businesses was in line with Jeffersonian ideals. He fervently believed in economic justice, freedom of speech and freedom against unreasonable search and seizure. His words and opinions are most relevant to the times we live in.
This book is part of a series entitled “Jewish Lives.” Thus, law school Jeffrey Rosen devotes a good portion of it to Brandeis’ transformation into an advocate for Zionism. It was in representing immigrant garment workers during a strike in New York City that Brandeis began his conversion to the Zionist cause. He was impressed by the immigrant Jewish workers’ intellectualism, idealism and empathy.
