The landsmanshaften, organizations named after their old world origins, were a significant part of the immigrant experience. The Chicago segment was part of a universal manifestation from 1880-1980, which included European and Asian immigrants. These voluntary associations, both independent and secular, served each ethnic group with a wide variety of critical services during a stressful time of alienation and adjustment. For some, these societies became a refuge of comfort and security. For many others, perhaps the majority, the societies became a bridge into the mainstream of America.
"Sidney Sorkin is the foremost expert on the landmanshaften in Chicago ... he has compiled a much needed thorough study of the hundreds of city landsmanshaften, arranged for easy reference and enhanced with interesting historic and anecdotal background material." (Irving Cutler, Chicago State University)
"Sorkin has written an encyclopedic work of Jewish history, interesting in its own right and useful as a contribution to larger historical tasks." (Irving Howe)
"It has been almost sixty years since the last detailed survey of the landsmanshaften societies for a specific geographic area. With the publication of 'Bridges to an American City' author Sidney Sorkin has produced a resource without equal based upon over ten years of research which will quickly become THE reference on the subject for any American Jew who had familiy in Chicago during the immigrant years." (Miriam Weiner C.G.) "'Bridges to an American City' is an important work for understanding the historical experiences of Chicago Jewry. Sorkin has crafted a volume that is needed and is a thorough study arranged for easy reference and enhanced with meanigful historic and anecdotal background material. His book is a welcome addition to American Jewish history." (Edward Mazur, Chicago Jewish)
"This book is a genealogist's delight. øSorkin! spent twelve years compiling this work, and the results of his exhaustive scholarship make the book a valuable reference source not only for people researching family with roots in Chicago, but also for anyone researching family from towns represented by landsmanshaften describen in the book." (A. Friedlander, Dorot)
"Sidney Sorkin has published an important guide to the many organizations that existed in Chicago from 1870 to 1990." (American Jewish Archives)
"Sorkin has produced a valuable book and we are all indebted to him." (David H. Heller, Morasha)
"A gem for anyone with Chicago roots, this 480-page volume is also a 'must-see' for anyonehoping to learn more about landmanshaftn in general and about their own families' 'landsleit'." (Lineage)
"...this book is a long-awaited treasure for historians, genealogists, and those individuals who are committed to unraveling their connection to the Old World and the new home America." (Hannah Kliger, Shofar)
"'Bridges to an American City' is an excellent guide to additional family references, many of which are rarely discussed in standard genealogical literature." (Marsha Hoffman Rising, FGS Forum)
"Sorkin has written an encyclopedic work of Jewish history, interesting in its own right and useful as a contribution to larger historical tasks." (Irving Howe)
"It has been almost sixty years since the last detailed survey of the landsmanshaften societies for a specific geographic area. With the publication of 'Bridges to an American City' author Sidney Sorkin has produced a resource without equal based upon over ten years of research which will quickly become THE reference on the subject for any American Jew who had familiy in Chicago during the immigrant years." (Miriam Weiner C.G.) "'Bridges to an American City' is an important work for understanding the historical experiences of Chicago Jewry. Sorkin has crafted a volume that is needed and is a thorough study arranged for easy reference and enhanced with meanigful historic and anecdotal background material. His book is a welcome addition to American Jewish history." (Edward Mazur, Chicago Jewish)
"This book is a genealogist's delight. øSorkin! spent twelve years compiling this work, and the results of his exhaustive scholarship make the book a valuable reference source not only for people researching family with roots in Chicago, but also for anyone researching family from towns represented by landsmanshaften describen in the book." (A. Friedlander, Dorot)
"Sidney Sorkin has published an important guide to the many organizations that existed in Chicago from 1870 to 1990." (American Jewish Archives)
"Sorkin has produced a valuable book and we are all indebted to him." (David H. Heller, Morasha)
"A gem for anyone with Chicago roots, this 480-page volume is also a 'must-see' for anyonehoping to learn more about landmanshaftn in general and about their own families' 'landsleit'." (Lineage)
"...this book is a long-awaited treasure for historians, genealogists, and those individuals who are committed to unraveling their connection to the Old World and the new home America." (Hannah Kliger, Shofar)
"'Bridges to an American City' is an excellent guide to additional family references, many of which are rarely discussed in standard genealogical literature." (Marsha Hoffman Rising, FGS Forum)