Debating anti‐Semitism: Ernestine Rose vs. Horace Seaver in the Boston Investigator, 1863–1864

Jewish women have struggled to develop identities that allow them to meet the needs of their various communities and remain true to themselves. Ernestine Rose has been described as having disavowed her Jewish heritage; yet, she is included as “the Jewish woman's rights advocate.”; This analysis focuses on an 1863–1864 debate with editor Horace Seaver about anti‐Semitism and the Jews published in the Boston Investigator. This single encounter is rhetorically significant, because it illustrates the subtle, non‐institutional character of anti‐Semitism among mid‐nineteenth century liberal intellectuals. It also illustrates that Rose's Jewish identity was neither elusive nor conflicted, but a basis for her advocacy of human rights which has historic as well as contemporary relevance for the understanding identity development.

Key concepts:

• Ernestine Rose
• anti‐Semitism
• liberalism
• Boston Investigator
• Horace Seaver
• American Jewish identity