The Question is "Why?" Stanford M Adelstein: A Jewish Life in South Dakota

by Eric Steven Zimmer, Stanford M. Adelstein (Preface)

As a Jewish South Dakotan, Stanford M. "Stan" Adelstein has long encountered certain "How did you end up there?" "There are Jews in South Dakota?!" He's even had to explain where to find South Dakota on the map. But when Adelstein met David Ben-Gurion in Israel in 1965, the former prime minister asked something "The question isn't 'where?'," Ben-Gurion said. "The question is 'why?'" Caught off guard, Adelstein responded with what was in his He told Ben-Gurion that carving out a life of purpose on the South Dakota plains was his mission as a Jew. He has spent the years since then living out this response, serving a stunning array of local, national, and international causes. This book tells Adelstein's story of family, faith, business, politics, and philanthropy. It provides new perspectives on recent American and world history and on the lives of Jewish people in rural places. And, arriving when many Americans are questioning our democracy's durability, it inspires all who hope to improve their communities, their country, and the world. "A solid, in-depth, well-researched work....Everything is covered through an effective mix of interviews, stories, and news reports." -Jeff Fleischer, Foreword Reviews "The Question is 'Why?' provides an intimate look at the life of a true statesman. Well into his ninth decade, Stanford Adelstein continues to live his values and impact society as an eminent South Dakotan, a proud American, and a Jew firmly rooted in his tradition and history. This is not only Adelstein's personal history, but the story of one man's impact on the world he lives in." - Robin Doroshow, Executive Director, Jewish Historical Society of the Upper Midwest

442 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 9, 2019

Reviews

[Erika Dreifus · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the writing/publishing business, the word "honor" can be overused. But it truly is an honor for me to be helping Stan Adelstein's story reach readers in my capacity as a book publicist. This is a remarkable story, ably researched and recounted by Eric Steven Zimmer. (At this early date, the book has received notice of its first pre-publication review, from Foreword Reviews; until that review is available online, I'll simply share its agreement that this is "a solid, in-depth, well-researched work.") Find out more at http://TheQuestionIsWhy.com.