Description from the front flap: This meticulously research book is a rich and fruitful era in American history and it portrays the struggles and accomplishments of the newly arrived Jewish immigrants into the fast growing capital city, Nashville. Mrs. Frank describes the role played by local Jewry during the tragic drama of the Civil War and the resultant problems of the reconstruction years. It was not an easy adjustment for the newcomer who met with language difficulties, economic hardships, and an often hostile environment. A chapter on "Folks and Kinfolks" gives credence to the belief that there is truly a mystic tie that joins the adherents to Judaism. The closely knit Jewish community planted its roots deeply but modestly during these eventful years 1861-1901.