Most American Jews have roots in Eastern Europe. The experiences of our nineteenth- and twentieth-century ancestors continue to influence, in one way or another, thinking about Jewish art, literature, theater, education, religious observance, and political activities. The Eastern European experience was far from monolithic for these Jews, however, and wide gaps separate the realities of their lives from the often idealized, sometimes romanticized views still popular today.   This volume contains a series of lucidly written, well-argued essays that identify key features of Jewish life in Eastern Europe, provide insight into its abiding relevance, and comment on the history of related scholarship. In the process, these authors bring to life many little-known as well as prominent individuals and the communities they inhabited and influenced. With its solid scholarly foundations, full annotations, and graceful narratives, this collection should appeal to general readers as well as specialists.