Irving Howe

Born Irving Horenstein to Yiddish-speaking immigrant parents, Howe grew up in the Bronx, steeped in the vibrant intellectual and political ferment of Jewish New York. His early life was marked by fervent socialist convictions, which he maintained with an almost religious devotion throughout his long and influential career, even as many of his contemporaries veered away from the left.

Howe co-founded and edited the influential magazine Dissent, a beacon of democratic socialist thought for decades. He was a tireless advocate for clear, ethical writing and intellectual honesty, even if it meant being a bit of a scold. His masterpiece, World of Our Fathers, beautifully chronicled the Jewish immigrant experience in America, ensuring that the stories of his ancestors, and the Yiddish culture he so admired, would not be forgotten.

While he might have been more at home debating Marxist theory in a smoky Lower East Side cafe than observing Shabbat, Howe's identity was inextricably linked to his Jewish heritage. He was a quintessential New York Jewish intellectual: brilliant, argumentative, profoundly ethical, and perpetually striving for a better world—even if he knew it was probably unattainable.

His intellectual legacy, marked by a passionate commitment to democratic socialism and a deep appreciation for Yiddish culture, secured his place as one of the 20th century's most significant public intellectuals. He made kvelling at Jewish literary prowess practically a competitive sport.