Assemblies by the Sea: The Jewish Chautauqua Society in Atlantic City, 1897-1907 by Peggy K. Perlstein

The Jewish Chautauqua Society (JCS), founded in Philadelphia in 1893 by Reform Rabbi Henry Berkowitz, evolved from an organization dedicated to popularizing Jewish knowledge among Jews to one devoted to teaching non-Jews about Judaism. Modelled on Chautauqua Institution, the Society established reading circles, a Correspondence School for Hebrew Sunday School teachers, religious schools for the children of Jewish farmers,, published textbooks, and, beginning in 1897, held annual assemblies for more than forty years.