David W. Petegorsky facts for kids

David W. Petegorsky (born in 1915, died in 1956) was a smart Canadian writer and scholar. He wrote an important book about a group called the Diggers and their leader, Gerrard Winstanley. The Diggers were active during the English Civil War.

David W. Petegorsky's Life

Early Life and Education

David Petegorsky was born in Ottawa, Canada. He was the only son in his family, with three sisters. He went to Lisgar Collegiate in Ottawa for high school. Later, he attended Yeshiva College in New York. He was the top student in his class in 1935. He also earned a special degree to become a rabbi in 1936.

As a young student from Canada, David Petegorsky went on to study for his Ph.D. at the London School of Economics in England. He studied under a famous professor named Harold Laski.

His Important Book

David Petegorsky's book was called Left-Wing Democracy in the English Civil War. It was published in 1940. This book was part of a special series by the Left Book Club, which was an anti-fascist group. His book was republished many years later in 1999. This was the only book he ever wrote.

Working for His Country

In 1940, David Petegorsky finished his Ph.D. from the London School of Economics. A year later, he taught at Antioch College in Ohio. In 1942, he returned to Ottawa, Canada. He worked for the Canadian Government during World War II. First, he worked for the National Film Board. Then, he worked for the Wartime Information Board, leading its industrial section. During this time, he wrote many articles for academic and political magazines. He also published two other books about political topics.

Leading Jewish Organizations

In 1945, David Petegorsky moved to New York City. He became the Executive Director of the American Jewish Congress. He worked closely with Robert S Marcus in the World Jewish Affairs Department of this organization. In 1948, he also joined the Executive Committee of the World Jewish Congress. He held both of these important positions until he passed away. His funeral was held at a synagogue in New York.

Family and Legacy

In 1952, David Petegorsky married Carol Coan. They had twin sons, Stephen and Dan, who were born in 1954.

Today, there is a special David W. Petegorsky chair of Political Science at Yeshiva University in New York. This is a way to honor his memory. In 1957, the Women's Division of the American Jewish Congress started the David Petegorsky Scholarship Awards. These awards helped young people aged 17 to 22 travel to Israel for special workshops.

What People Thought of His Work

David Petegorsky's book about the Diggers was very important. Here's what some experts said:

Ariel Hessayon's View

Ariel Hessayon, another historian, explained that Petegorsky's book looked at how society changed in England. He wrote about how new businesses grew and how many peasants moved to cities. Petegorsky believed that Gerrard Winstanley, the leader of the Diggers, started with very religious ideas. But then, Winstanley became more focused on practical ideas about how people could live together fairly. Petegorsky even compared Winstanley's ideas about power and money to problems in the 20th century. He felt Winstanley's message was still important.

Christopher Hill's Comments

Christopher Hill, a very famous historian, wrote about Petegorsky's book. He said that the book was "a shining light in the dark days of 1940." He also called it a "pioneering study" of Gerrard Winstanley. Hill believed that Petegorsky's book still offered the best way to understand Winstanley's ideas. Sadly, Petegorsky died young and didn't get to write more major works. Hill thought these works would have greatly changed how we understand the English Revolution.