Arthur Ross was born and raised in Winnipeg's North End, the historic centre of Jewish, communal solidarity. He is a Professor in the Department of Political Science and Public Administration at Ryerson University.

Arthur Ross's study of the formation of Winnipeg's Jewish community is not only the first history of the societies, institutions, and organizations Jewish immigrants created, it reveals how communal solidarity shaped their understanding of community life and the way decisions should be made about their collective future.