A People Divided: Judaism in Contemporary America / Edition 1

by Jack Wertheimer

Overview

This brilliant analysis of American Judaism in the last half of the 20th century won the 1993-94 National Jewish Book Award for the best book on contemporary Jewry and also was named an Outstanding Book of 1993 by Choice. Jack Wertheimer examines how fundamental changes in American society have affected Jewish religious and communal life, paying special attention to contradictions and schisms that threaten the integrity of American Jewish practices and beliefs. A People Divided remains an essential primer for anyone interested in the ongoing debate about what constitutes Jewishness and who is a Jew.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780874518481
Publisher:	Brandeis University Press
Publication date:	09/01/1997
Series:	Brandeis Series in American Jewish History, Culture, and Life
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	287
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

STEPHEN J. WHITFIELD is Professor of American Studies at Brandeis University, and author of seven other books, including The Culture of the Cold War (1990), A Death in the Delta: The Story of Emmett Till (1988), and American Space, Jewish Time (1988).

What People are Saying About This

James Davison Hunter

“This is a fascinating historical and sociological interpretation of American Judaism — in all of its complexity- — in the last half of the 20th century. Wertheimer's account will be the standard reference for years to come.”

Editorial Reviews

An easy-to-read yet comprehensive guide showing how profound changes in American society have gradually polarized Jewish religious and communal life during the second half of the 20th century.” —Chicago Tribune

From the Publisher

American Jewry has become increasingly polarized, asserts Wertheimer. In his estimation, current dynamic programs for religious revival are the creations of a vocal, passionately involved minority, while for the vast majority of American Jews, religion plays a minimal role. In this searching inquiry, the author, a history professor at the Jewish Theological Seminary in Manhattan, looks at various innovations, from the Havurah movement, which has stressed gender equality, prayer services and intimate communal experiences, to Jewish feminism and reconstructivist congregations. Nor are the more established sectors exempt from change. At the same time that Wertheimer ( Unwelcome Strangers ) finds an eclectic openness to traditional teachings in Reform Judaism, he also notes a shift to the right among the Orthodox and deep splits in a Conservative community. This is a tough-minded corrective to more optimistic recent surveys. (Aug.)

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

An easy-to-read yet comprehensive guide showing how profound changes in American society have gradually polarized Jewish religious and communal life during the second half of the 20th century.

Studies American Jews as a religious group, rather than an ethnic group, discussing the history, philosophy, and vital statistics of each of the major branches--Reform, Orthodox, Conservative, and Reconstructionist; the conflicts among rival groups; patterns of religious behavior and how they correlate with broader trends in American life; and such issues as rampant intermarriage and declining rates of affiliation among younger Jews. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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