Beyond Yiddishkeit: The Struggle for Jewish Identity in a Reform Synagogue

168 Pages·1987·2.66 MB·English

by  Frida Kerner Furman

Beyond Yiddishkeit
SUNY Series in Anthropology and Judaic Studies
Walter P. Zenner, Editor
Beyond Yiddishkeit
The Struggle for Jewish Identity
in a Reform Synagogue
FRIDA KERNER FURMAN
State University of New York Press
Published by
State University of New York Press, Albany
©1987 State University of New York
All rights reserved
Printed in the United States of America
No part of this book may be used or reproduced
in any manner whatsoever without written permission
except in the case of brief quotations embodied in
critical articles and reviews.
For information, address State University of New York
Press, State University Plaza, Albany, N.Y., 12246
Lihrary of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Furman, Frida Kerner, 1948-
Beyond Yiddishkeit.
(SUNY series in anthropology and Judaic studies)
Bibliography: p. 143
Includes index.
1. Judaism-United States. 2. Reform Judaism-United States. 3. Jews-United
States-Identity.
1. Title. II. Series.
BM205.F87 1987 2.96.8'346'0973 86-29999
ISBN 0-88706-513-9
ISBN 0-88706-514-7 (pbk.)
TaRoy

Contents
Acknowledgments IX
Introduction 1
1. The Transformation ofJ ewish Identity 9
Traditional Jewish Society 10
The Religious Dimension 10
The Individual and the Group 12
The Power of the Past 13
The Move to Modernity 14
The Dissolution of Traditional Jewish Society 14
Alternative Jewish Paths 16
The American Experience 19
Tradition and Modernity: A False Dichotomy 23
2. Temple Shalom: Setting and Reform Context 27
Temple Shalom Today 28
The Membership 28
Professional Staff 29
Organizational Structure 29
The Religious School 30
The Reform Movement in America 31
3. Ideology and Identity 41
Liberalism 41
Social Activism 51
The Jewish Tradition 52
The Yarmulke Controversy 53
The Question of Jewish Content 56
Summary and Conclusions 61
Contents
4. Ritual and Identity 65
The Ritual Context 66
The Sabbath Service 68
The Prayerbook 68
The Normative Ritual 73
The Chaverim Service: Ritual of Reversal 85
Analysis 87
5. Community and Identity 97
The Construction of Community: Uniqueness and
Identity 99
The Temple Shalom Family 100
Differentiation from the Jewish Community 101
Style 105
Temple Shalom as Community 110
6. Conclusions 119
The Sacralization of Identity 119
The Liberal Ethic 121
Universalism and Individualism 121
Rationality 126
Secularism 128
The Construction of a New Ethic 130
Notes 135
Glossary 141
Bibliography 143
Index 155
Acknowledgments
I would like to thank the people of Temple Shalom-members, clergy,
and staff-for making this study possible. Beyond that, however, I
want to thank them for their hospitality, warmth, and generosity. I
learned much from Temple Shalom, not only about how a synagogue
structures Jewish meaning for its members, but also how its inhabitants
give meaning to each other's lives. This is a community of people who
genuinely care for each other: They taught me a great deal about the
human possibilities of organized religion.
Many individuals generously provided encouragement and
suggestions at various stages of this study. I wish to thank Stanley
Chyet, David Ellenson, Donald E. Miller, Norman Mirsky, the late
Barbara Myerhoff, John B. Orr, Riv-Ellen Prell, and the four
anonymous readers designated by the State University of New York
Press. I am deeply grateful to Jane Monnig Atkinson for her friendship,
unswerving support, and thorough critique of the manuscript in the
last stages of revision. I also thank my editor at SUNY Press, Rosalie
Robertson, and the series editor, Walter Zenner, for their suggestions.
Of course, I take full responsiblity for the interpretations offered herein.
Shulamit Levine's skills on the word processor are most appreciated.
I gratefully acknowledge the support of the Memorial Foundation for
Jewish Culture, which provided me with a grant in the initial stages
of this project.
My husband, Roy Furman, was a marvelous counselor, critic,
editor, and child-care provider-as the needs arose-throughout the
time that this book was in process. The dedication is a small gesture
of my appreciation.
IX