The subject of Jewish identity is one of the most vexed and contested issues of modern religious and ethnic group history. This interdisciplinary collection draws on work in law; anthropology; history; sociology; literature; and popular culture to consider contemporary and historical responses to the question “Who and what is Jewish?â€These essays are focused especially on the issues of who creates the definitions; and how; and in what social and political contexts. The ten leading authorities writing here also look at the forces; ranging from new genetic and reproductive technologies to increasingly multicultural societies; that push against established boundaries. The authors examine how Jews have imagined themselves and how definitions of Jewishness have been established; enforced; challenged; and transformed. Does being a Jew require religious belief; practice; and formal institutional affiliation? Is there a biological or physical aspect of Jewish identity? What is the status of the convert to another religion? How do definitions play out in different geographic and historical settings? What makes Boundaries of Jewish Identity distinctive is its attention to the various Jewish “epistemologies†or ways of knowing who counts as a Jew. These essays reveal that possible answers reflect the different social; intellectual; and political locations of those who are asking.This book speaks to readers concerned with Jewish life and culture and to audiences interested in religious; cultural; and ethnic studies. It provides an excellent opportunity to examine how Jews fit into an increasingly diverse America and an increasingly complicated global society.
#828669 in Books 2002-08-01Ingredients: Example IngredientsOriginal language:EnglishPDF # 1 .81 x 9.00 x 12.04l; 2.95 #File Name: 0295981466288 pages
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Without this book; I'd be out of business!By BunnyThe MOST amazing; accurate; beautiful; informative; and detailed historical atlas about Europe I've come across. Gorgeous maps; colorful; and easy to read. As a genealogist with clients who have ancestors from this area of the world; without this atlas; I'd never be able to be as helpful as I am now. However; I will have to buy a second atlas soon! A friend who also is a genealogist and historian borrowed mine almost a year ago and refuses to return it! She; too; loves it. Our local Genealogical Library even purchased a copy after looking at mine.A must for anyone; genealogist or not; who wants to really know how Europe evolved into what it is today. A+ reference book!18 of 18 people found the following review helpful. A Writer's ReviewBy Orysia Bilyk EarhartAs a writer of historical fiction which takes place in Eastern Europe; I have found Robert Magocsi's atlas to be outstanding and filled with detailed information that I would have to search through many books to obtain. The book not only presents the maps of Eastern Europe from its earliest times (400 AD); to the present; but also; accompanying each map is a detailed write-up of the history; geography and governments present at the time the map indicates. Thus; you not only learn what the countries/lands were at that time; but also why divisions occurred; why certain movements sprang up; and how it all lead to how the countries are now divided. The scholarship is impressive. This is an excellent book for anyone who is interested in the development of Eastern Europe. It is clearly stated; well defined; and should be in everyone's library. Orysia Earhart Washington0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Nice graphics!By Alice BernatIf you have any interest in the constantly changing borders of eastern Europe; then you'll love going through this book. The maps are clear and easy to read; and contain lots of info on every aspect of historical culture and ethnicities. You can pick it up and examine one map if you've only got 10 minutes; or spend a lot more time examining any aspect of the region: from geography to religion to population shift; from 40 AD to the present.If you have any Eastern European blood in you; you'll find this fascinating.
