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Peoplehood—everyone’s talking about it. But what does it actually mean and why is it important to the future of Judaism? “Why is this conversation important? Why does it merit your attention? If you care about Jewish identity and community, then you know that we have no trouble identifying the problems that fragmentize us as a people but have far less success identifying that which unites us. more>

Peoplehood—everyone’s talking about it. But what does it actually mean and why is it important to the future of Judaism? “Why is this conversation important? Why does it merit your attention? If you care about Jewish identity and community, then you know that we have no trouble identifying the problems that fragmentize us as a people but have far less success identifying that which unites us. Without a unifying, collective notion of Jewish identity that is meaningful and robust, it is virtually impossible to make a strong case for Jewish continuity.” —from the Introduction This call to Jewish community explores the purpose, possibilities, and limitations of peoplehood as a unifying concept of community for a people struggling profoundly with Jewish identity. It defines what peoplehood is—and is not—and explores both collective and personal Jewish identity and the nature of identity construction. Drawing on history, sacred texts and contemporary scholarship, The Case for Jewish Peoplehood identifies some of the obstacles that challenge a shared notion of peoplehood: personal choices, construct of membership and boundaries, growth of Jewish illiteracy, identity fragmentation between Israeli and Diaspora Jewry, and the generational divide affecting traditionalists, baby boomers, and generations X and Y. To help you join the conversation, the authors support a vision for the future and provide practical guidance and recommendations for getting there. read>

At a time when Jewish communities have become increasingly anxious about weakening Jewish identity, one response strategy is to engage with the concept of Jewish Peoplehood as a social phenomenon, in its varied contexts and processes. more>

At a time when Jewish communities have become increasingly anxious about weakening Jewish identity, one response strategy is to engage with the concept of Jewish Peoplehood as a social phenomenon, in its varied contexts and processes. This volume represents the first in-depth effort to address the concept of Jewish peoplehood since the initial attempts of early 20th century Jewish intellectuals, Mordechai Kaplan and Salo Baron. Indeed, its substance goes far beyond the range of a contemporary academic anthology - constituting, rather, a dynamic think tank on the concept of Jewish peoplehood through bringing together intellectuals from France, Israel, the UK, and the United States. The collection offers both intellectual and practical frameworks for grappling with the policy outcomes of different understandings of the peoplehood concept, and contributors to this volume include noted figures from diverse walks of life: academic disciplines in the social sciences and humanities, a rabbi, a literary figure, and communal leaders.

Ezra Kopelowitz is a sociologist specializing in Israel-Diaspora relations and issues of Jewish identity, education and religion in Israel and the United States. From 2000-2003, Dr. Kopelowitz served as Director of the Research Activities of the Department of Jewish Education of the Jewish Agency for Israel and as a Fellow at the Institute for Advanced Studies at the Hebrew University, in 2004. Mr. Menachem Revivi received his BA in psychology and sociology from Bar Ilan University in Israel and his master s degree in educational psychology from New York University. For the past twenty-five years, Mr. Revivi has been a leader in Israeli and Jewish Communal affairs and is recognized for his expertise in the areas of Jewish education and Israel-Diaspora relations. read>