Tradition in a rootless world : women turn to Orthodox Judaism / Lynn Davidman.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Davidman, Lynn, 1955- author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Jewish women--Religious life--United States--Case studies.

Jewish women.

Jews--United States--Return to Orthodox Judaism--Case studies.

Jews.

Orthodox Judaism--United States--Case studies.

Orthodox Judaism.

Jewish women--Religious life.

Jews--Return to Orthodox Judaism.

United States.

Judíos en EE.UU--Retorno al judaísmo ortodoxo--Estudio con casos.

Judaísmo ortodoxo--EE.UU--Estudio con casos.

Local Subjects:

Judíos en EE.UU--Retorno al judaísmo ortodoxo--Estudio con casos.

Judaísmo ortodoxo--EE.UU--Estudio con casos.

Genre:

Case studies.

Physical Description:

xi, 254 pages ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Berkeley : University of California Press, ©1991.

Summary:

The past two decades in the United States have seen an immense liberalization and expansion of women's roles in society. Recently, however, some women have turned away from the myriad, complex choices presented by modern life and chosen instead a Jewish orthodox tradition that sets strict and rigid guidelines for women to follow. Lynn Davidman followed the conversion to Orthodoxy of a group of young, secular Jewish women to gain insight into their motives. Living first with a Hasidic community in St. Paul, Minnesota, and then joining an Orthodox synagogue on the upper west side of Manhattan, Davidman pieced together a picture of disparate lives and personal dilemmas. As a participant observer in their religious resocialization and in interviews and conversations with over one hundred women, Davidman also sought a new perspective on the religious institutions that reach out to these women and usher them into the community of Orthodox Judaism.

Contents:

1. A Day in the Life of Two Jewish Women

- 2. Women, Judaism, and Modernity

- 3. A Journey into Two Jewish Communities

- 4. Order, Belonging, and Identity

- 5. Women into Wives and Mothers

- 6. Teachings on Jewish Religious Observance

- 7. The Dynamics of Conversion

- 8. On Women and Religious Traditions in Modern U.S. Society

Appendix A: Interview Guide for Ba'alot Teshuvah

- Appendix B: Interview Guide for Rabbis

- Appendix C: Questionnaire for Bais Chana Women.

Notes:

Revision of the author's thesis (doctoral)--Brandeis University.

Includes glossary.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 235-248) and index.

National Jewish Book Awards - Contemporary Jewish Life, Winner, 1992

ISBN:

0520072820

9780520072824

0520075455

9780520075450

OCLC:

22889698

Online:

Contributor biographical information

Publisher description