Jews in the age of authenticity : Jewish spiritual renewal in Israel / Rachel Werczberger.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Werczberger, Rachel, author.

Series:

After spirituality ; v. 2.

After spirituality : studies in mystical traditions ; vol. 2

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Ezrachi, Ohad--Influence.

Ezrachi, Ohad.

Jewish renewal--Israel.

Jewish renewal.

Spiritual life--New Age movement.

Spiritual life.

New Age movement--Israel.

New Age movement.

Israel.

Physical Description:

xi, 179 pages ; 23 cm.

Place of Publication:

New York : Peter Lang, [2017]

Summary:

In this book, Rachel Werczberger takes stock of the Jewish New Age spirituality scene in Israel at the turn of the millennium. Led by highly charismatic rabbis, the Hamakom and Bayit Ghadash communities attempted to bring about a Jewish spiritual renewal by integrating Jewish tradition-especially Kabbalah and Hasidism-with New Age spirituality. Having spent over two years in field research, Werczberger presents a comprehensive ethnographic account of these two groups, examining their rise and fall after only six years of activity. At the core of their aspiration for Jewish spiritual renewal, claims Werczberger, was the quest for authenticity. She investigates the ways in which the language of authenticity was embraced by the members of the communities in their construction of a new spiritual Jewish identity, their re-invention of Jewish rituals, and their failed attempt at constructing community. She concludes that all these elements point to the dual form of politics of authenticity and identity with which the Israeli Jewish New Age is involved. Book jacket.

Contents:

Chapter 1 New Age Judaism in Israel and the Quest for Authenticity 21

Chapter 2 Collective Rituals of the Self 49

Chapter 3 An Identity of Choice, a Spirituality of Search 81

Chapter 4 Community Building and Charismatic Leadership 113.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9781433117558

9781433117565

1433117568

143311755X

OCLC:

952855453

Publisher Number:

99970312335