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Contemporary American Judaism: Transformation and Renewal

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Contemporary American Judaism: Transformation and Renewal

First, a disclaimer. I personally have known the author for many years. Although we do not keep in touch regularly, I consider Rabbi Kaplan a good friend, and we have agreed to disagree on many issues.

Rabbi Kaplan writes extremely well. His thoughts are clearly put forth, and generally he avoids editorializing in this work. He is careful to identify his own thoughts when they do appear, and mostly writes as an impartial observer on the outside looking in. I do sense, however, a pronounced feminist bent in some of the chapters. It seems that Rabbi Kaplan treats the traditional roles of the sexes in Judaism (as opposed to general, secular society) as a flaw in Judaism that has finally been fixed in our time. Many traditionally observant Jews would take issue with that approach. Similarly, Rabbi Kaplan seems quite pleased with the move to legitimize homosexuality in non-Orthodox Jewish organizations, yet he does not fully explain how controversial this issue is, and why.

The book provides readers who are unfamiliar with Judaism in America a comprehensive overview of the history, trends, and issues facing American Jews. There are times, however, when Rabbi Kaplan makes references to Jewish theology that such readers might not understand. Other times, Jewish terms and references are translated and explained, but not consistently. I do wish Rabbi Kaplan had provided more in the way of background so that the reader might understand the normative underpinnings of many of the laws and rituals referenced.

Rabbi Kaplan takes an in-depth look at the two largest branches of Judaism in America - the Conservative and Reform movements. He also does an excellent job of informing the reader of smaller off-shoots of these movements. Often, he writes of his personal interaction with some of the key figures of our generation in these movements. These personal anecdotes add a welcome bit of color to what, in the hands of another author, could have been a dry account.

I do feel, though, that mainstream Orthodox Judaism in America, while comprising only a small percentage of American Jews, was given short shrift in the book, perhaps due to Orthodoxy's somewhat uninteresting nature when compared to the numerous trends and developments in the non-Orthodox community. While much focus was placed on Chabad Lubavitch (and deservedly so, in my opinion), I feel the book could have used an additional chapter covering plain old vanilla Orthodox Judaism in America, both the "modern Orthodox" and the yeshiva subsets. As an example, there is essentially no mention in the book of Touro College or Yeshiva University and their importance and influence on American Orthodox Jews. This was puzzling considering Rabbi Kaplan was himself a student at Yeshiva University (where he and I were roommates). Yeshiva University is also of import because many Jewish Theological Seminary (the Conservative movement's seminary) students were undergraduates at Yeshiva University, and many rabbis with Conservative pulpits in America were ordained in orthodox seminaries like the one at Yeshiva University. I was one of the anecdotal subjects in the book, and my personal story also omitted any reference to Yeshiva University, which played a major role in my personal story. As I read, I kept wondering what this book would have been like had it been penned instead by an Orthodox Jewish author.

To sum up, this is a very well researched and written book. I would recommend this book to both students and adults looking for a broad overview of Judaism in America. I would also recommend, as a companion, a primer on Judaism as a religion for readers who are not familiar with Judaism's general teachings and philosophy.

I'm not Jewish, and I read this book out of curiosity about the Jewish faith. I found it to be entertaining and easy to understand. Especially interesting to me was the information about the trend towards merging rituals and celebrations from different faiths, and the attempts of society to standardize and commercialize them - for example "Chrismukkuh."
The author, Dana Kaplan, says that the intermarriage stigma of the past no longer exists, and wonders if the result of this will be positive or negative for the Jewish faith. Having several friends in mixed marriages and relationships, I found this part of the book to be intriguing.
I recommend this book especially to Jews who want to know more about the history of their religion, and what the future may hold for Judaism.

American Jewish communities face so many challenges today that it is hard to know where to begin. Whether you are a leader, congregant, or just someone interested in the future of American religion, Contemporary American Judaism by Dana Kaplan is one of the best places to start.

Complete candor and insight are essential to evaluating the present and to envisioning the possible futures of American Judaism. Dana Kaplan provides plenty of both in this clear and provocative work.

He places the current situation in the long view of Jewish change and evolution. He offers no quick and easy solutions. Instead he presents the many creative strategies that are being devised and tried to keep American Judaism fresh, engaging and alive--but still in balance with tradition and history. He calls the task "Herculean" and it is. This is just the right book to inform and encourage Jewish communities to take on the task and blaze adventurous new paths.

An outstanding read for anyone seeking to learn more about the state of Judaism, and its adherents, in America today. In "Contemporary American Judaism", Rabbi Kaplan has masterfully focused a vast wealth of scholarly and exegetical knowledge through the "hearts and minds" paradigm of a pulpit rabbi. Complex issues are explained clearly and at great depth, putting this book squarely at home in the halls of academia. It is clear, however, that this is not merely a textbook written by someone who has studied a topic, but a comprehensive account (and perhaps, prognosis?) given by someone that has lived and breathed the subject matter for many years, from a perspective few others may have. I would recommend this book to the academic and lay person alike, with the expectation that both would come away the better for it.

Once again, Dana Evan Kaplan proves that he is one of the foremost scholars on contemporary American Judaism. As always, Rabbi Kaplan's writing is well-researched and articulate. He probes some of the most interesting issues impacting the contemporary Jewish community in a refreshing manner. Rabbi Kaplan's exploration is equally interesting for non-Jews who sometimes turn to Judaism, arguably the world's most ancient religion, for answers to their own spiritual and religious quests.

Rabbi Dana Kaplan is first and foremost a scholar. His research and thorough understanding of the Jewish religion, its history and its culture are apparent in reading any of his works. Rabbi Kaplan's work as a spiritual leader in rural Southwest Georgia gives him a unique perspective on the various issues that small congregations deal with in their daily lives, especially if those Jews are transplanted from larger communities. Having grown up in New York, Rabbi Kaplan is the epitome of that essay and brings his wealth of experience in larger congregations and communities combined with his working knowledge of smaller communities to bear in this insightful look at contemporary Judaism. The book is well written, diverse in its subject matter and able to sustain the reader throughout. Reading it makes you want to attend one of his services or Torah study sessions or sign up for his class. This is a must have edition for any Jewish home library.

I found the Chapter about Jews and Buddhism especially interesting and informative. Everything Mr. Kaplan had to say seemed to be very well thought out and well documented as well. I really found the whole book to be very enlightening. I would recommend this book to anyone who has any interest at all about Jewish History. Mr. Kaplan truly has a wealth of knowledge is this area and has shared it with us all in a very unique and entertaining way. I liked it so much I ordered a second one and sent it to my very "Jewish MOM" (-: for her 80th Birthday Present!

Lonnie Sobel
Jersey City, NJ
[...]

This book provides a readable history of American Judaism since World War II and an accurate portrait of the state of things today. The author rarely injects his own opinions, instead laying out the causes, effects, and implications of changes in the way Jews worship and live their lives. Particularly interesting (and worrisome) is the discussion of how American Jews are diverging from their counterparts in the rest of the world, particularly Israel. I can't say how long a shelf life this book will have, but I expect that we will look back on it in 10 years and find that what it said was right.

What a wonderful and detailed survey of post World War II American Judaism. A rich tapestry indeed in which Kaplan brings to life with verve and insight that is captivating.
Dr. Marc H. Ellis, University Professor and Director of Jewish Studies and Professor of History at Baylor University.

Contemporary American Judaism is an enjoyable, and extremely well-researched, thought-provoking examination of contemporary Judaism in the United States.