Customer Reviews

The World of the Yeshiva: An Intimate Portrait of Orthodox Jewry

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As a member of the "World of the Yeshiva" (perhaps an atypical one!), I found Helmreich's book to be a masterful analysis and would recommend it to anyone who seeks to learn more about this very much misunderstood societal niche.

In the advanced yeshiva, adult males spend long periods of time (for some their entire adult life) studying and interpreting traditional writings on Jewish law and theology, all but totally cut off from the mainstream of American life, and the kind of lives lived by most American Jews. The World Of The Yeshiva: An Intimate Portrait Of Orthodox Jewry describes the daily life and curriculum, as well as the social, cultural, and ethical goals of this unique Jewish institution and its critically important role in the current revival of Jewish Orthodoxy in America. One time yeshiva student William Helmreich explains why this eastern European version of an ancient Jewish tradition is flourished in late 20th- century America and what its successful transplantation from the old world to the new world tells us about the nature of Orthodox Jewish life. The World Of The Yeshiva is a highly recommended, informative, and insightful addition to the growing body of literature on Orthodox Judaism.

This book does an excellent job introducing the outsider to what the life of a Yeshiva student is like and how the Yeshiva is structured. Butressed by the results of in-depth surveys, as well as extensive interviews with the major figures of the Yeshiva scene, the book definitely comes across as being written by someone who knows what he is talking about. If this review was being written 20 years ago, the book would get five stars. However, the Yeshiva world has grown and changed greatly since the book was written and most of the interviewees are deceased, giving the book a dated feel.