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Tradition in a Rootless World: Women Turn to Orthodox Judaism Hardcover – July 29, 1991
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Lynn Davidman
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Lynn Davidman
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Print length268 pages
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LanguageEnglish
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PublisherUniversity of California Press
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Publication dateJuly 29, 1991
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Dimensions6.25 x 1 x 9.25 inches
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ISBN-100520072820
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ISBN-13978-0520072824
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Editorial Reviews
From Library Journal
Davidman (sociology and women's studies, Univ. of Pittsburgh) offers an intriguing sociological exploration of the world of Orthodox Judaism and its resurgence among modern American women. The experiences of two distinctly different groups of single Jewish American women are traced as they return to their secular roots at a contemporary Orthodox synagogue (Lincoln Square) in New York City and a Lubovitch Hasidic community (Bais Chana) in St. Paul, Minnesota. Life experiences, individual reasons for returning, reflections on the meaning of Orthodoxy before and after conversion, and the roles of Orthodox Jewish women in modern American society are revealed, compared, and discussed throughout this study. This is an excellent introduction to an often misunderstood way of life. Highly recommended for synagogue libraries, public libraries, and Judaic studies collections.
- Ann E. Cohen, Rochester P.L.,
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.
- Ann E. Cohen, Rochester P.L.,
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Review
"A meticulously written and carefully researched study. . . . The book is objective, analytical, and insightful; it is also interestingly written with many fascinating examples and quotes. . . . An important point of departure for all future work on the subject." -- William B. Helmreich, The Jewish Press
From the Inside Flap
"[Davidman's] rich ethnographic observations and lucid prose illuminate two of the more important aspects of modern religion generally: the changing role of women and the resurgence of traditional faith."Robert Wuthnow, author of Meaning and Moral Order
From the Back Cover
"[Davidman's] rich ethnographic observations and lucid prose illuminate two of the more important aspects of modern religion generally: the changing role of women and the resurgence of traditional faith." (Robert Wuthnow, author of Meaning and Moral Order)
About the Author
Lynn Davidman is Dorot Assistant Professor of Judaic Studies and Sociology at Brown University.
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Product details
- Publisher : University of California Press; First Edition (July 29, 1991)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 268 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0520072820
- ISBN-13 : 978-0520072824
- Item Weight : 1.4 pounds
- Dimensions : 6.25 x 1 x 9.25 inches
-
Best Sellers Rank:
#3,641,133 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #793 in Jewish Orthodox Movements
- #839 in Women & Judaism
- #10,243 in General Gender Studies
- Customer Reviews:
Customer reviews
4.8 out of 5 stars
4.8 out of 5
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Reviewed in the United States on September 25, 2019
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This book provided interesting information about women who choose to be become more observant. I really enjoyed this book and I learned a lot because it was very informative.
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Reviewed in the United States on December 16, 2014
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A very thoughtful depiction of two different groups of women attracted to orthodoxy and the organizational differences as well as the persuasive characteristics of the groups to which they were attracted. Dr. Davidman has an clear and engaging writing style that made this a real page-turner (surprising in an academic book).
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Reviewed in the United States on January 2, 2017
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This was a gift for my daughter-in-law, but, upon browsing through looked very good.
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Reviewed in the United States on February 26, 2011
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Exactly what was said was given. The time in which it arrived was much sooner then expected as well. Excellent service!
4 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on June 15, 2012
A fascinating book that tries to understand how and why some young secular Jewish women are drawn to more orthodox religious communities which reinforce more traditional gender-definitions, and also, how these women are resocialized according to the norms of these communities. In using an ethnographic approach, the advantage her study offers is that we get not only retrospective accounts of these women's stories, but we also can "experience the contexts, ideas and relationships that led [these] women to be converted" (p. 50). In addition, she notes that "a case study that pays close attention to a specific experience--even an exceptional one--reveals patterns and designs that pervade the larger picture as well" (p. 27). So through her study she hopes to be able to shed some light on not just a few individuals who return to traditional / strict forms of religion, but "on the more general question of the nature, status, and appeal of religion in modern society," and "what religion offers modern secular individuals" in general (p. 27). These are important questions that a comparative ethnographic approach can address that quantitative variables-based approaches simply can't.
From reading the accounts of her participants, it seems that these women turn to traditional religion because they are unable to fit into conventional social scripts for people in their situation. These interviews were done in the early-80s; these women were in their mid-30s, single, wanted families, weren't strongly attached to their careers, and were going through some experience of crisis or loss, so they needed order and meaning. But one could argue that as more social scripts and role-models develop over time (e.g., `Sex and the City' etc.), there will be narratives for them to fit into which will further reduce the need for such people to turn to religion, unless religion can somehow provide a more compelling alternative to even these now-available forms of order and meaning. This argument could be further strengthened by the fact that many of these women seemed to be seeking self-understanding and a sense of identity, so much so that what seemed to matter to them more was "the powerful feelings of belonging and of being part of an ongoing community" rather than religious experience or actual faith (p. 103). It would be good to investigate whether such `belonging without believing' can persevere over time (e.g., does `belonging without believing' in stricter religious communities eventually lead to frustration/burnout? Is it possible for the question of `right belief' to become more important over time in such contexts?, etc.)
An interesting point she brings up is the "wisdom of interviewing people who are at a transitional stage in their lives" (p. 60). One concern she tries to address here is dealing with the vulnerability of people whose identities are in a state of flux. But another question might simply be to what degree are people who undergo religious conversions adequately capable of articulating why it is they are doing what they are doing? I would think such accounts would also change over time depending on sustained reflexivity, the nature of interlocutors, and so on. So it would really take something like a longitudinal study, assessing people's accounts over time, to gain better insights into such phenomena.
From reading the accounts of her participants, it seems that these women turn to traditional religion because they are unable to fit into conventional social scripts for people in their situation. These interviews were done in the early-80s; these women were in their mid-30s, single, wanted families, weren't strongly attached to their careers, and were going through some experience of crisis or loss, so they needed order and meaning. But one could argue that as more social scripts and role-models develop over time (e.g., `Sex and the City' etc.), there will be narratives for them to fit into which will further reduce the need for such people to turn to religion, unless religion can somehow provide a more compelling alternative to even these now-available forms of order and meaning. This argument could be further strengthened by the fact that many of these women seemed to be seeking self-understanding and a sense of identity, so much so that what seemed to matter to them more was "the powerful feelings of belonging and of being part of an ongoing community" rather than religious experience or actual faith (p. 103). It would be good to investigate whether such `belonging without believing' can persevere over time (e.g., does `belonging without believing' in stricter religious communities eventually lead to frustration/burnout? Is it possible for the question of `right belief' to become more important over time in such contexts?, etc.)
An interesting point she brings up is the "wisdom of interviewing people who are at a transitional stage in their lives" (p. 60). One concern she tries to address here is dealing with the vulnerability of people whose identities are in a state of flux. But another question might simply be to what degree are people who undergo religious conversions adequately capable of articulating why it is they are doing what they are doing? I would think such accounts would also change over time depending on sustained reflexivity, the nature of interlocutors, and so on. So it would really take something like a longitudinal study, assessing people's accounts over time, to gain better insights into such phenomena.
13 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on March 22, 2004
people who haven't been exposed to Orthodoxy very much. Just to sum up briefly: the modern Orthodox Manhattanites profiled tend to have busy but slightly empty lives, and are trying to fit their new religious commitment into those lives. Their rabbis tend to focus less on beliefs about Divine existence and desires than on the utilitarian virtues of plugging into the wisdom of a 2000-year-old tradition. The women in the Lubavitch "sleepaway" camp tend to be younger, suffering from very troubled lives, more focused on Divine will, and looking to make a major change in those lives (not surprisingly- since people with satisfactory jobs are usually going to be unable to take a month off). Their rebbes view Chasidism as these women's personal destiny, rather than as a freely chosen alternative. For those of you who are more familiar with Orthodoxy, the charm of this book lies in offhand points that the book makes in passing: for example, its implication that Orthodox triumphalism (that is, the idea that Orthodoxy is the future of Judaism) was far more rare in the 1980s, and that the Lubavitchers were struggling with the Messianic issue (that is, the issue of whether the Rebbe, may his memory be a blessing, was the Messiah) even then.
15 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on October 17, 2013
An interesting anthropological and sociological look at the impact of feminism on women, and the way modern women have (attempted to) reconciled their modern ideas of womens roles in society with their newfound religiousness. The author's use of two very different groups highlights this, and clearly demonstrates the reasons why women were drawn to the different groups. The look at Bais Chana (a Chabad-Lubavitch residential center) and Lincoln Street Synagogue (a Modern Orthodox synogogue in NYC) is insightful and makes for a very interesting read, although the book is a bit dated due to having been written in the 1980s. I'd definitely recommend it!
2 people found this helpful
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