Two Worlds of Judaism: The Israeli and American Experiences

This book written by Steven Cohen and the late Charles Leibman is a study of the two major centers of Judaism in the world, Israel and the United States. They write:" In each society Jews see themselves as part of an extended family, with a common descent and destiny and a special obligation and responsibility toward one another. In addition they use the memory of their collective past to draw lessons about the present... Nevertheless even though the two groups have common cultural heritage , each has reinterpreted the heritage differently. For example the land of Israel and the concept of galut have been central to the vision of most Israelis and virtually ignored by American Jews. " The authors in their final chapter maintain however that two Judaisms have not emerged and are not likely to. They express their discontent with both the American Judaism which they feel has watered down the content of Judaism by becoming so cosmopolitan and universalist, and the Israeli Judaism which is too parochial and partisan for their taste. The copy I have of this book was published in 1990 and much has happened to complicate the Jewish reality both in Israel and the United States. Nonetheless this book gives a good picture of the fundamental attitudes and stances of both communities even today.

A very enlightening if not scholarly examination of the differences and similarities of Jews in the United States and Israel. At some points this book is a little heavily written but it not difficult to understand. The dichotomy between the two communities is amazing and worth investigating. The two authors, one from each nation, shed light on the differences of opinion, culture and society on both sides of the ocean. While reading this work will not make one an expert in the challenges and intricacies of Jewish culture, in either country, one will learn a great deal about Jewish identity in general and much more about the divergent attitudes possessed of American and Israeli Jews. Delving into the very experience of being Jewish in two very different societies, this work a good read and an illuminating journey into the social dynamics of two very different nations.