Jewish Identity in the American Context

This chapter presents an overview of the process of assimilation for American Jews. The social scientific conception of assimilation progresses from acculturation to accommodation, and on to coalescence and finally to complete assimilation. This chapter examines the normative framework shaping American Jewish identity and reviews the Liberal Premise and the Social Contract, as well as the “Sovereign Self,” and the five major conventional Jewish choices. Accounting for the choices most American Jews select for themselves, these ideal types, deemed inside the box, include classical versions of (1) Reform and (2) Orthodox Judaism as well as (3) Zionism, (4) Political Activism, and the (5) prototypical middle position embodied in Conservative Judaism, and its variants. There are also two varieties of the Just Jewish option, cited as outside the box, including those who profess (6) no particular label and those who are (7) Secular/Ethnic/Cultural Jews. It is also important to recognize that numerous programs in the American Jewish community are “transdenominational” that may provide a way for Jews to be engaged in the community. Table 4.1 provides a Conceptual Framework outlining the seven different Jewish Options, which arose as a result of the need to address the dual challenge that the Jewish Enlightenment (Haskalah) and the emancipation of Jews in Europe posed for them in seeking to ensure some degree and form of Jewish continuity. That challenge can be understood as calling for Jews to provide answers to two questions: (1) Will your activities and decisions be Culturally Guided by modern, Western thought or by Jewish law and tradition? And (2) Will the Structural Focus of your Jewishness be on Judaism (Jewish religiosity) or on Jewish ethnicity (peoplehood)?