Tradition in a Rootless World: Women Turn to Orthodox JudaismThe past two decades in the United States have seen an immense liberalization and expansion of women's roles in society. Recently, however, some women have turned away from the myriad, complex choices presented by modern life and chosen instead a Jewish orthodox tradition that sets strict and rigid guidelines for women to follow. Lynn Davidman followed the conversion to Orthodoxy of a group of young, secular Jewish women to gain insight into their motives. Living first with a Hasidic community in St. Paul, Minnesota, and then joining an Orthodox synagogue on the upper west side of Manhattan, Davidman pieced together a picture of disparate lives and personal dilemmas. As a participant observer in their religious resocialization and in interviews and conversations with over one hundred women, Davidman also sought a new perspective on the religious institutions that reach out to these women and usher them into the community of Orthodox Judaism. Through vivid and detailed personal portraits, Tradition in a Rootless World explores women's place not only in religious institutions but in contemporary society as a whole. It is a perceptive contribution that unites the study of religion, sociology, and women's studies. |
Contents
Women Judaism and Modernity | 26 |
A Journey into Two Jewish Communities | 49 |
Order Belonging and Identity | 74 |
Women into Wives and Mothers | 108 |
Teachings on Jewish Religious Observance | 136 |
The Dynamics of Conversion | 174 |
On Women and Religious Traditions in Modern | 191 |
Interview Guide | 207 |
Questionnaire for Bais | 213 |
Notes | 219 |
Glossary | 227 |
| 235 | |
| 249 | |
Other editions - View all
Tradition in a Rootless World: Women Turn to Orthodox Judaism Lynn Davidman No preview available - 1991 |
Common terms and phrases
Amidah asked attraction to Orthodoxy ba'al ba'alot teshuvah Bais Chana beginners belief Beth choice commitment community's contemporary context contrast conversion Crown Heights culture described emphasized Ephraim Buchwald experiences feel felt feminism feminist gender going groups of women Halacha Hasidic Hasidim Hebrew identity individuals institutions involved Jewish community kashrut kosher Lincoln Square Synagogue lives Lubavitch community Lubavitch Hasidim madrichot marriage married modern Orthodox modern society Moshiach mother Neitz newcomers nity norms nuclear family observance offered Orthodox community Orthodox Jewish Orthodox Jews Orthodox Judaism participate prayer Rabbi Buchwald Rabbi Friedman Rebbe recruits relationships religious community religious worlds resocialization responses ritual Rivka Sabbath secular society sense setting sexual Shabbat Shabbos social Sociological spiritual Stephanie Study of Religion talk teachings things tion told Torah wider society woman women at Bais women at Lincoln women's roles worldview yeshiva Yiddishkeit York