Ethnicity and Faith in American Judaism: Reconstructionism As Ideology and Institution, 1935-1959
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ETHNICITY AND FAITH IN AMERICAN JUDAISM: RECONSTRUCTIONISM AS IDEOLOGY AND INSTITUTION, 1935-1959 A Dissertation Submitted to the Temple University Graduate Board In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY By Deborah Waxman May, 2010 Examining Committee Members: Lila Corwin Berman, Advisory Chair, History David Harrington Watt, History Rebecca Trachtenberg Alpert, Religion Deborah Dash Moore, External Member, University of Michigan ii ABSTRACT Title: Ethnicity and Faith in American Judaism: Reconstructionism as Ideology and Institution, 1935-1959 Candidate's Name: Deborah Waxman Degree: Doctor of Philosophy Temple University, 2010 Doctoral Advisory Committee Chair: Lila Corwin Berman This dissertation addresses the development of the movement of Reconstructionist Judaism in the period between 1935 and 1959 through an examination of ideological writings and institution-building efforts. It focuses on Reconstructionist rhetorical strategies, their efforts to establish a liberal basis of religious authority, and theories of cultural production. It argues that Reconstructionist ideologues helped to create a concept of ethnicity for Jews and non-Jews alike that was distinct both from earlier ―racial‖ constructions or strictly religious understandings of modern Jewish identity. iii DEDICATION To Christina, who loves being Jewish, With gratitude and abundant love iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This dissertation is the product of ten years of doctoral studies, so I type these words of grateful acknowledgment with a combination of astonishment and excitement that I have reached this point. I have been inspired by extraordinary teachers throughout my studies. As an undergraduate at Columbia, Randall Balmer introduced me to the study of American religious history and Holland Hendrix encouraged me to take seriously the prospect of graduate studies. My teachers at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, many of whom are now my colleagues, fueled my interests in Jewish studies and Jewish living and encouraged me to develop both further. Though my student career at Temple has been unusual, it has also been wonderful. I began my studies as the history department was creating a program in American Jewish history and had the good fortune to study with three outstanding visiting professors, Jeffrey Gurock, Jenna Joselit and Miriam Peskowitz. David Watt has played most every role he could in my doctoral work: he taught the first class I took at Temple, served as my erstwhile advisor, directed a field in my exams and is on my doctoral committee. I am grateful for his constancy. Susan Klepp and Harriet Friedenreich were also generous with their time and insight as members of my examining committee. Laura Levitt cheered me on, made certain I received the Jewish women‘s studies certificate and created one of the best syllabi I have encountered for the class I took with her. Michael Alexander arrived as the first Murray Friedman Professor of American Jewish History at an opportune time. He encouraged me academically and supported me administratively. I am glad I was in a position to work with him during his v brief stay at Temple. I have never studied with Richard Immerman, but I have benefited greatly from his keen administrative skills. Rebecca Alpert was the first Temple professor to whom I spoke about pursuing a doctorate. She wisely steered me toward the history department, but I am grateful she has served as a member of my dissertation committee and thankful for her ongoing, pragmatic reassurance. I still cannot believe my good fortune that Lila Corwin Berman arrived to serve as my advisor in the period when I was focusing most intensively on my dissertation. She has helped me to sharpen my analytical focus, encouraging me to limit where possible and to expand where necessary and fruitful. This dissertation is a better document and I am a better thinker because of her attention. I am deeply honored that Deborah Dash Moore, with her deep knowledge of my subject area as well as of the broader field of twentieth-century American Jewish history, agreed to serve as the outside reader. I could neither have started nor finished without the encouragement of my supervisors and colleagues at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College. Both of the presidents under whom I have worked have been immensely supportive. David Teutsch encouraged me to begin my studies and, as he was departing the presidency, made certain I was aware of the provision for administrative sabbatical. Dan Ehrenkrantz granted me that sabbatical in two parts so that I could first take my exams and then begin my research. He has also graciously allowed me to work on a part-time basis for the last two years, which enabled me to stay in my job and to complete my dissertation. I offer thanks as well to David Roberts, RRC‘s board chair, and members of the board of governors for permitting me to step back as needed, and to my colleagues for stepping vi forward in my absence. In addition to their support on a professional level, Dan and David have also been encouraging to me personally. I was honored and encouraged to be one of the recipients of the 2008 Ruth Fein Prize awarded by the American Jewish Historical Society. Several librarians and archivists facilitated my research. The staff of the American Jewish Historical Society, especially Adina Anflick, Marvin Rusinek and Susan Woodland, were helpful. (It was a wonderful surprise to discover the fullness of their collection of the records of the Jewish Reconstructionist Foundation and a less welcome one when they reorganized it in the midst of my research, though their efforts will definitely extend the life of the collection and facilitate its access to other researchers. I have endeavored as hard as I can to update my sources so that they reflect the new order and I apologize for any confusion where I have erred.) It has been a great pleasure to work with Kim Tieger, RRC‘s archivist, most especially when we collaborated on an exhibit on the Reconstructionist embrace of democracy featuring items in the collections of the Reconstructionist Archives. RRC librarians Debbie Stern and Manel Frau went out of their way to aid me and Manel was especially tireless at locating books via ILL. I also thank archivists at the American Jewish Archives, Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg and the Bnai Brith Klutznick National Jewish Museum for their help in locating sources. I am rich in friends who have supported me in this project and in life. I raise up just a few, though I thank them all. Ruth Zlotnick, Jacob Staub, Elisa Goldberg, Vivie Mayer, Danny Deutsch, Kay Ehrenkrantz and Amanda Joseph: you are blessings to me. vii Joyce Norden, friend and mentor in so many ways, cheered, comforted and cajoled me through every step of this process. She also collaborated with me on an article on the SAJ synagogue mural that is incorporated in part into chapter three. Deborah Glanzberg- Krainin listened, read, reassured and celebrated me in this as in so many parts of life. My parents, Ed and Jessica, have always communicated their pride and confidence in me; I hope that this accomplishment gives them happiness. My siblings—Eliot and Jenni, Andy and Jessie—are my partners in life and I feel blessed in their companionship. My nephews, Ethan, Paul and Sam, and my goddaughter Suzannah are great joys to me, and I am excited to have more time to visit and play with them. (Yes, Paul, I am finally done with my ―isser-ation.‖) Finally, my partner Christina has never known me when I haven‘t been working on my doctorate. In spite of that, she has created with me a life of beauty, wonder and kindness. I thank her for her capacious support—and for everything. viii TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT ........................................................................................................................ ii DEDICATION ................................................................................................................... iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ................................................................................................. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS ................................................................................................. viii LIST OF FIGURES ............................................................................................................ x CHAPTER 1—INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................... 1 Overview ........................................................................................................................ 5 The Aims of Reconstructionism..................................................................................... 8 Historiography ............................................................................................................. 20 A Note on My Own Approach ..................................................................................... 36 What Follows ............................................................................................................... 38 CHAPTER 2—ANIMATING METAPHORS: RECONSTRUCTIONIST EFFORTS TOWARD JEWISH UNITY ............................... 42 The Goals of Reconstructionism .................................................................................. 43 Civilization ................................................................................................................... 61 Reception and Implementation ...................................................................................