Reader’s Guide:
Secular Jews & Secular Judaism
Special Supplement:
The December Dilemma December 2012
From BJPA Director Prof. Steven M. Cohen: With Christmas and Ḥanukkah approaching, it seems as good a time as any to highlight the secular stream in Judaism. In this context, it's noteworthy that Jews in Israel, of all inclinations, typically categorize themselves as “dati” ("religious") or “ḥiloni” ("secular"); if they're feeling particularly complex and inclusive, they'll add, “masorati” ("traditional"). In contrast, the Jews of the US are wont to categorize themselves as Orthodox, Conservative, or Reform; if they're feeling particularly pluralist, they'll add Reconstructionist, Renewal, Secular Humanism, and post-denominational. All other Jews, those without a denominational identity, are designated by the rather unflattering term, “unaffiliated.” (American Jews, notably, are the only religious or ethnic group that calls its putatively wayward members, "unaffiliated.")
Thus, although large numbers of American Jews actually see themselves as secular, cultural, ethnic as well as or sometimes instead of religious, the secular-cultural-ethnic dimension to their identities has been under- recognized, under-appreciated, and maybe under-legitimated. In focusing on the secular aspects of being Jewish, this issue of the BJPA Reader's Guide takes a small step in rectifying matters.
The Guide also features a section on the December Dilemma, in part because the religious and secular nature of both Christmas and Chanukah have been contested over the years, and because American Jews have played a central role in that contestation. Remember, it was Irving Berlin who wrote, "White Christmas;" and "I Have a Little Dreydl" hardly comes across as the height of Jewish religious spirituality. In any event, do enjoy this Guide. And, um, Seasons Greetings to all! (Also, a freylekhn khanike and ḥag urim sameaḥ.) Best wishes, Steven
Reader’s Guide: Secular Jews & Secular Judaism
2 Secularism & Religion
Lives of the Ex-Haredim Joshua Halberstam. Jewish Ideas Daily, August 2, 2011
Rethinking Secularization Theory: The Case of the Hasidic Public Square David Myers, Nomi Stolzenberg. AJS Perspectives, Spring 2011
Religion and Secularism: Together Forever Jonathan Schorsch. AJS Perspectives, Spring 2011
The Decline of Religious Identity in the United States Gary A. Tobin, Sid Groeneman. Institute for Jewish and Community Research, 2004
Secular or Religious? The Outlook of London's Jews David Graham. Institute for Jewish Policy Research (JPR), 2003
American Religious Identification Survey Egon Mayer, Barry A. Kosmin, Ariela Keysar. CUNY, December 2001
A Secular Approach to Jewish Education Zvi Lamm. AVAR ve'ATID, JAFI, April 1995
Reading Jewish Texts with Greek Eyes Jose Faur. Sh’ma, November 27, 1987
Reader’s Guide: Secular Jews & Secular Judaism
3 Secularism & Identity
Jewishly Engaged & Congregationally Unaffiliated: The Holy Grail of Jewish Engagement Efforts Steven M. Cohen. Workmen's Circle / Arbeter Ring, September 19, 2012
Laïcité, Fraternité, and Nationalité: Discontinuities in French Jewish Discourse Kimberly Arkin. AJS Perspectives, Spring 2011
The Changing Population Profile of American Jews: 1990-2008 Barry A. Kosmin. World Union of Jewish Studies, August 2009
Belonging Without Believing: Jews and their Distinctive Patterns of Religiosity-and Secularity Steven M. Cohen, Lauren Blitzer. Florence G. Heller-JCC Association (JCCA) Research Center, September 2008
The Continuity of Discontinuity: How Young Jews Are Connecting, Creating, and Organizing Their Own Jewish Lives Steven M. Cohen, Ari Y. Kelman. 21/64, 2007
Assimilation, Transformation, and the Long Range Impact of Intermarriage Bruce A. Phillips. ASSJ, 2005
American Jewish Identity Survey: An Exploration in the Demography and Outlook of a People Egon Mayer, Barry A. Kosmin, Ariela Keysar. CUNY, 2001
Reader’s Guide: Secular Jews & Secular Judaism
4 Secularism & Identity
Secular Conversion Yossi Beilin. Sh’ma, October 1999
Fear of Culture Daniel Schifrin. Sh’ma, November 15, 1996
A New Kind of Jewish Identity Michael Walzer. AVAR ve'ATID, JAFI, April 1995
The Conversion of American Jewry Samuel Z. Klausner. Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs (JCPA), August 1, 1991
On the Survival of the Secular Henry Feingold. Sh’ma, November 2, 1990
Ethnicity, American Judaism, and Jewish Cohesion Calvin Goldscheider. Social Foundations of Judaism, Prentice-Hall, inc., 1990
Identity Options for American Jews Lawrence J. Epstein. JAFI, WZO, 1984
The Quest for Jewish Identity in America John Slawson. Journal of Jewish Communal Service, Fall 1963
Secular Jewishness, The Fourth Dimension of Jewish Life Joseph C. Landis. Journal of Jewish Communal Service, Fall 1962
Reader’s Guide: Secular Jews & Secular Judaism
5 Secularism & Ideology
Jewish Secularism and the Campaigns against Political Catholicism and Islam Ari Joskowicz. AJS Perspectives, Spring 2011
The "Post-Secular" Era Eliezer Schweid. Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs (JCPA), October 15, 2000
A Response to Secular Judaism Riv-Ellen Prell. Sh’ma, June 2000
An Outside Look at Secular Judaism Harvey Cox. Sh’ma, June 2000
The Credo of a Non-Observant Jew Yehuda Nini. AVAR ve'ATID, JAFI, April 1995
The Dangers of Militant Secularism Reuel Shinnar. Sh’ma, April 4, 1986
Secularism- Is it Good for the Jews? Marian Henriquez Neudel. Sh’ma, March 22, 1985
Secular Judaism Offers an Alternative Mickey Flacks. Sh’ma, April 29, 1983
Reader’s Guide: Secular Jews & Secular Judaism
6 History of Secular Judaism
Not in the Heavens: The Tradition of Secular Jewish Thought David Biale. AJS Perspectives, Spring 2011
Resisting Secularism? Grace Aguilar and Isaac Leeser on English Bibles Andrea Schatz. AJS Perspectives, Spring 2011
An Icon for Iconoclasts: Spinoza and the Faith of Jewish Secularism Daniel B. Schwartz. AJS Perspectives, Spring 2011
Walter Benjamin, the Kabbalah, and Secularism Kam Shapiro. AJS Perspectives, Spring 2011
Heresy: Baruch Spinoza Steven Nadler. Sh’ma, April 2010
The Rise, Fall, and Rebirth of Secular Judaism Jonathan D. Sarna. Contemplate: The International Journal of Cultural Thought, 2007
The Secular Yiddish Schools of North America Collection at Stanford University Zachary M. Baker. AJS Perspectives, Spring 2005
Secularization in Germany and America Reuel Shinnar. Sh’ma, March 22, 1985
The Jewish Secular School Leibush Lehrer. Jewish Social Service Quarterly, March 1936
Reader’s Guide: Secular Jews & Secular Judaism
7 Shlomit Levy, Elihu Katz,
Hannah Levisohn
More information...
Reader’s Guide: Secular Jews & Secular Judaism
8 Secular Israelis
A Secular Return to the Bible? Reflections on Israeli Society, National Memory, and the Politics of the Past Yael Zerubavel. AJS Perspectives, Spring 2011
An Evolving Secularism: Yom Kippur Streets in Israel Yehuda C. Goodman. AJS Perspectives, Spring 2011
Secular-Jewish Identity and the Condition of Secular Judaism in Israel Charles S. Liebman, Yaacov Yadgar. Religion or Ethnicity? Jewish Identities in Evolution Rutgers University Press, February 8, 2009
New Identities and Connections Adina Newberg. Sh’ma, May 2006
The New Secular Jew in Israel -- A Profile Meir Yoffe. Sh’ma, May 2006
Culture as Compass: Reconnecting Secular Israelis Martin Ben-Moreh. Sh’ma, May 2006
Individual Voices and Collective History Basmat Hazan-Arnoff. Sh’ma, May 2006
Who is the Young Secular Israeli Jew?: The Challenge for Jewish Education Ezra Kopelowitz. Sh’ma, May 2006
Reader’s Guide: Secular Jews & Secular Judaism
9 Secular Israelis
Jewish Identity: Opinions of Secular Jews in Israel Edith Elchanani. Sociological Institute for Community Studies, Bar-Ilan University, July 2005
Israeli Identity: The Jewish Component Charles S. Liebman, Yaacov Yadgar. Israeli Identity in Transition, Praeger Publishers, 2004
Secular Judaism in Israel Charles S. Liebman, 2003
The Jewish Identity of Twenty to Thirty Year Old Israelis: A Comparison between Highly Committed and Average, Secular and Religious Israeli Jews Ezra Kopelowitz, Pablo Markin. Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI), October 2002
Portrait of Israeli Jewry: Beliefs, Observances, and Values among Israeli Jews 2000 Shlomit Levy, Elihu Katz, Hanna Levinsohn Avi Chai Foundation, The Israel Democracy Institute, June 2002
Being a Secular/Humanistic Jew in Israel Yehuda Bauer. Sh’ma, June 2000
Religious Zionism and Secular Judaism in Israeli Society
Charles S. Liebman, 2000
Reader’s Guide: Secular Jews & Secular Judaism
10 Secular Israelis
Jewish Identities: A Response to Yossi Klein Halevi Charles S. Liebman, 2000
The Short Run Impact of Peace on Relationships Between Secular and Religious Jews: Some Preliminary Speculations Charles S. Liebman, 2000
Who is a Secular Jew? Ruth Calderon. Sh’ma, October 1997
Jewish Identity Reconsidered A. B. Yehoshua. AVAR ve'ATID, JAFI, April 1996
A Critique of Israeli Secularism Hertzel Fishman. AVAR ve'ATID, JAFI, April 1995
The Persistence of "Canaanite" Zionism Arnold Jacob Wolf. Sh’ma, May 1, 1987
Reader’s Guide: Secular Jews & Secular Judaism
11 Secularism: Other
AJS Perspectives Spring 2011: Secularism (Complete Issue)
The Closet Lawrence Bush. Sh’ma, June 2009
The Reluctant Rebbitzen: Converting into a Secular Family James Morgan. Sh’ma, November 2008
Secular Judaism and Its Prospects Charles S. Liebman. Frank Cass & Co., 1999
Sh'ma March 22, 1985: Secularism—Complete Issues
America's Silent Secularization Arnold Jacob Wolf. Sh’ma, February 8, 1985
Reader’s Guide: Secular Jews & Secular Judaism
12 The December Dilemma
13 The December Dilemma
Mitzvot During Christmas: My Interfaith Experience Heather-Ellen Miller. Sh’ma, June 2003
It's in the Cards: Embracing the Sacred Ambivalence of Interfaith Holiday Greetings Bradley Hirschfield. CLAL, 2003
Among the Christmas People Vanessa L. Ochs. CLAL, 2000
Endthoughts: A plausible Meaning of Hanukkah Steven Greenberg. Sh’ma, November 1994
The Hanukkah Bush Jessica Schutz. Sh’ma, December 1993
Sh'ma December 1993: Hanukkah--Complete Issue
Our November-December Dilemma Philip Cohen. Sh’ma, 1992
Is Shalom a Chanukah Greeting? Nancy Wallack. Sh’ma, December 1990
Special Section: December Dilemma
14 The December Dilemma
Is Judaism Compatible with American Civil Religion? The Problem of Christmas and the 'National Faith' Jonathan D. Sarna. Religion and the Life of the Nation, 1990
A Note on the Approaching Holiday Joanne Greenberg. Sh’ma, December 1988
How One Jew Spends Christmas Andrew M. Sacks. Sh’ma, December 1986
The December Dilemma Marilyn Braveman. AJC, Winter 1986
Keep Christ in Christmas Stuart G. Weinblatt. Sh’ma, December 1983
Religion in the Schools, a Case Study Ruth Barnett Kaye. Sh’ma, December 1978
The Office Chanukah Party Pat Delaney. Sh’ma, December 1978
Special Section: December Dilemma
15 Learn More...
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