Dr. Erica Brown and Dr. Misha Galperin
Foreword by Rabbi Joseph Telushkin
Peoplehood—everyone’s talking
about it. But what does it actually mean
and why is it
important to the future of Judaism?
“Why is this conversation important?
Why does it merit your attention? If you care about Jewish
identity and community, then you know that we have no trouble
identifying the problems that fragmentize us as a people but
have far less success identifying that which unites us. Without
a unifying, collective notion of Jewish identity that is
meaningful and robust, it is virtually impossible to make a
strong case for Jewish continuity.”
—from the Introduction
This call to Jewish community explores the
purpose, possibilities, and limitations of peoplehood as a
unifying concept of community for a people struggling
profoundly with Jewish identity. It defines what peoplehood
is—and is not—and explores both collective and
personal Jewish identity and the nature of identity
construction.
Drawing on history, sacred texts and
contemporary scholarship, The Case for Jewish Peoplehood
identifies some of the obstacles that challenge a shared notion
of peoplehood: personal choices, construct of membership and
boundaries, growth of Jewish illiteracy, identity fragmentation
between Israeli and Diaspora Jewry, and the generational divide
affecting traditionalists, baby boomers, and generations X and
Y.
To help you join the conversation, the
authors support a vision for the future and provide practical
guidance and recommendations for getting there.
“Accessible and stimulating. Opens
the windows and doors wide to invite all of us to participate
in a spirited conversation about the changing nature of Jewish
peoplehood in the twenty-first century.”
—Shifra
Bronznick, co-author, Leveling the Playing Field: Advancing Women in
Jewish Organizational Life; founder
and president, Advancing Women Professionals and the Jewish
Community
“Effectively combines a broad review
of the Jewish peoplehood concept with a nuanced understanding
of how Jews live their lives. The authors take a conceptual
framework with its origins in the works of Kaplan to a new
plane, understanding that at a time of unlimited choices and
unprecedented freedom, Jewish peoplehood takes on a myriad of
meanings, while guided by unified values and powerful
inspiration.”
—Dr.
Jeffrey Solomon, president,
Andrea
and Charles Bronfman Philanthropies
“As the issue of Jewish peoplehood
assumes greater urgency, Drs. Misha Galperin and Erica Brown
have provided us with a rich resource. A must read for all
concerned about the Jewish future.”
—Dr. John
Ruskay, executive vice president
and chief executive officer,
UJA-Federation of New York
“Addresses the issue of what the
Jewish People really is, and why it is important. The questions
raised here must be faced by everyone concerned with a Jewish
future.”
—Rabbi
Lawrence A. Hoffman, PhD, author, Rethinking Synagogues:
A New Vocabulary for
Congregational Life
“Timely, immensely thoughtful,
provocative, rewarding. Illuminates and enriches every aspect
of peoplehood with keen analysis, deep personal insights, and
wise suggestions.”
—Dr.
Jonathan Woocher, chief ideas
officer, JESNA; director,
Lippman Kanfer Institute
Dr. Misha Galperin is CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater
Washington. The Federation raises approximately $60 million
annually and provides support for hundreds of Jewish
organizations and causes in over sixty countries around the
world in pursuit of its mission to build a vibrant and
purposeful Jewish community. Previously, Dr. Galperin was COO
of UJA-Federation of New York, the world’s largest local
philanthropy. He was born in Odessa, Ukraine, and immigrated to
the United States in 1976 with his family at age eighteen. He
has a PhD in clinical psychology and has written about and
spoken widely on the issues of Jewish identity, values, and
community. He serves on a number of non-profit boards.
Rabbi Joseph Telushkin is author of several books that have made Jewish
philosophy, theology, and history accessible to the broad
public, including Jewish Literacy and Jewish Wisdom.
