Beyond Jewish Identity

Jon A. Levisohn

ISBN 10: 1644691167 / ISBN 13: 9781644691168

Published by Academic Studies Press, US, 2019

About this Item

There is something deeply problematic aboutthe ways that Jews, particularly in America, talk about "Jewish identity" as adesired outcome of Jewish education. For many, the idea that the purpose ofJewish education is to strengthen Jewish identity is so obvious that it hardlyseems worth disputing-and the only important question is which kinds of Jewisheducation do that work more effectively or more efficiently. But what does itmean to "strengthen Jewish identity"? Why do Jewish educators, policy-makersand philanthropists talk that way? What do they assume, about Jewish educationor about Jewish identity, when they use formulations like "strengthen Jewishidentity"? And what are the costs of doing so?This volume, the first collection toexamine critically the relationship between Jewish education and Jewishidentity, makes two important interventions. First, it offers a criticalassessment of the relationship between education and identity, arguing that thereification of identity has hampered much educational creativity in the pursuitof this goal, and that the nearly ubiquitous employment of the term obscuressignificant questions about what Jewish education is and ought to be. Second,this volume offers thoughtful responses that are not merely synonymousreplacements for "identity," suggesting new possibilities for how to thinkabout the purposes and desired outcomes of Jewish education, potentially contributingto any number of new conversations about the relationship between Jewish educationand Jewish life.

Seller Inventory # LU-9781644691168

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Beyond Jewish Identity
• Publisher: Academic Studies Press, US
• Publication Date: 2019
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1644691167
• ISBN 13: 9781644691168
• Binding: Hardback
• Condition: New
• Dimensions: 15.6W x 1.75H x 23.39D centimeters 15.6 centimeters width by 1.75 centimeters height by 23.39 centimeters depth
• Weight: 581 grams

About this title

Synopsis

There is something deeply problematic about the ways that Jews, particularly in America, talk about “Jewish identity” as a desired outcome of Jewish education. For many, the idea that the purpose of Jewish education is to strengthen Jewish identity is so obvious that it hardly seems worth disputing―and the only important question is which kinds of Jewish education do that work more effectively or more efficiently. But what does it mean to “strengthen Jewish identity”? Why do Jewish educators, policy-makers and philanthropists talk that way? What do they assume, about Jewish education or about Jewish identity, when they use formulations like “strengthen Jewish identity”? And what are the costs of doing so?

This volume, the first collection to examine critically the relationship between Jewish education and Jewish identity, makes two important interventions. First, it offers a critical assessment of the relationship between education and identity, arguing that the reification of identity has hampered much educational creativity in the pursuit of this goal, and that the nearly ubiquitous employment of the term obscures significant questions about what Jewish education is and ought to be. Second, this volume offers thoughtful responses that are not merely synonymous replacements for “identity,” suggesting new possibilities for how to think about the purposes and desired outcomes of Jewish education, potentially contributing to any number of new conversations about the relationship between Jewish education and Jewish life.

About the Authors

Jon A. Levisohn is Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Associate Professor of Jewish Educational Thought, Brandeis University.

Ari Y. Kelman is Jim Joseph Professor of Education and Jewish Studies, Stanford University.