With concern being expressed throughout Europe for the future social and political direction of the continent after the upheavals since 1989, this book addresses the question of identity in the context of Europe's oldest and most established minority community: the Jews. How do the Jews of today's Europe - East and West - regard themselves, 50 years after the Holocaust? Are they members of their respective nation states, or members of a new, European minority? The text looks at Jews and Jewish life today in all the various countries that have a large proportion of Europe's Jews and which attempts to portray how Jews see themselves and what they perceive as the problems challenging their identity. Among the problems considered in this text are: what the future holds for the Jews of Europe; what it means to be Jewish in the countries of Eastern Europe (Russia, Poland and Hungaary are considered in detail by local experts); hopes and uncertainties in religious trends; and the likely development of interfaith relations, as seen by both Jews and Christians.
An afterword identifies the points of convergence, the contradicitons and the myths implicit in the different analyses, and teases out the main conclusions and implications. This collection of articles should be of interest to anyone who wants to know about the contemporary position of the Jews of Europe.
Industry Reviews
`The strength of the compilation lies in the wide variety of viewpoints that originate not simply from Europe but also from Israel and the United States . . . the breadth of coverage in the 290 pages is remarkable . . . Readers interested in a particular approach or topic should scan the contents carefully and use them in conjunction with the concise biographical notes to pinpoint articles to meet their needs. They will be helped in this by Jonathan Webber's comprehensive analytical introductory essay which also points straightforwardly to what is missing from the discussion.'
- Marlena Schmool, Le'ela `Some of the essays in this volume seem already to have been overtaken by events, while other remain strikingly prescient. Taken as a whole, however, this book is a useful contribution to the contemporary debate over the nature of the new Europe, while offering valuable insights for the study of modern Jewish history.'
- John D. Klier, Journal of European Studies `Timely . . . an impressive assortment of views, wide-ranging in their scope, analysing demographic, sociological and religious trends, surveying particular communities in Eastern and Western Europe, looking at inter-faith relations, and the role of Israel and the Holocaust in defining contemporary Jewish identity . . . interesting, informative and challenging.'
- Valerie Monchi, Jewish Chronicle `The twenty-four contributors to this excellent collection of essays are distinguished academic and spiritual leaders of present-day Jewry, mainly in Europe, who have devoted much thought to the problems confronting our people in the modern Western world. . . . The topics covered are varied and important.'
- Miriam Kraus, Jerusalem Post `A rich book, containing many interesting insights and observations . . . excellent introductory survey by Jonathan Webber.'
- Andre W. M. Gerrits, Ethnic & Racial Studies `Webber's introductory essay and his chapter on Jewish identity are particularly effective in highlighting the impact of a European environment on its Jews. Indeed, the reader encounters comparisons throughout the book that span countries and history, or is led to such comparisons by the different foci of the various articles. . . . Webber' volume has the potential to stimulate further empirical research in Europe, as well as shedding light on the situation there for non-Europeans who tend to overlook that continent. Those who care about the future of the Jews and Judaism, whether it be in Europe or elsewhere, will find this a very welcome addition to the literature.'
- Ephraim Tabory, Contemporary Jewry
