Jewish Baby Boomers: A Communal Perspective

by Chaim I. Waxman

Overview

This book critically analyzes American Jewish baby boomers, focusing on the implications of their Jewish identity and identification for the collective American Jewish community. Utilizing data obtained from the 1990 National Jewish Population Survey, the book begins with a demographic portrait of American Jewish baby boomers. Realizing that America's Jews are both a religious and ethnic group, a comparison is made with Protestant and Catholic baby boomers, as well as other ethnic groups. The religious patterns of the Jewish baby boomers and their ethnic patterns are examined in-depth, and placed within the larger contexts of the modern or post-modern character of religion and ethnicity. The book's extensive presentation of detailed quantitative data is consistently complemented by qualitative examinations of their communal implications for Jewish continuity and the organized American Jewish community.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780791491515
Publisher:	State University of New York Press
Publication date:	02/01/2012
Series:	SUNY series in American Jewish Society in the 1990s
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	232
File size:	16 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Chaim I. Waxman is Professor of Sociology and Jewish Studies at Rutgers University, and author of America's Jews in Transition and American Aliya.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments

1. Introduction

2. Demographic Characteristics of American Jewish Baby Boomers

3. Family Patterns of American Jewish Baby Boomers

4. The Jewishness of Jewish Baby Boomers: Religion

5. The Jewishness of Baby Boomers: Ethnicity

6. Religion in American Society

7. Ethnicity in America

8. Conclusion

Appendix A. Methodology of CJF 1990 National Jewish Population Survey by Joseph Waksberg

Appendix B. Representative Frequencies

Appendix C. Representative Probability Levels

Notes

References

Name Index

Subject Index

Editorial Reviews

In his new work, Waxman (sociology and Jewish studies, Rutgers; Historical Dictionary of Zionism) sets out to study the participation of Jewish baby boomers in Jewish institutions, comparing them to earlier groups in their community involvement and Jewish identification. He effectively uses both Jewish studies and the works of secular sociologists to develop his arguments and support assertions about the future of the Jewish community. SO WHAT DOES HE CONCLUDE Three appendixes provide additional statistical information. The results of this scholarly study will be of interest primarily to students and researchers concerned with demographic studies about ethnic and religious groups. Recommended for academic libraries with Judaica collections. (Graphs not seen.) Naomi E. Hafter, Broward Cty. P.L., Ft. Lauderdale, FL Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

Library Journal

Analyzes American Jewish baby boomers, focusing on the implications of their Jewish identity and identification for the collective American Jewish community. Begins with a demographic portrait of American Jewish baby boomers, drawing on the 1990 National Jewish Population Survey, then compares America's Jews with Protestant and Catholic baby boomers, as well as other ethnic groups. Presentation of detailed quantitative data is complimented by qualitative examinations of communal implications for Jewish continuity and the organized American Jewish community. Waxman teaches Jewish studies at Rutgers University. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews

"Jewish Baby Boomers is an important book in the field of Jewish studies and the sociology of religion. It is outstanding in its presentation and analysis." — Jerome S. Legge, Jr., University of Georgia

"It is important to anyone interested in American Jewish life, and it also has significant implications for the dynamics of religion and ethnicity generally in contemporary American culture. This book will be a useful addition to the literature." — Mervin F. Verbit, Professor of Sociology at Brooklyn College

"Waxman has done a superb job addressing a research question that is of relevance to American society in general, Jewish society in particular, and to the social scientific study of religion." — Ephraim Tabory, coauthor of Jewish Choices: American Jewish Denominationalism

From the Publisher