Jewish Issues in Multiculturalism: A Handbook for Educators and Clinicians - Hardcover

Peter F. Langman

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0765760290 ISBN 13: 9780765760296

Publisher: Jason Aronson, Inc. (UK), 1999

Synopsis

While people are learning about the identities and accomplishments of various racial and ethnic minorities, Jewish identity and accomplishments are ignored. Programs educate and sensitize people to racism, sexism, and homophobia, but antisemitism is overlooked. The purpose of this book is to get Jews and Jewish issues included within the multicultural curriculum.

The author begins by presenting information about Judaism and Jewish cultures. The racial, ethnic, and religious differences among Jews are presented in order to inform readers about the extent of diversity within the Jewish community. Judaism as a religion is presented in terms of its basic values and the impact that these values and the practices that follow from them have had on Western civilization. This material is important because it dispels misconceptions that many people have regarding Judaism. Also, because multicultural writers typically ignore the vast impact of Jews and Jewish culture on the origin and development of psychotherapy, a chapter is devoted to documenting the role that Jews have played in the evolution of the profession.

Langman then focuses on antisemitism. Many people have no knowledge of historical antisemitism and think that the Holocaust was the only oppression that Jews have suffered. This section first documents antisemitic beliefs, laws, and violence throughout the last two thousand years. Next, several contemporary antisemitic beliefs are discussed. Then, the psychological peculiarities of antisemitism are reviewed. Finally, the causes of both individual and collective antisemitism are presented.

An important section of this book concerns itself with relationships between Christians and Jews and Blacks and Jews. The chapter on Christians and Jews reviews recent developments in Christian views of Jesus and Judaism and addresses common Christian misconceptions about Judaism.

The chapter on Blacks and Jews examines racism among Jews and antisemitism among Blacks. A variety of explanations of antisemitism in the

About this title

From the Author

This book addresses Jewish issues in multiculturalism.
When I was a master's student, and again as a doctoral student, I had courses on multicultural issues that ignored Jews and Jewish issues. We studied African American identity and Asian American identity, and so on, but we never studied Jewish identity. We discussed racism, sexism, and many other "isms," but we never discussed antisemitism. We learned about the contributions of minority groups to American culture, but we never learned about the contributions of Jews. It became clear to me that there was a significant gap in multicultural literature. I wrote my book to fill that gap.

Praise for Jewish Issues in Multiculturalism

"Peter Langman has written an important reference book for all who wish to understand a Jewish perspective on multicultural issues....this book should be required reading in every course where multicultural sensibilities are being cultivated." -- Michael Lerner, editor of TIKKUN: A Bi-monthly Jewish Critique of Politics, Culture, and Society.

"I consider Jewish Issues in Multiculturalism essential reading....It is a landmark contribution to the profession, broadening our understanding about another cultural group and underscoring the continuous call to respect cultural perspectives in our work." --Patricia Arredondo, Ed.D., past president of the Association of Multicultural Counseling and Development.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Multiculturalism: Where Are the Jews?

The Exclusion of Jews from Multiculturalism

Why Non-Jews Have Not Included Jews

Jews Seen as an Assimilated Non-Minority

Jews Seen as Economically Privileged

Jews Seen as Part of the White Majority

Jews Seen as Members of a Religion

Lack of Knowledge of Jewish Oppression

Why Jews Have Not Included Jews

Jewishness Separate from Professional Identity

The Invalidation of Jewish Experience

Fear of Visibility as Jews

Internalized Antisemitism and Self-Hatred

Conclusion

Chapter 2: The Diversity of Jews

Chinese Jews

Indian Jews

Ethiopian Jews

Sephardim and Mizrachim

Mizrachim

Sephardim

Ashkenazim

Orthodox Jews

Hasidic Jews

Reform Jews

Conservative Jews

Reconstructionist Jews

Intergroup Differences

Further Diversity

African American Jews

Multiple Identities

Summary

Chapter 3: Jewish Accomplishments and Contributions: An Introduction to the Values, Practices, and Impact of Judaism

Judaism and Multiculturalism

The Contributions of Judaism

Political Implications

The Hebrew Commonwealth and the Origins of Democracy

Community and Social Welfare

Education

The First Labor Movement

Jewish Contributions to Christianity

Jewish Contributions to Islam

Jewish Contributions to the Founding of the United States

Jewish Contributions to Social Movements in the United States

The Labor Movement

The Women's Movement

The Civil Rights Movement

The Exclusion of Jewish Contributions

Contemporary Contributions of Jewish Philanthropy

Chapter 4: Jewish Culture and the Origins of Psychotherapy

Attitudes Toward Suffering and Help-Seeking

White Culture

Jewish Culture

Jews, Judaism, and the Origin of Psychoanalysis

The Jewishness of the Original Psychoanalysts

Psychoanalysis and Judaism

Psychoanalsysis and Gestalt vs. Behaviorism

Jewish Contributions to Psychotherapy

Conclusion

Chapter 5: Antisemitism: Past and Present

Introduction to Antisemitism

Terminology

Manifestations of Antisemitism

The Exclusion of Antisemitism

Past Antisemitism

Expulsions

Antisemitic Violence

Laws and Actions

Beliefs and Accusations

Contemporary Antisemitism

The Stereotype of Jews as "Rich and Powerful"

J.A.P.-Bashing

Feminist Antisemitism

Holocaust Denial

Israel-Bashing

Antisemitism on Campus

Chapter 6: The Peculiarities of Antisemitism

Scapegoating, or "The Jew as Inkblot"

Antisemitic "Double-Think"

Projection and Paranoia

The Denial of Jewish Legitimacy

The Usurping of Jewish Identity

The Ideology of Japanese Extremists

The Ideology of the Christian Identity Movement

The Ideology of Afrocentric Extremists

Other Usurpers: Arab Muslims and German Christians

Summary

Assumptions Underlying Antisemitism

Chapter 7: Insights into Antisemitism: Integrating History and Psychology

The Limitations of Simplistic Explanations

The Need for Nuance

Definitions and Distinctions

History and Antisemitism

Psychology and Antisemitism

The Authoritarian Personality

Paranoid Personality Disorder

A Comparison of the Authoritarian Personality and Paranoid Personality Disorder

Individual and Culture

The Psychology of Mass Movements

Antisemitism and Violence

Pulling It All Together: Why the Jews?

Displacement

Projection

Self-Fulfilling Prophecy

Reactivity to Jews

Accounting for Bi-Directional Antisemitism Conclusion

Chapter 8: Christians and Jews

Background Information

Multiculturally Appropriate Terminology

De-Judaizing and Christianizing

Common Misconceptions

Misconception #1: The Jews Rejected Jesus and Jesus Rejected the Jews

Misconception #2: "An eye for an eye" (Exodus: 21.24)

Misconception #3: Judaism=Vengeful God/Christianity=Forgiving God

Misconception #4: Law vs. Love

Misconception #5: Chosenness-- "The Jews Think They're Better"

Misconception #6: "The Jews killed Jesus" - The "Deicide" Myth

Jewish-Christian Dialogue

Conclusion

Chapter 9: Blacks and Jews

Why Blacks and Jews?

Antisemitism in the Black Community

Overview

The Extremists

Responding to Historical Revisionism

Responding to the Image of Jews as "Exploiters"

Explanations of Antisemitism in the Black Community

Misunderstandings Between Blacks and Jews

What Jews Need to Understand About the Black Experience

What African Americans Need to Understand About the Jewish Experience

Chapter 10: Farrakhan, Jews, and Slavery: What the Nation of Islam Isn't Saying

Fallacies

Errors

Errors Regarding Jews and Slavery

Errors Regarding Number of Africans Killed

Ironies

The Irony of Arab/Muslim Slavery

The Irony of African Slave Raiding and Trading

The Irony of African Slavery

The Irony of African American Slave-Owners

The Irony of African Abolition

The Irony of Contemporary Slavery

Discussion

Conclusion

Chapter 11: Jewish Identity

Jewish Identity and Identity Models

Internalized Antisemitism

Jewish Insecurity

Jews as a Traumatized Community

Jewish Identity and "Passing"

Fostering Positive Jewish Identity

Paths to Reawakening Jewish Identity

Overcoming the Fear of Jewish Visibility

Chapter 12: Jewish Issues in Counseling and Psychotherapy

Therapist Issues

Guidelines for Working with Jewish Clients

What Therapists Need to Know

What Therapists Need to Be Aware of in Themselves

Consultation with a Rabbi

Client Issues

Jewish Identity and General Problems

Russian Jews

Jewish College Students

Jewish Body Image and Gender Identity

Interfaith Couples and Their Children

Choosing Judaism: Converts and Baalei Teshuvah

Jewish Gays and Lesbians

Career Counseling

Orthodox Jews in Therapy

Abuse and Addictions

Suffering, Death, and Mourning

Holocaust Survivors and Their Children

Edition details

• Publisher: Jason Aronson, Inc. (UK)
• Publication date: 1999
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0765760290
• ISBN 13: 9780765760296
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 385