Jewish Civilization: The Jewish Historical Experience in a Comparative Perspective (SUNY Series in Israeli Studies) - Softcover

Eisenstadt, S. N.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 079141096X ISBN 13: 9780791410967

Publisher: State University of New York Press, 1992

Synopsis

This book explains why the best way to understand the Jewish historical experience is to look at Jewish people, not just as a religious or ethnic group or a nation or "people," but, as bearers of civilization. This approach helps to explain the greatest riddle of Jewish civilization, namely, its continuity despite destruction, exile, and loss of political independence.

In the first part of the book, Eisenstadt compares Jewish life and religious orientations and practices with Hellenistic and Roman civilizations, as well as with Christian and Islamic civilizations. In the second part of the book, he analyzes the modern period with its different patterns of incorporation of Jewish communities into European and American societies; national movements that developed among Jews toward the end of the nineteenth century, especially the Zionist movement; and specific characteristics of Israeli society.

The major question Eisenstadt poses is to what extent the characteristics of the Jewish experience are distinctive, in comparison to other ethnic and religious minorities incorporated into modern nation-states, or other revolutionary ideological settler societies. He demonstrates through his case studies the continuous creativity of Jewish civilization.

About this title

About the Author

S. N. Eisenstadt is Rose Issacs Professor of Sociology at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He is the editor of The Origins and Diversity of Axial Age Civilizations, also published by SUNY Press.

Edition details

• Publisher: State University of New York Press
• Publication date: 1992
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 079141096X
• ISBN 13: 9780791410967
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 334