Jewish Communal Structures Around the World

Publication Date: December 1997

Publisher: Jewish Communal Service Association of North America

Author(s): Daniel J. Elazar

Research Area: Culture and religion

Keywords: Community Formation; Jewish Culture; Jewish Identification

Type: Report

Abstract:

In the postmodern era, all Diaspora Jewish communities are voluntary, and the first task of every Jewish community is to learn to deal with the particular local manifestation of its Jewish population's freedom to choose. Participation in the community actually defines its limits, and each is organized as a series of concentric circles around a central core of Judaism/Jewishness that draws Jews toward it in varying degrees.

In Journal of Jewish Communal Service, v.74 no.2, Winter 1997.