Chaim Waxman, the pre-eminent sociologist of contemporary Orthodoxy, is one of the keenest observers of American Jewish society. Having written on various aspects of this subject over the past forty years, he now revisits his earlier work in the light of recent developments. His familiarity with the entire spectrum of the Orthodox world combined with his deep knowledge of halakhah and his rigorous command of statistical and demographic data enables him to articulate distinctive perspectives on the issues that he addresses. His focus is not only on the various directions in which Orthodox practice is moving but also on how this affects the community as a whole. Waxman’s range is wide. After reviewing the socio-economic changes in American Orthodox communities and examining the reasons for them, he goes on to consider the political patterns of contemporary American Orthodox Jews. Demographic changes are also explored, particularly those relating to family life. Moving to the communal level, he discusses the increasing Americanization of Orthodox Jews, taking special note of how developments in Orthodoxy in Israel are having an increasing impact on American norms as contact between the two communities grows. In illustration of how Orthodoxy is adapting to modernity, he then presents a detailed discussion of halakhic developments, particularly regarding women’s greater participation in ritual practices and other areas of communal life. He shows that the direction of change is not uniform: there is both greater stringency and greater leniency, and he discusses the many reason for this both in the Jewish community and in the wider society. Relations between the various sectors of American Orthodoxy over the past several decades are also considered. The result is a comprehensive analysis from an acknowledged expert that will be of interest to everyone concerned with developments within American Orthodoxy and with the sociology of religion more generally.

Chaim Waxman, the pre-eminent sociologist of contemporary Orthodoxy, is one of the keenest observers of American Jewish society. Having written on various aspects of this subject over the past forty years, he now revisits his earlier work in the light of recent developments. His familiarity with the entire spectrum of the Orthodox world combined with his deep knowledge of halakhah and his rigorous command of statistical and demographic data enables him to articulate distinctive perspectives on the issues that he addresses. His focus is not only on the various directions in which Orthodox practice is moving but also on how this affects the community as a whole. Waxman’s range is wide. After reviewing the socio-economic changes in American Orthodox communities and examining the reasons for them, he goes on to consider the political patterns of contemporary American Orthodox Jews. Demographic changes are also explored, particularly those relating to family life. Moving to the communal level, he discusses the increasing Americanization of Orthodox Jews, taking special note of how developments in Orthodoxy in Israel are having an increasing impact on American norms as contact between the two communities grows. In illustration of how Orthodoxy is adapting to modernity, he then presents a detailed discussion of halakhic developments, particularly regarding women’s greater participation in ritual practices and other areas of communal life. He shows that the direction of change is not uniform: there is both greater stringency and greater leniency, and he discusses the many reason for this both in the Jewish community and in the wider society. Relations between the various sectors of American Orthodoxy over the past several decades are also considered. The result is a comprehensive analysis from an acknowledged expert that will be of interest to everyone concerned with developments within American Orthodoxy and with the sociology of religion more generally.

It is an honor and a privilege to offer this second volume of Iggud: Selected Essays in Jewish Studies to the scholarly and general reading public. The articles included in the volume are expanded versions of lectures originally presented at the Fourteenth World Congress of Jewish Studies, held in August 2005, in the divisions of the History of the Jewish People and Contemporary Jewish Society. These articles have undergone a careful and selective refereeing process. Both the editors of these volumes and the executive of the World Union of Jewish Studies are confident that this new format, which replaces the older Proceedings of the World Congress of Jewish Studies, will become an important publishing forum for scholars of Jewish studies around the world. The present collection includes thirty-one articles written by scholars from every continent except Africa and Antarctica, a potent testimony to the truly worldwide scope of Jewish studies. Worthy of note in this context is the relatively high representation, among the authors of articles submitted and eventually chosen for publication, of scholars from Germany and Eastern Europe—a demonstration of the renaissance of many aspects of Jewish studies in those countries over the past few decades. The articles are divided into six chronological and/or topical categories: history of the Jews in the medieval and early modern periods; history of the Jews in Eastern Europe; Holocaust studies; Zionism and the State of Israel; gender and history; intellectual history. The authors, senior scholars and younger researchers alike, apply a wide variety of disciplinary and interdisciplinary approaches to their topics, ranging from social and economic history to sociological field work and literary analysis. The result, we believe, is an impressive collection of studies that illuminate in innovative ways the topics chosen for investigation. As this volume of Iggud reaches the stage of publication, we acknowledge the unstinting assistance of the staff of the World Union of Jewish Studies: Dr. Ronela Merdler, Executive Director of the World Union, who has overseen every stage in the process of producing this volume with her endless patience and good judgment, and Yochi Kahana, the secretary of the World Union, who has enabled us to keep track of myriad details and correspondence with authors. Thanks also to colleagues on the executive of the World Union, under the leadership of our president, Prof. Sara Japhet, whose support and encouragement helped make Iggud into a reality and, we hope, an important new addition to the field of Jewish studies. Gershon Bacon Bar-Ilan University, February 2009