Sociology

The Jewish community as a whole including those in America, Europe, Israel and other parts of the world, has a distinctive blend of kinship. This has been observed as far back as during the biblical period of their origin and more so in modern times when their nation has been sidelined by the populous neighboring Muslim states. The Jewish community in America has been recorded as the largest diaspora community in the world. However, it has lately been described as ambivalent owing to the fact that it wants to be like the Americans in an attempt to affiliate itself with the American society and at the same time remain autonomous as Jews with a unique and individual way of life (Liebman, 1973).

American civilization has greatly influenced Jewish culture. The generation since World War Two no longer views being Jewish as an all-embracing way of life. Though, they accept it, their reaction towards their Jewishness is characterized as indifferent rather than negative (Liebman, 1973). Despite embracing modern civilization, familial solidarity still exists among the Jewish community as it enables them to function as a community and at the same time preserve their Jewish way of life. In America for example, young Jewish men are concerned with Israel with many enlisting to the army to defend its existence yet at the same time they are marrying individuals who are not Jews by birth or assimilation. This has been viewed as an extreme form of ambivalence among the Jewish community.

The rise of new religious pluralism where evidently there are no barriers or differences in value between Jews and other people who are not Jews makes it possible for American Jews to assimilate easily socially. They no longer study or observe the law, prayer has been relegated to another lesser level and private intercourse with their kin no longer takes priority. They are now actively involved in reform movements together with other Christian colleagues (Cohen, 1983).

Modernization, on the other hand has replaced the organic ties which distinguished the Jews and evidently recognized them as a covenantal community linked by a shared destiny with associational ties. The associational approach which they adopted is typically an America approach whereby the social order is based on affiliation to a particular organization or group which is chosen rather heritage which is acquired by virtue of the fact that you were born Jewish (Cohen, 1983). This affiliation enables the Jews to acquire not only membership in different organizations hence reinforcing their network of Jewish ties, but also becoming well enmeshed into the larger society and acquiring a social status.

However, though the associational ties provide the momentum for the continuation of Jewish life in American society, the organic ties still continue to be strengthened in an attempt to ensure they are protected in the event that their survival is threatened. The Holocaust, during which the Jewish population was greatly reduced, serves as a constant reminder (Liebman, 1973). Most of the citizens in America are originally immigrants, stemming from a wide range of ethic and racial groups, and what bind them together are their shared values. The American notion of nationalism is based on shared values and consenting to them forms the basis for citizenship. The Jews are therefore able to incorporate into the American society since they can easily share and accept this concept of American nationalism as they too are bound by a common destiny and shared values. However, their liberalism is legendary as they continue to relentlessly fight anti-Semitism as they are committed to Israel and maintain their survival while defining themselves as a nation by virtue of the fact that they were born Jewish which draws them together for self-protection.