The Role of Religion - Tradition and Modernity in Contemporary Jewish American Literature

Table of Contents

• Introduction
  • Historical overview
  • Christianity as a "default" religion
  • Conversion to Judaism
  • Substitutes for religion
  • Antisemitism
• Religious sources
  • Folklore and mysticism: Golem and reincarnation
• Place
  • The Lower East Side
  • Israel
  • Europe
    • Ukraine
    • Germany
• Language
  • Hebrew
  • Yiddish
  • English
  • Name and Identity
• Jewish tradition and feminism in women's writing
• Food and ritual
• Conclusion

Objectives and Key Themes

This work explores the role of religion, specifically Judaism, in contemporary Jewish American literature. It examines how Jewish identity is constructed and reinterpreted within the context of American society and culture, particularly in relation to traditional religious practices and modern cultural trends. The work highlights the influence of Jewish tradition on contemporary Jewish American writers and their literary output.

• The evolving Jewish identity in the United States
• The role of religious and cultural influences in shaping Jewish American literature
• The interplay of tradition and modernity in Jewish American writing
• The representation of Jewish folklore, mysticism, and religious concepts in contemporary literature
• The impact of Jewish American writers on American culture and literature

Chapter Summaries

The introduction examines the historical context of Jewish American literature and the evolving nature of Jewish identity in the United States. It discusses the influence of Christian tradition and the growing trend of ethnic multicultural writing, particularly among Jewish American writers. The chapter also highlights the significance of religion as a defining aspect of Jewish identity.

The chapter "Religious sources" focuses on the role of Jewish folklore and mysticism, specifically the Golem and reincarnation, in shaping contemporary Jewish American literature. It explores how these concepts are used to explore themes of identity, tradition, and modernity.

The chapter "Place" explores the geographical and cultural significance of various locations for Jewish American writers and their narratives. It examines the Lower East Side, Israel, and Europe, including Ukraine and Germany, as settings that contribute to the understanding of Jewish American experiences and identity.

The chapter "Language" explores the interplay of different languages in Jewish American literature, including Hebrew, Yiddish, and English. It examines how these languages are used to express Jewish identity and the challenges of navigating cultural and linguistic differences in American society.

Keywords

Key terms and concepts explored in this work include Jewish American literature, Jewish identity, religion, tradition, modernity, folklore, mysticism, place, language, culture, ethnicity, assimilation, and the influence of Jewish writers on American literature.