The concept of yikhes and its transformation during the Soviet period (based on field materials collected in the town of Tulchin,Ukraine)

It is commonly thought that the concept of yikhes (Hebrew, yikhus) refers largely or even solely to the notion of noble descent. As late as 1959, the Standard Jewish Encyclopedia defined yikhes in these terms; and a similar understanding of the term can be found in other leading sources. Using extensive field materials collected under the auspices of the St Petersburg Judaica Centre, this essay demonstrates, however, that yikhes has a wide variety of meanings in the present‐day Jewish community of Tulchin (Ukraine), which is not limited to genealogical implications and may completely ignore them. The range of meanings associated with yikhes includes secular learning, “honorable” (non‐manual) profession, “respect” on the part of other community members, ethical qualities, etc. Due to a partial or complete loss of Yiddish, many residents of the town know the word yikhes solely from expressions such as “yikhes in the bathhouse,” where this word has lost its independent meaning. Through an anthropological analysis of yikhes as a reflection of social ideas and practices within a small and relatively circumscribed society, the paper demonstrates both the breadth of tradition the concept reflects and the limitations of the ways it is generally presented and understood in the literature.     

Rabbinical response to domestic violence: A qualitative study

Clergy, including Rabbis, though not specifically trained to provide domestic violence (DV) counseling, are often now considered formal helpers because of the active role they have taken in addressing DV issues among congregants. Participants were presented with two vignettes about couples engaged in conflict and asked to describe how they would respond to each. The Rabbis in this sample, while willing and desiring to help, also talked much about their discomfort with providing advice, as they did not feel qualified to help or to provide advice. Implications for social work practitioners and educators will be discussed.     

Mosaic identity and style: Phonological variation among Reform American Jews1

Scholars of American Judaism have argued that American Jews are losing their sense of a distinctive Jewish identity, and the cultural practices concomitant with that identity. This general attrition has resulted in what many label the mosaic identity of American Jews, whereby multiple group affiliations exist in tandem and in conflict. Utilizing a reworked framework of language style (based on Bell 1984 , 2001 ), I demonstrate how the claim that Jewish‐affiliated practice is compartmentalized and relegated only to specifically Jewish contexts is supported through an examination of the variable pronunciation of word‐final /t/. This paper illustrates the ways in which quantitative and qualitative analyses can work together to create a more developed picture of Reform American Judaism.     

Analysis of Kafka＇ s Outlook on Death

上帝与死亡是犹太民族的核心话语。作为不入帮会的犹太人,卡夫卡却拥有非同寻常的宗教意识和宗教情怀。卡夫卡的死亡观融合了犹太教与基督教的精髓：作为犹太人,卡夫卡的死亡观念主要来自犹太思维;作为说德语的犹太人,由于德语本身浸润着基督教的文化色彩,卡夫卡的观念中又闪现出基督之光,渴望通过上帝的审判,重返伊甸园。     

犹太教及其在中国的传播与哈尔滨的犹太教和犹太教堂

在近代,哈尔滨曾是东亚犹太人最大的宗教中心。犹太人在哈尔滨所进行的政治、宗教、经济和文化活动,对哈尔滨的经济繁荣、城市建设曾起过一定作用。目前在哈尔滨仍保存着东亚犹太人最大的犹太教堂。保护和利用这一文化遗存,深入研究哈尔滨犹太人和散居于世界各地的哈尔滨犹太人及其后裔的生活状况,有利于加强中国与以色利、中国与世界各国犹太人的文化交流与经贸合作。     

夏洛克:一个悲剧性人物 ---重读《威尼斯商人》

夏洛克是莎士比亚笔下的犹太高利贷者,他贪婪、冷酷、毫无人性,一直受到人们的嘲笑和唾骂.但夏洛克之所以如此,其根源是社会矛盾造成的.他一面虔诚地读着圣经,一面拼命攒钱,过着清教徒的生活,然而他的复仇意识很强,但到头来落得人财两空.从中我们可以了解当时基督教社会的所谓"仁慈,公正”.     

试论犹太教与反犹主义的关系及对中东和平进程的影响

犹太教以其极为鲜明的民族性特征,成为西方历史上掀起的一次次反犹、排犹运动的主要依据,给犹太人带来了巨大的灾难。以色列成立后,很大程度上由于犹太教理念的因素,使巴以冲突迟迟得不到解决,将另外一个无辜民族——巴勒斯坦人长期置身于苦难的深渊。与此同时,以色列也不能够完全实现自己的和平。