This book is the first major sociological analysis of the characteristics and interrelationships of ethnicity, religion, and socio-economic class in Israeli society. Although much has been written about the various distinctions between Sephardi and Ashkenazi Jews, this volume argues for a more sophisticated approach than the rather crude divisions that have formed the basis of most works on the subject. The authors include categories largely overlooked in sociological studies on Israel such as middle class Israelis from Asia and Africa, and working-class Israelis from Europe. The data...

Who and what is a Jew? Is there any common denominator between an ultra-Orthodox rabbi of an Israeli North African community and a Berkeley academic of the Movement for a Secular and Humanistic Judaism? Do Jews the world over convergre and emphasize their unity or do they share contrasting concepts of collective identity? Part I of this book presents a systematic discussion of Jewish identities in this era of (post)modernity. The opportunity is offered by a set of invaluable texts, which appear in Part II. These texts about Jewish identity were invited, in 1958, by Ben-Gurion from 50...