Social groups: religious groups and communities Books

Book SynopsisThe present-day traces of the Jewish past in Poland are complex. Jewish life lay in ruins after the Holocaust. Much evidence of ruin remains, but there are also widespread traces that bear witness to the elaborate Jewish culture that once flourished there, even in villages and small towns. One also sees places where Jews were murdered by the Germans in the war: not only in death camps and ghettos, but also in fields, forests, rivers, and cemeteries. After the war forty years of communism suppressed even the memory of the destroyed Jewish heritage. Today, by contrast, the historic Jewish culture of Poland is increasingly being memorialized, by local Poles as well as by foreign Jews. Synagogues and cemeteries are being renovated, monuments and museums are being set up. There are festivals of Jewish culture, hasidic pilgrims, and Jewish tourists; and local people who rescued Jews during the war are being honoured. In rediscovering the traces of memory one also finds clear signs of a local Jewish revival. This extensively revised second edition includes forty-five new photographs and updated explanatory texts. Together they suggest how to make sense of the past and discover its relevance for the present. This innovative, multi-layered book will appeal to everyone concerned with questions of history, memory, and identity.Table of Contents Author’s Prologue A Photographer’s View Map of Polish Galicia Introduction 1. Life in Ruins 2. Glimpses of the Jewish Culture that Once Was 3. The Holocaust: Sites of Massacre and Destruction 4. How the Past Is Being Remembered 5. The Revival of Jewish Life Epilogue A Note on Galicia, Place Names, and Sources Index

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Book SynopsisChaim Waxman, a prominent sociologist of contemporary Orthodoxy, is one of the keenest observers of American Jewish society. In illustration of how Orthodoxy is adapting to modernity, he 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 reasons 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.Trade Review'Wonderful..... An invaluable synthesis and a fine analysis of recent developments.'Jonathan Sarna, Brandeis University'The book was a pleasure to read, as well as insightful and interesting... The book is very well written – wonder of wonders, a sociology book without jargon!'Professor Menachem Kellner, Chair, Dept of Philosophy and Jewish Thought at Shalem College, Jerusalem'Along with his careful sociological analysis, [Waxman] brings an impeccable knowledge of Jewish history, law, and practice. His writing displays no perceivable bias for or against any denomination or sub-denomination of Judaism. He writes sociology without jargon, and, when necessary, explains fine points of Jewish law so that any reader can understand them.'Martin Lockshin, The Canadian Jewish News'Professor Chaim Waxman, a prominent and highly respected sociologist of contemporary Orthodoxy, has made a superb assessment of the history, development, and current and future situation of Orthodoxy in his relatively short but comprehensive 178-page book.'Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin, Ideals'Lucid and insightful overview... a wonderful guide to the change occurring in both directions and, ultimately, to the battle for the soul of Orthodox Judaism.'Steven Bayme, Director of Contemporary Jewish Life at AJC‘[The] data and demographical research [are] superbly synthesized by Chaim I. Waxman… By providing us with a clear, comprehensive picture of American Orthodoxy’s past and present, Chaim Waxman helps us understand what the future may look like – and what Orthodoxy must do to remain as vibrant then as it is now.’Daniel Ross Goodman, Public Discourse 'One of the most trenchant observers of the American Jewish scene, Professor Chaim I. Waxman, the distinguished sociologist, has written a wide-ranging, engaging and comprehensive analysis that examines changes in conduct as well as halachic behavior in Orthodox Judaism in America, from a social and psychological perspective... a valuable addition to anyone interested in understanding the past, present, and future directions of Orthodox Judaism in America.’ Alan Rosenbaum, Jerusalem Post ‘Chaim Waxman, one of the most renown and astute observers of the Jewish community, has written an excellent work on the social changes and halachic evolution of the American Orthodox community.’ David Tesler, Association of Jewish Libraries'This is a valuable book, and anyone interested in American Jewish studies and halakhic development will gain much from Waxman’s analysis... I highly recommend it.'Marc. B. Shapiro, American Jewish History'Veteran observers will find Waxman’s formulations enlightening and convincing while newcomers to the field will find his descriptions fascinating. This is a wise book that is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand an important American Jewish religious movement.'Shaul Stampfer, Religious Studies Review'A significant and enlightening work... Contrary to popular belief, Waxman found that American Modern Orthodoxy is hardly unchanging.'Alex Grobman, Jewish Link'Students of all varieties of Judaism in the modern world as well as Orthodox Judaism in America are surely indebted to Waxman for Social Change and Halakhic Evolution in American Orthodoxy. It will enrich the understanding of all who study religious traditionalism in the contemporary setting.'David Ellenson, AJS ReviewTable of ContentsNote on TransliterationIntroduction1. Group Size, Social Class, Religion, and Politics2. The Contemporary Orthodox Jewish Family in America3. It’s Kosher to be Orthodox in America4. American Orthodoxy Adopts Stringency5. Tensions within Modern Orthodoxy6. Halakhic Change and Meta-Halakhah7. Revival of the BibleConclusionBibliographyIndex

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Book SynopsisThe essays in this volume reflect the author’s lifelong interest in the history of halakhah. What stimulated change, and why? What happened when strong forces impinged on halakhic observance and communities had to adapt to new circumstances? The volume opens with a brief description of the dramatis personae who figure throughout the essays: Rashi and the Tosafists. Further essays discuss halakhic commentaries and their authors; usury, moneylending, and pawnbroking; Gentile wine; and the self-image of the Ashkenazic community. Throughout, Haym Soloveitchik shows that the line between adaptation and deviance is a fine one, and that where a society draws that line is revelatory of its values and its self-perception. Many of the essays presented here are already well known in the field; two are completely new. Most of those previously published have been updated, and the major essay on pawnbroking has been significantly expanded.Trade Review‘In our generation the premier practitioner of history of, and through, halacha is Haym Soloveitchik . . . in addition to his many other merits, [he] is an elegant stylist . . . Part of the pleasure of reading him is that there is more learning and illumination to be found in his remarks dropped along the way than in the pages of a lesser scholar . . . profound, poignant essays.’ David Wolpe, Tablet MagazineTable of ContentsPart I. Overview of the Tosafist Movement1. The Printed Page of the Talmud: The Commentaries and their Authors2. Catastrophe and Creativity: Ashkenaz—1096, 1242, 1306, and 12983. The Halakhic Isolation of the Ashkenazic Community Part II. Usury and Moneylending4. Usury, Jewish Law5. The Jewish Attitude to Usury in the High and Late Middle Ages (1000–1500)6. Pawnbroking: A Study in Ribbit and of the Halakhah in Exile Part III. The Ban on Gentile Wine and its Link to Moneylending7. Can Halakhic Texts Talk History?8. Halakhah, Taboo, and the Origin of Jewish Moneylending in Germany Part IV. Some General Conclusions9. Religious Law and Change: The Medieval Ashkenazic Example10. ‘Religious Law and Change’ Revisited11. A Note on Deviance in Eleventh-Century Ashkenaz12. On Deviance: A Reply to David Malkiel Review Essay. Yishaq (Eric) Zimmer, ’Olam ke-Minhago Noheg Bibliography of ManuscriptsIndexes

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Book SynopsisIn this second volume of his essays on the history of halakhah, Haym Soloveitchik grapples with much-disputed topics in medieval Jewish history and takes issue with a number of reigning views. His insistence that proper understanding requires substantive, in-depth analysis of the sources leads him to a searching analysis of oft-cited halakhic texts of Ashkenaz, frequently with conclusions that differ from the current consensus. Medieval Jewish historians cannot, he argues, avoid engaging in detailed textual criticism, and texts must always be interpreted in the context of the legal culture of their time. Historians who shirk these tasks risk reinforcing a version that supports their own preconceptions, and retrojecting later notions on to an earlier age. These basic methodological points underlie every topic discussed. In Part I, devoted to the cultural origins of Ashkenaz and its lasting impact, Professor Soloveitchik questions the scholarly consensus that the roots of Ashkenaz lie deep in Palestinian soil. He challenges the widespread notion that it was immemorial custom (minhag kadmon) that primarily governed Early Ashkenaz, the culture that emerged in the Rhineland in the late tenth century and which was ended by the ravages of the First Crusade (1096). He similarly rejects the theory that it was only towards the middle of the eleventh century that the Babylonian Talmud came to be regarded as fully authoritative. On the basis of an in-depth analysis of the literature of the time, he shows that the scholars of Early Ashkenaz displayed an astonishing command of the complex corpus of the Babylonian Talmud and viewed it at all times as the touchstone of the permissible and the forbidden. The section concludes with his own radical proposal as to the source of Ashkenazi culture and the stamp it left upon the Jews of northern Europe for close to a millennium. The second part of the volume treats the issue of martyrdom as perceived and practised by Jews under Islam and Christianity. In one of the longer essays, Soloveitchik claims that Maimonides’ problematic Iggeret ha-Shemad is a work of rhetoric, not halakhah—a conclusion that has generated much criticism from other scholars, to whom he replies one by one. This is followed by a comprehensive study of kiddush ha-shem in Ashkenaz, which draws him into an analysis of whether aggadic sources were used by the Tosafists in halakhic arguments, as some historians claim; whether there was any halakhic validation of the widespread phenomenon of voluntary martyrdom; and, indeed, whether halakhic considerations played any part in such tragic life-and-death issues. The book concludes with two essays on Mishneh torah which argue that that famed code must also be viewed as a work of art which sustains, as masterpieces do, multiple conflicting interpretations.Trade ReviewReviews ‘Reading Soloveitchik is always a delight as his careful writing, perceptive insights, and vast scholarship and erudition can be found on every page.’ David Tesler, Association of Jewish Libraries Reviews‘A very important work, especially since nine of the essays have never before appeared in print . . . There is so much learning in this book, and it is written in such an engaging style, that anyone with an appreciation for the history of halakhah will be spellbound.’ Marc B. Shapiro, Seforim blogTable of ContentsPart I. Re-evaluation of Eleventh-Century AshkenazIntroduction1. Agobard of Lyons, Megillat Aḥima’ats, and the Babylonian Orientation of Early Ashkenaz2. Dialectics, Scholasticism, and the Origin of the Tosafot3. Minhag Ashkenaz ha-Kadmon: An Assessment4. The Authority of the Babylonian Talmud and the Use of Biblical Verses and Aggadah in Early Ashkenaz5. On the Use of Aggadah by the Tosafists: A Response to I. M. Ta-Shma6. Characterizing Medieval Talmudists: A Case Study7. Communications and the Palestinian Origins of Ashkenaz8. The Palestinian Orientation of the Ashkenazic Community and Some Suggested Ground Rules for the Writing of Halakhic History9. The ‘Third Yeshivah of Bavel’ and the Cultural Origins of Ashkenaz—A ProposalA Response to David BergerPart II. Martyrdom Under Cross and CrescentIntroduction10. Between Cross and Crescent11. Halakhah, Hermeneutics, and Martyrdom in Ashkenaz12. Maimonides’ Iggeret ha-Shemad: Law and Rhetoric13. Responses to Critiques of ‘Maimonides’ Iggeret ha-Shemad: Law and Rhetoric’ Part III. Mishneh Torah14. Classification of Mishneh Torah: Problems Real and Imaginary15. Mishneh Torah: Polemic and ArtBibliography of ManuscriptsIndexes

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Book SynopsisThe two decades since the last authoritative general history of Dutch Jews was published have seen such substantial developments in historical understanding that new assessment has become an imperative. This volume offers an indispensable survey from a contemporary viewpoint that reflects the new preoccupations of European historiography and allows the history of Dutch Jewry to be more integrated with that of other European Jewish histories. Historians from both older and newer generations shed significant light on all eras, providing fresh detail that reflects changed emphases and perspectives. In addition to such traditional subjects as the Jewish community’s relationship with the wider society and its internal structure, its leaders, and its international affiliations, new topics explored include the socio-economic aspects of Dutch Jewish life seen in the context of the integration of minorities more widely; a reassessment of the Holocaust years and consideration of the place of Holocaust memorialization in community life; and the impact of multiculturalist currents on Jews and Jewish politics. Memory studies, diaspora studies, postcolonial studies, and digital humanities all play their part in providing the fullest possible picture. This wide-ranging scholarship is complemented by a generous plate section with eighty fully captioned colour illustrations.Trade ReviewReviews‘This volume features new research and, more importantly, new historiographic perspectives about how to write the history of the Jews in Europe. Because it is very sensitive to issues with which historians of other Jewish communities grapple - for example, the place of Holocaust memorialization in community life, the impact of multicultural politics, Israel and Zionism - it has the potential to move the history of Dutch Jewry into closer conversation with other European Jewish histories.’ Todd Endelman, Professor Emeritus of History and Judaic Studies, University of Michigan 'Two decades have passed since the last history of the Jews of the Netherlands was published, and the editors of the present volume have taken great care to ensure that the main points of the substantial amount of new research on the history and culture of Dutch Jewry have been incorporated.'Jonathan I. Israel, Emeritus Professor of European History, Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton'This welcome new volume positions the history of the Jews of the Netherlands squarely in the contemporary historiographical landscape. It is persuasive as to how and why it has something to say to the broader field, and why it should be seen as an integral part of that field.'David Rechter, Professor of Modern Jewish History, University of Oxford‘This new overview of Dutch Jewish history reflects changes and turns in historical approaches as well as the growth of research on multiple aspects of Dutch Jewish history… This rich book will undoubtedly remain the most authoritative textbook on the history of Dutch Jewry for many years to come. It is wholeheartedly recommended.’ Dan Michman, Canadian Journal of Netherlandic Studies‘Reappraising the History of the Jews in the Netherlands is a substantially balanced and nuanced book. It carefully places the history of Dutch Jewry in a general Dutch and international Jewish context, demonstrating that Jewish identity, and belonging, are never fixed, but fluid, constantly evolving. Everyone interested in or studying Dutch Jewish history should consider this book a starting point.’ Sietske van der Veen, Journal of Modern Jewish StudiesTable of ContentsList of illustrationsEditorial noteList of abbreviationsIntroduction IVO SCHÖFFER1. The Middle Ages B. M. J. SPEETFirst Signs of a Jewish PresenceThe Northern Netherlands Violent Persecution Gelderland in the Fifteenth Century Discrimination and Expulsion The Christian Origins of Antisemitism Fresh Accusations In Search of an Explanation2. Between the Middle Ages and the Golden Age, 1516–1621 DANIEL M. SWETSCHINSKIJews in the Holy Roman Empire The Iberian Background Portuguese New Christians in Antwerp The Attitude of Humanists and Reformers to Jews and Judaism The Toleration Debate and the Jews Portuguese New Christians in Holland Four Christian Views of Jews The Growth of the Sephardi Colony in Amsterdam The Future Still Uncertain3. The Republic of the United Netherlands until about 1750: Demography and Economic Activity JONATHAN I. ISRAELThe Early Decades, 1595–1648 Expansion and Colonization The Burgeoning of Commerce and of the Credit System, 1648–1713 Growing Population Figures During the Period of Economic Decline, 1713–17504. The Jews in the Republic until about 1750: Religious, Cultural, and Social Life YOSEF KAPLANThe Organization of the Community Three Congregations The Influx of Paupers The Power of the Mahamad New Synagogues Sephardim and Ashkenazim outside Amsterdam Religious Life: Tradition and Change A Good Education Ashkenazi Life Jewish Printers in Amsterdam The Shabbatean Movement in Amsterdam Influential Rabbis Culture and Secular Creativity Literature and the Stage Everyday Life Ideological Conflicts Relations between Jews and Christians Jewish Stereotypes5. Enlightenment and Emancipation, c.1750–1814 RENATE G. FUKS-MANSFELDGood Citizens Demographic Changes and Emigration Economic Changes The Administration of the Jewish Communities Administrative Changes after 1796 Religious and Cultural Life6. Arduous Adaptation, 1814–1870 RENATE G. FUKS-MANSFELDThe Government and the Jews Education The Reorganization of the Jewish Communities after 1848 The Government and Jews under Threat Abroad Dutch Jews as Citizens Economic and Social Changes The Attitude of Protestants and Catholics towards Jews Cultural and Religious Trends Reactions to the New Jewish Fellow-Citizens7. Jewish Netherlanders, Netherlands Jews, and Jews in the Netherlands, 1870–1940 J. C. H. BLOM and JOEL J. CAHENDemography Occupations, Economic Role, and Poverty Religious Life, (Sub)culture, and Pillarization Assimilation, Integration, and Antisemitism Solidarity with International Jewry and Zionism Refugees from Germany Jews in the Dutch Colonies Jew and Netherlander8. The War, 1940-1945 PETER ROMIJNThe German Invasion • Registration Segregation New Regulations Outlaws Deportations and the Yellow Star Forced Removal and Labour Camps Organization and Selection Flight, Going into Hiding, and Resistance The Transit Camps Deportation and Murder Conclusion9. After the Second World War: From Religious Community to Cultural Minority F. CHAYA BRASZThe First Few Months The Jewish Co-ordination Committee Antisemitism Religious Congregations Migration The Struggle for the Jewish War Orphans The Purges Jews in Modern Dutch Society after 1950 Numbers and Distribution A Cultural Minority Religious Developments The Colonies Jews and Christians Zionism Middle East Policy The Holocaust EpilogueBibliographical essaysBibliographyNotes on contributorsIndex of namesGeneral Index

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Book SynopsisThis timely Encyclopedia is a much-needed thorough reference on Islamic insurance policy and the ways in which this can be modelled to cohere with Shari'ah law. The authors explore the ways in which Islamic insurance can be halal, contradicting the widely held belief that insurance policies are not appropriate or moral, utilizing evidence from both the Qu'ran and top Islamic scholars to do so. The book explores Takaful, an insurance paradigm that is in accordance with Islamic principles and suits the needs of modern Islamic economies and communities. It examines the practices, principles, framework and importance of the notion of Takaful, using evidence from the Qu'ran and Islamic teachings to support this. Chapters examine how Takaful is different to conventional insurance models that are not permissible under Shari'ah law, contradicting misconceptions about the possibility of an insurance policy that is achievable within Islamic communities. The book further explores the room for cooperation between Takaful services and Islamic banking, offering insight into how this can be improved in the future. A valuable asset for Islamic insurance and Islamic economics scholars, this timely book offers a thorough analysis of Takaful, Retakaful and Islamic insurance in our modern world. It will also be a useful read for those practising Takaful to ensure that their advice coheres with Shari'ah law.Trade Review‘This volume is a good reference for those new to the field and a good guide for the pure qualitative and Islamic aspects of Takaful.’ -- Faizal Ahmad Manjoo, The Muslim World Book ReviewTable of ContentsContents: Preface Foreword Introduction Bibliography 1. A general introduction to Takaful 2. Understanding the pillars of Takaful 3. Regulatory framework of Takaful 4. Takaful and conventional insurance – A comparison 5. Practices of Takaful 6. Retakaful and its importance to Islamic Finance 7. Contemporary issues in Takaful implementation Index

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Book SynopsisThis book explores and analyses economic development within Islamic Moral Economy (IME), which is proposed as an alternative economic and social system to capitalism and socialism. It presents a new model of Islamic development based on the substantive morality of Islam via micro dynamics expressed through an Islamic framework of spiritual development. Shafiullah Jan and Mehmet Asutay argue that the observed development failures of Muslim countries to provide basic necessities and an environment free of oppression and injustice can be overcome with an authentic Islamic development framework and its corresponding value system explored in the book, rather than the existing Eurocentric theory and policy making. In addition, it identifies the theological, political, social and economic boundaries for changing society to produce IME oriented development. Utilising a novel approach to development in Islam, through its substantive ethical and moral framework, the authors critically examine and evaluate the progress of Islamic banking and finance institutions in relation to its aspirations as identified by IME. Advanced Islamic economics and finance scholars will find this a useful source as it explores the intersection between Islamic development and the moral economy. The book will also be a valuable reference for those seeking to align public policies with ethical and moral Islamic frameworks.Trade Review'Though some commentators may say Islam is inimical to development, even Western economists are now becoming convinced that Islam is a positive force for development. The authors have made an important addition to the literature on this contested topic. They demonstrate how the concept of moral economy can become a new paradigm that the world has been looking for since the 2008 global economic crisis.' --M. Fahim Khan, Markfield Institute of Higher Education, UKTable of ContentsContents: Introduction 2. Critical Reflections On The Development In The Muslim World 3. Islamic Moral Economy And Development 4. Justice And Development Within Islamic Paradigm 5. A Critical Evaluation Of The Social And Economic Development Performance Of Islamic Banks 6. Conceptualising The Islamic Development Process 7. Conclusion Index

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Book SynopsisThis book is a novel and ambitious attempt to map the Muslim American nonprofit sector: its origins, growth and impact on American society. Using theories from the fields of philanthropy, public administration and data gathered from surveys and interviews, the authors make a compelling case for the Muslim American nonprofit sector's key role in America. They argue that in a time when Islamic schools are grossly misunderstood, there is a need to examine them closely, for the landscape of these schools is far more complex than meets the eye. The authors, who are both scholars of philanthropy, examine how identity impacts philanthropy and also the various forces that have shaped the landscape of Muslim American giving in the US. Using a comparative method of analysis, they showcase how this sector has contributed not only to individual communities but also to the country as a whole. National surveys and historical analysis offer data that is rich in insights and offers a compelling narrative of the sector as a whole through its focus on Islamic schools. The authors also critically examine how nonprofit leaders in the community legitimize their own roles and that of their organizations, and offer a compelling and insightful examination of how Muslim American leaders perceive their own role in institution building.This is a must read for anyone seeking to understand this important and growing sector of American society, including nonprofit leaders in the Muslim community, leaders of Islamic schools, nonprofit leaders with interest in private schools, activists, and scholars who study philanthropy and Islamic education.Trade Review'This book by Khan and Siddiqui offers an incredibly insightful look into the formation and workings of Islamic schools in the US as nonprofit organizations. As scholars, they offer both a historical and contemporary analysis of these institutions, with a focus on their transformation and quest for legitimacy, as American religious and educational nonprofits. While there are studies that look at the evolution of religious institutions or educational institutions, this is the first book of its kind that brings both these facets together and offers us a compelling nonprofit narrative, based on empirical research, drawn from a nationally representative sample. A much needed contribution to the literature, this book will be useful not only to scholars studying nonprofit organizations, philanthropy, and education; but also those who are seeking to better understand the evolving roles and changing landscape of Muslim American institutions.' --Chao Guo, University of Pennsylvania, US'Khan and Siddiqui offer an invaluable resource for anyone interested in the intersections of religion, philanthropy, and the nonprofit sector in America. With a depth of analysis focused on the network of Islamic schools in the US, their work also provides a welcome addition to a developing scholarship on Muslim-American philanthropy. Khan and Siddiqui demonstrate they are two of the leading experts in this burgeoning conversation.' --David P. King, Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis, US'Islamic philanthropy and Islamic schools are both grossly misunderstood in the American context. This new book by Sabith Khan and Shariq Siddiqui offers a fresh perspective of Islamic institutions, based on an extensive survey data and indepth interviews. It seeks to dispel many of the myths surrounding Islamic education and uses an institutional analysis framework to understand how Muslim communities have worked to build institutions that have supported their culture and values.' --Reza Aslan, author of god: The Human Quest to Make Sense of the DivineTable of ContentsContents: 1. Introduction 2. Islamic Philanthropy as a discursive tradition 3. Muslim Philanthropy and Nonprofit Institutions in America 4. Identification and American Muslim philanthropy 5. Philanthropy, Institution Building and Legitimacy in Islamic Schools in America 6. Interlocutors of tradition or signposts of the future of Islam in America? : Islamic Schools in the US 7. Conclusion: prospects for future growth and development Index

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Book SynopsisValues-rich journeys can be described as pilgrimage, spiritual travel, personal heritage tourism, holistic tourism, and valuistic journeys. There are many motivations for undertaking these journeys; the most important being personal values, life experience, personal and social identity, lifestyle, social and cultural influence. This book presents contributions that address pilgrim motivation, identity and values as they are shaped by the broader sociological, psychological, cultural and environmental perspectives. The focus of the book is the travellers themselves and their inner world through the lens of their pilgrimage. The research presented focuses on the typology of pilgrim journeys as ways in which identity and values are presented to a post-modern consumer society, providing interesting and challenging perspectives on the identity of pilgrims in the 21st century. The book: - Provides a framework for understanding the impact of values and identity on the motivation and behaviour of contemporary pilgrims. - Presents a comprehensive review of the latest research, a collection of case studies and models of practical applications. - Discusses the perceptions of tourism and pilgrimage in the age of value transformations and identity challenges.Table of Contents1: Introduction: Motivation of The Pilgrimage Journey Part I: Uncovering the Identity of Pilgrims 2: Expression of Identities in Pilgrim Journeys 3: The Connection Between Liminal Places and Hospitality in Manifesting Pilgrim Values and Identity 4: Changes in Motivations for Journeys to Death Spaces: The Case of Thanatourism 5: Pilgrims as Strangers Part II: On the Way to Santiago De Compostela 6: The Timeline of the Way of St. James. Motivations and Impacts of the Pilgrimage on Personal Lives 7: The Multiple Views on the Values and Identity of the Pilgrimage to Santiago 8: Commensality, Communitas, and Contestation on the Camino Frances: Making Pilgrims Through Meals 9: Identity, Social Practices and Values of The Pilgrims in The Portuguese Inner Way to Santiago De Compostela Part III: Pilgrims Values and Identities in Different Regions 10: Pilgrimage and Tourism in Japan: Shift in Values and Motivation 11: New Narratives in Valuistic Travel and Identity: Goshuin Culture and Religious Mobility in Contemporary Japan 12: Contemporary Perspectives of Hindu Pilgrimage in India: The Experiential Exposition 13: Modern Full-Sensory Experiences and Pilgrimage Fulfilment in Malta’s Ancient Temples 14: New Forms of Pilgrimage: World Youth Day Rio 2013. 15: Pilgrimage Traditions to Sacred Sites of Modern Central Asia 16: Pilgrimage Tourism to Palestine: The ‘Come and See’ Initiative in Palestine 17: Tourists vs Pilgrims: Dichotomy of Visits to Auschwitz Birkenau 18: Tracking to a Pilgrim’s Beat: Insights from a Sabbatical Journey Part IV: Looking to The Future 19: Contemporary Perspectives of Pilgrimage 20: Conclusions. Pilgrimage During and After Pandemic Crisis

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Book SynopsisEach of the three volumes of this magisterial work provides a comprehensive picture of the realities of Jewish life in the Polish lands in the period it covers, while also considering the contemporary political, economic, and social context. Volume I: 1350 to 1881 provides a wide-ranging overview down to the mid-eighteenth century, including social, economic, and religious history. The period from 1764 to 1881 is covered in more detail, with attention focused on developments in each country in turn, especially with regard to the politics of emancipation, acculturation, assimilation, and forced integration. Volume II: 1881 to 1914 explores the factors that had a negative impact on Jewish life as well as the political and cultural movements that developed in consequence: Zionism, socialism, autonomism, the emergence of modern Hebrew and Yiddish literature, Jewish urbanization, and the rise of popular Jewish culture. Galicia, Prussian Poland, the Kingdom of Poland, and the tsarist empire are all treated individually, as are the main cities. Volume III: 1914 to 2008 covers the interwar period, the Second World War, and the Holocaust, including Polish–Jewish relations and the Soviet record on the Holocaust. A survey of developments since 1945 concludes with an epilogue on the situation of the Jews since the collapse of communismTrade Review‘An invaluable research resource with maps, tables, endnotes, statistics, glossary, and bibliography. It also delivers a compelling picture and credible picture of how Jews responded to dramatic change . . . does well to focus on women, whom previous histories often ignore.’- Lawrence Joffe, Jewish Chronicle‘Remarkable for its scale and ambition . . . Polonsky manages to combine great themes with fascinating detail . . . [he] has read widely in numerous languages. The erudition is impressive . . . extremely judicious in negotiating a number of notorious historiographical minefields . . . makes important distinctions between different countries in eastern Europe and consequently the different experience of the Jews . . . a magnificent, scholarly work, clearly written, with a magisterial overview of its subject.’- David Herman, Jewish Renaissance'Polonsky's sweeping study offers an illuminating, accessible view of Jewish life in eastern Euope since the end of World War II. In elegant prose, the author engages major historiographical issues while analyzing important cultural, religious, social, and political trends among eastern European Jewry. He carefully frames each section with a chapter-long overview of the relevant historical context for the following chapters . . . Throughout, Polonsky masterfully navigates the different realms of a turbulent eastern European Jewish world, conveying both the richness of its history and the tragedy of its destruction. Highly recommended.'J. Haus, Choice 'Exemplary and formidable . . . Polonsky, as much as anyone else, has created the field of modern Jewish history as a subject to be considered and understood rather than simply a tragic past to be mourned. He is too good a historian to confuse the history of Jewish life with the German policies that brought Jewish death . . . The barely visible commitment in these three wonderful volumes is to rescue a world from polemic, for the sake of history.'Timothy Snyder, Wall Street Journal 'Succeeds admirably. Simply put, these volumes are required reading for anyone with a serious interest in East European history or for anyone looking for a scholarly assessment of a particular feature of Polish or Russian Jewish history. Handsomely produced, with extensive maps and tables, and a glossary . . . will remain a standard work in the field for some time.'Sean Martin, European History QuarterlyTable of ContentsGeneral Introduction I The Polish-Lithuanian Background Introduction 1 Jews and Christians in early modern Poland-Lithuania 2 Jewish Autonomous Institutions 3 Jewish Places: Royal Towns and Noble Towns 4 Jews in Economic Life 5 Religious and Spiritual Life II Governmental Attempts to Transform and Integrate the Jews and the Jewish Response, 1750-1880 Introduction 1 The Last Years of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth 2 The Jews in the Prussian Partition of Poland 3 The Jews in Austrian Poland (Galicia) down to the mid-1870s 4 The Jews in the Kingdom of Poland, 1815-1881 5 The Jews in the Tsarist Empire, 1772-1825 6 Nicholas I and the Jews of Russia, 1825-1855 7 The Reign of Alexander II, 1855-1881 III The Deterioration of the Position of the Jews and the New Jewish Politics, 1881-1914 Introduction 1 The Deterioration of the Position of the Jews in the Tsarist Empire after 1881 2 The Revolution of 1905-7 in the Tsarist Empire and its Consequences 3 The Kingdom of Poland, 1881-1914 4 Galicia in the Second Half of the Nineteenth Century 5 Prussian Poland from 1869 to 1914 6 The Emergence of Modern Jewish Literature in the Tsarist Empire and Galicia 7 Jewish Religious Life in the Nineteenth Century 8 Jewish Spaces: Shetlakh and Towns in the Nineteenth Century 9 Women in Jewish Eastern Europe 10 The Rise of Jewish Mass Culture: Literature, Press, Theatre IV War, Revolution, and Totalitarianism, 1914-1939 Introduction 1 The Impact of the First World War on Jewish Life in Eastern Europe 2 The Jews in Polish Political and Social Life 3 Jewish Life in the Towns and Shtetlakh of Interwar Poland 4 Jewish Cultural and Intellectual Life in Independent Poland 5 Religious Life in Interwar Poland 6 Jews in Interwar Lithuania 7 Jews in Soviet Russia and the Soviet Union, 1921-1941 8 Jews in Towns and Shtetlakh in the USSR 9 Jewish Culture in the Soviet Union down to 1941 V The Twilight of Jewish Eastern Europe, 1939 to the present day Introduction 1 Jews under Nazi and Soviet Occupation, September 1939 - June 1941 2 The Nazi Holocaust in Eastern Europe 3 Jews in Poland, 1944-1989 4 Jews in the Soviet Union, 1944-1991 5 Jews in Poland since the end of communism 6 Jews in Lithuania, Ukraine and Belarus since 1991

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Book SynopsisFinalist for National Jewish Book Award for Writing Based on Archival Material 2022. Jewish political and cultural behaviour during the first half of the twentieth century comes to the fore in this portrayal of a forgotten movement with contemporary relevance. Commencing with the Zionist rejection of the Uganda proposal in 1905, the Jewish Territorialist Movement searched for areas outside Palestine in which to create settlements of Jews. This study analyses the Territorialists’ ideology and activities in the Jewish context of the time, but their thought and discourse also reflect geopolitical concerns that still have resonance today in debates about colonialist attitudes to peoplehood, territory, and space. As the colonial world order rapidly changed after 1945, the Territorialists did not abandon their aspirations in overseas lands. Instead, in their attempts to find settlement solutions for Europe’s ‘surplus’ Jews, they moved from negotiating predominantly with the European colonizers to negotiating also with the ever more powerful non-Western leaders of decolonizing nations. This book reconstructs the rich history of the activities and changing ideologies of Jewish Territorialism, represented by Israel Zangwill’s Jewish Territorial Organisation (the ITO) and, later, by the Freeland League for Jewish Colonization under the leadership of Isaac Steinberg. Via Uganda, Angola, Madagascar, Australia, and Suriname, this story eventually leads us to questions about yidishkeyt, and to forgotten early twentieth-century ideas of how to be Jewish.Trade Review"Beyond Zion...shows that Jewish politics in the pre-War and immediate post-War years were more complex and diverse than we might think."Simon Rocker, The Jewish ChronicleTable of ContentsIntroduction1. Israel Zangwill and the Jewish Territorial Organization 2. Recovering Atlantis: The Freeland League and Jewish Politics3. Freeland versus Zion4. Fitting the Zeitgeist: Territorialism and GeopoliticsConclusionBibliographyIndex

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Book SynopsisThis volume focuses on the migration and acculturation of images in Jewish culture and how that reflects intercultural exchange. Gender aspects of Jewish art are also highlighted, as is the role of images in interreligious encounters. Other topics covered include the history, codicology, and iconography of a Haggadah produced in the late fifteenth century.

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Book SynopsisTen Myths about the Jews analyzes the complex facets of anti-Semitism and anti-Judaism in an accessible and easy-to-read format. Based on wide research, Brazilian historian Maria Luiza Tucci Carneiro examines different manifestations against Jews and their faith through history and political culture along the centuries. Ten omnipresent accusations were configured by anti-Semites in axioms that became myths: Myth 1: The Jews killed Christ. Myth 2: The Jews are a secret entity. Myth 3: The Jews control the world economy. Myth 4: There are no poor Jews. Myth 5: The Jews are greedy. Myth 6: The Jews have no homeland. Myth 7: The Jews are racists. Myth 8: The Jews are parasites. Myth 9: The Jews control the media. Myth 10: The Jews manipulate the United States. Tucci Carneiro unmasks the roots of anti-Semitism and exposes contemporary prejudices. Her book is an invitation to reflect upon current realities marked by racism and shows how the main myths about the Jews have been vested of a verisimilitude that has persisted for the last 2000 years, all over the world, by means of hatred of the other, political/religious opportunism and economic deceit. The myths are kept alive by means of constant repetition and re-elaboration of a particular narrative, invariably seductive. The author proves each of the ten myths in terms of their historical record, their origins and purposes. Even though Jews are fully integrated into western society in multiple ways (entrepreneurship, medicine, literature, philosophy, the arts), racist myths against the community have been particularly resilient; they attempt to override common sense and their continuous circulation and rehashing through scapegoating and caricature has had profound negative repercussions for society as a whole. Ten Myths, now published in five languages, is an essential tool in the struggle against the discourse of racist hatred.

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Book SynopsisThis book tells the little-known story of a fascinating crypto-Jewish community through two centuries and three continents. Beginning as a precarious settlement of a few families in mid-18th-century Mashhad, an Islamic holy city in northern Iran, the community grew into a closely-knit group in response to their forced conversion to Islam in 1839. Muslim hostility and a culture of memory sustained by intra-communal marriages reinforced their separate religious identity, vesting it in strong family and communal loyalty. Mashhadi women became the main agents of the cultural transmission of communal identity and achieved social roles and high status uncharacteristic for contemporary Jewish and Muslim communities. The Mashhadis maintained a double identity, upholding Islam in public while tenaciously holding onto their Jewish identity in secret. The exodus from Mashhad after 1946 relocated the communal center to Tehran, later to Israel, and, after the Khomeini revolution, to New York. The relationship between the formation and retention of communal identity and memory practices - with interconnected issues of religion and gender - draws upon existing research on other crypto-faith communities, such as the Judeoconversos, the Moriscos, and the French Protestants, who, through the special blend of memory-faith and ethnicity, emerged strengthened from their underground period. For the immigration period, the author challenges the old paradigm that "modernity and religion are mutually exclusive." The book also explores the sometimes uncomfortable yet intimate relationships that exist between seemingly incompatible ways of seeing the past, both secular and religious.Trade Review“Hilda Nissimi’s book is a valuable and worthy contribution to what is gradually emerging as a new and much needed phase in Judeo-Persian studies brought about by a new generation of scholars who are expanding on the work of previous archeologists, historians, and anthropologists to shed light on previously overlooked nuances of what it meant, and indeed of what it means, to be an Iranian Jew.” —From the Foreword by Houman Sarshar, editor of Esther's Children: A Portrait of Iranian Jews“In 1839, the Jews of Mashhad in Northern Iran were forcibly converted by their Muslim neighbors. Like the Marranos, they continued to observe Jewish practices in secret. Members of the community can now be found in Israel, the United States, England and elsewhere. Of special interest are the features of an underground community. There was much intermarriage within the community. Women played a very special role in the maintenance of tradition. When the Mashhadis left Iran and returned to the open practice of Judaism they tended to build their own synagogues, similar to the Landsmannschaft of the emigrants from East Europe. The importance of this book is that it treats a topic of which the average reader knows nothing.” —AJL Newsletter

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Book SynopsisSpain is no longer exclusively identified with Catholicism. This book sets out to understand the social dynamics of twenty-first century Spain through the perspective of religion and religious pluralism. Divided into three parts, Part I, Secularization in Spain, frames the analysis of this secularization process throughout the twentieth century and beyond, with particular attention to the process during the Second Republic and the quiet secularization of society that began under Franco's regime. Part II, Religious Change in Spain, establishes the broad framework of the process, addressing the changes that have taken place within Catholicism and the reaction of the Protestant minority as social mores became increasingly fast moving. Part III, Islam in Spain, addresses both its history (including colonial management) and current dynamics (how Islam is viewed by other religions; the impact of the March 11, 2004, attacks; and Islamophobic discourse). Religious Landscapes in Contemporary Spain is essential reading for scholars and students in History and Contemporary Affairs.Trade Review‘As the title suggests, this collection offers an essential panoramic of the religious landscapes of Spain as a result of secularization from National Catholicism. Its interdisciplinary contributors provide both historical context for these changes and resources for further reading… this volume on the rootedness of religious pluralism in Spanish identity requires our attention.’ Maria R. Rippon, Hispania

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Book SynopsisModern states increasingly seek to regulate religious expression, practice and discourse. This is profoundly evident at many levels of Islamic policy interaction: from debates about the banning of the Muslim face-veil in Europe to civic re-education programmes for Muslim citizens in China. Governance of Islam in Pakistan provides a systematic account of how interactions between multiple public and private bodies direct the regulation and standardisation of Islam in one of the largest Muslim-majority states in the world. Analysis centres on the institutional development of the Council of Islamic Ideology, a constitutional body tasked with issuing advice to the executive and legislature about the compatibility of laws with Islamic principles. Based on archival material that has been subject to little scholarly attention, and interviews with Council members and staff of other state bodies, Sarah Holz proposes governance as an analytical framework to study the negotiation of religious expression, practice and discourse. In contrast to the established Islamisation narrative which generally labels such religious institutions as mere rubberstamps in the process of policy-making, the study of governance offers an alternative approach that enables examination of the dynamic competition and cooperation among multiple actors. Through collective interaction the Council and other relevant bodies are active players in the governance of Islam. Insights gained from analysis of the ideational, structural and functional evolution of the Council offers a Global South perspective on liberal democratic ideas about the functionality of the modern state and its institutional structure. Issues of economic, cultural and local/international political influence bear strongly in governance analysis. Engagement with the governance policy tool has applicability across the social sciences, but is particularly relevant for South Asian/Near and Middle East Studies.

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Book SynopsisThe Database is a companion volume to The Plight of Jewish Deserted Wives, 18511900 (978-1-78976-168-9). It comprises circa 5000 entries, providing name, date and circumstance, with extensive cross-reference to aid future researchers. Agunot (Agunah, sing., meaning anchored in Hebrew) is a Jewish term describing women who cannot remarry because their husband has disappeared. According to Jewish law (Halacha) a woman can get out of the marriage only if the husband releases her by granting a divorce writ (Get), if he dies, or if his whereabouts is not known. Women whose husbands cannot be located, and who have not been granted a Get, are considered Agunot. The Agunah phenomenon was of major concern in East European Jewry and much referred to in Hebrew and Yiddish media and fiction. Most nineteenth-century Agunot cases came from Eastern Europe, where most Jews resided (twentieth-century Agunot were primarily in North America, and will be the subject of a forthcoming book). Seven variations of Agunot have been identified: Deserted wives; women who refused to receive, or were not granted, a Get; widowed women whose brothers-in-law refused to grant them permission to marry someone else (Halitza); women whose husbands remains were not found; improperly or incorrectly written Gets; women whose husbands became mentally ill and were not competent to grant a Get; women refused a Get by husbands who had converted to Christianity or Islam.

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Book SynopsisAgunot (Agunah, sing., meaning anchored in Hebrew) is a Jewish term describing women who cannot remarry because their husband has disappeared. According to Jewish law (Halacha) a woman can get out of the marriage only if the husband releases her by granting a divorce writ (Get), if he dies, or if his whereabouts is not known. Women whose husbands cannot be located, and who have not been granted a Get, are considered Agunot. The Agunah phenomenon was of major concern in East European Jewry and much referred to in Hebrew and Yiddish media and fiction. Most nineteenth-century Agunot cases came from Eastern Europe, where most Jews resided (twentieth-century Agunot were primarily in North America, and will be the subject of a forthcoming book). Seven variations of Agunot have been identified: Deserted wives; women who refused to receive, or were not granted, a Get; widowed women whose brothers-in-law refused to grant them permission to marry someone else (Halitza); women whose husbands remains were not found; improperly or incorrectly written Gets; women whose husbands became mentally ill and were not competent to grant a Get; women refused a Get by husbands who had converted to Christianity or Islam. The book explores the reasons for desertion and the plight of the left-alone wife. Key is the change from a legal issue to a social one, with changing attitudes to philanthropy and public opinion at the fore of explanation. A statistical database of circa 5000 identified Agunot is to be published simultaneously in a separate companion volume (978-1-78976-167-2).

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Book SynopsisIn Mozambique and Guinea, the Portuguese colonial administration had to deal with Muslim communities of significant population expression and whose internal cultural differentiations presented a complexity to which the administrative power was often unprepared. The exercise of this governance, with all the variations that characterized it, extended throughout the period that the colonial project lasted, from the phase of effective military occupation, in the transition from the nineteenth to the twentieth century, until the end of the colonial wars in 1974. In this chronological segment, Portuguese Colonialism and Islam seeks to address the circumstances of the colonial governance and regulation of those populations, focusing on: (1) The representations and images of Islam and Muslims that the agents of Portuguese colonialism produced at significant stages of the period, the recurrence of this imagery, its evolution, and the way it interacted with the concrete policies of control and governance of the populations. (2) The changes that such policies underwent, oscillating between a posture of ambivalent hostility, more visible in the 1930s to 1950s and more present in Mozambique than in Guinea, and a strategy of rapprochement with the Islamic leadership and their religious enticement, a strategy developed in the final phase of the Colonial War as part of the fight against nationalist movements. (3) The critical eye with which representatives of former colonial powers followed the Portuguese policies of governance of Islam, expressed in the testimonies of consuls-general of France and the United Kingdom, and documents conveying how diplomatic bodies perceived the Portuguese colonial system.

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Book SynopsisThis study sets out to explain and understand the worldview of students at Female madrasas (FeM) in Pakistan. Beginning as an indigenous informal institute for female education at home, FeM has evolved to country-wide formal theological seminaries that award women graduate degrees in Islamic studies. Since the 1970s, state intervention and social engagement have influenced not only the structure of FeMs but their locations. Attendance is from all socio-economic strata of society. A recent development, especially in urban centers, is the teaching of the state curriculum to enable young students to access mainstream education. Public opinion is divided about the role of FeMs in society. Some believe that FeMs confine women into the domestic realm; others view FeMs as a move forward into modernity, as they educate the least educated sectors of society. The author uses the lens of language and gender to explore why such divergent views exist about FeMs. Specifically, language and vocabulary has served as a powerful factor for restricting women to their traditional roles. Madrasas have a profound effect on Pakistani society at large, as they respond to the immediate socio-political and economic needs of the community. In the last two decades many books were produced about male madrasas in Pakistan. However, one focusing on women's madrasas exclusively was needed, because currently the number of female students enrolled in madrasas is higher than the male students. This unique book is rooted in the authors experience of studying at an FeM. She entered a madrasa with a yearning to be closer to God, to know the book revealed to the Prophet Muhammad, and to learn what he said and did. A constant throughout her studies was the recognition that acquiring knowledge is one of the highest acts of righteousness according to the Prophet Muhammad.

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Book SynopsisFew features have shaped east European Jewish history as much as the extent and continuity of Jewish self-rule. Offering a broad perspective, this volume explores the traditions, scope, limitations, and evolution of Jewish self-government in the Polish lands and beyond. Extensive autonomy and complex structures of civil and religious leadership were central features of the Jewish experience in this region, and this volume probes the emergence of such structures from the late medieval period onwards, looking at the legal position of the individual community and its role as a political actor. Chapters discuss the implementation of Jewish law and the role of the regional and national Jewish councils which were a remarkable feature of supra-communal representation in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.The volume reflects on the interaction between Jewish legal traditions and state policies, and offers an in-depth analysis of the transformation of Jewish self-government under the impact of the partitions of Poland–Lithuania and the administrative principles of the Enlightenment. Co-operation between representatives of the Jewish and non-Jewish communities at the local level is discussed down to the interwar years, when Jewish self-government was considered both a cherished legacy of pre-partition autonomy and a threat to the modern nation state.Table of ContentsIntroduction - François Guesnet and Antony Polonsky PART I. THE EARLY MODERN PERIOD AND THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY The Transfer of Tradition from West to East: The ‘Takkanot Shum’ between Ashkenaz and Poland in the Late Middle Ages and the Early Modern Period - Rainer Josef Barzen The Beginnings of Jewish Self-Government in Poland: An Entangled History - Jürgen Heyde The Emergence of Medinat Mehren: Establishing Jewish Supra-Communal Governance in Early Modern Moravia and Its Central European Contexts - Martin Borysek The Eastern European Pinkas Kahal: Form and Function - Adam Teller The Role of Legal Settlements in Developing Christian–Jewish Relations in Polish Towns and Cities - Hanna Węgrzynek Between the Council and the Town Hall: The Functioning of the Kahal in a New Town in the Seventeenth Century. The Case of Slutsk - Maria Cieśla Personal Composition of the Council of Four Lands, 1595–1764 - Judith Kalik The Activity of Jewish Self-Government Representatives at Sejmiki and the Sejm between the Sixteenth and Eighteenth Centuries - Anna Michalowska-Mycielska Permanent Crisis: The Decline of Territorial Jewish Self-Government in the Crown in the Seventeenth to Eighteenth Centuries - Adam Kaźmierczyk PART II. THE LONG NINETEENTH CENTURY Burying the Dead, Saving the Community: Jewish Burial Societies as Informal Centres of Jewish Self-Government - Cornelia Aust Did Jewish Self-Government Exist in the Kingdom of Poland between 1815 and 1915? - Artur Markowski ‘Masters of Their Own Offerings No More’: Jewish Perceptions of the Transformation of Jewish Self-Government in the Kingdom of Poland - François Guesnet Synagogues in the System of Jewish Self-Government in Tsarist Russia - Vladimir Levin Stewards of the City? Jews on Kraków City Council in the Second Half of the Nineteenth Century - Hannah Kozińska-Witt Polish–Jewish Relations in the Municipal Council of the City of Lwów during the Period of Galician Autonomy, 1870–1914 - Łukasz Sroka PART III. FROM 1914 TO THE SECOND WORLD WAR ‘One of Them’ as ‘One of Us’: Jewish Demands of National Autonomy as a Tool to Achieve Civic Equality during the First World War - Marcos Silber The Struggle in the Polish Parliament for Jewish Autonomy and Jewish Self-Government - Szymon Rudnicki Jewish Involvement in Local Kehillot, the Sejm, and Municipalities in Interwar Poland - Antony Polonsky The End of Jewish Self-Governance: ‘Jewish National Councils’ in Soviet Belarus in the Interwar Period - Andrej Zamoiskii PART IV. NEW VIEWS A Disenchanted Elijah: The First World War, Conspiracy Theories, and Allegory in S. An-sky’s Destruction of Galicia - Marc Caplan The ‘Patriotic Left’ and the ‘Jewish Question’ at the Dawn of the Second Republic - Paul Brykczyński

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Book SynopsisFew features have shaped east European Jewish history as much as the extent and continuity of Jewish self-rule. Offering a broad perspective, this volume explores the traditions, scope, limitations, and evolution of Jewish self-government in the Polish lands and beyond. Extensive autonomy and complex structures of civil and religious leadership were central features of the Jewish experience in this region, and this volume probes the emergence of such structures from the late medieval period onwards, looking at the legal position of the individual community and its role as a political actor. Chapters discuss the implementation of Jewish law and the role of the regional and national Jewish councils which were a remarkable feature of supra-communal representation in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.The volume reflects on the interaction between Jewish legal traditions and state policies, and offers an in-depth analysis of the transformation of Jewish self-government under the impact of the partitions of Poland–Lithuania and the administrative principles of the Enlightenment. Co-operation between representatives of the Jewish and non-Jewish communities at the local level is discussed down to the interwar years, when Jewish self-government was considered both a cherished legacy of pre-partition autonomy and a threat to the modern nation state.Table of ContentsIntroduction - François Guesnet and Antony Polonsky PART I. THE EARLY MODERN PERIOD AND THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY The Transfer of Tradition from West to East: The ‘Takkanot Shum’ between Ashkenaz and Poland in the Late Middle Ages and the Early Modern Period - Rainer Josef Barzen The Beginnings of Jewish Self-Government in Poland: An Entangled History - Jürgen Heyde The Emergence of Medinat Mehren: Establishing Jewish Supra-Communal Governance in Early Modern Moravia and Its Central European Contexts - Martin Borysek The Eastern European Pinkas Kahal: Form and Function - Adam Teller The Role of Legal Settlements in Developing Christian–Jewish Relations in Polish Towns and Cities - Hanna Węgrzynek Between the Council and the Town Hall: The Functioning of the Kahal in a New Town in the Seventeenth Century. The Case of Slutsk - Maria Cieśla Personal Composition of the Council of Four Lands, 1595–1764 - Judith Kalik The Activity of Jewish Self-Government Representatives at Sejmiki and the Sejm between the Sixteenth and Eighteenth Centuries - Anna Michalowska-Mycielska Permanent Crisis: The Decline of Territorial Jewish Self-Government in the Crown in the Seventeenth to Eighteenth Centuries - Adam Kaźmierczyk PART II. THE LONG NINETEENTH CENTURY Burying the Dead, Saving the Community: Jewish Burial Societies as Informal Centres of Jewish Self-Government - Cornelia Aust Did Jewish Self-Government Exist in the Kingdom of Poland between 1815 and 1915? - Artur Markowski ‘Masters of Their Own Offerings No More’: Jewish Perceptions of the Transformation of Jewish Self-Government in the Kingdom of Poland - François Guesnet Synagogues in the System of Jewish Self-Government in Tsarist Russia - Vladimir Levin Stewards of the City? Jews on Kraków City Council in the Second Half of the Nineteenth Century - Hannah Kozińska-Witt Polish–Jewish Relations in the Municipal Council of the City of Lwów during the Period of Galician Autonomy, 1870–1914 - Łukasz Sroka PART III. FROM 1914 TO THE SECOND WORLD WAR ‘One of Them’ as ‘One of Us’: Jewish Demands of National Autonomy as a Tool to Achieve Civic Equality during the First World War - Marcos Silber The Struggle in the Polish Parliament for Jewish Autonomy and Jewish Self-Government - Szymon Rudnicki Jewish Involvement in Local Kehillot, the Sejm, and Municipalities in Interwar Poland - Antony Polonsky The End of Jewish Self-Governance: ‘Jewish National Councils’ in Soviet Belarus in the Interwar Period - Andrej Zamoiskii PART IV. NEW VIEWS A Disenchanted Elijah: The First World War, Conspiracy Theories, and Allegory in S. An-sky’s Destruction of Galicia - Marc Caplan The ‘Patriotic Left’ and the ‘Jewish Question’ at the Dawn of the Second Republic - Paul Brykczyński

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Book SynopsisThis original book examines how investment theory and regulatory constraints are linked to the professional processes of portfolio investments, and how the principles of Islam as defined by sharia fit into these processes. It also explores the measures required to create and grow a global Islamic asset management industry.Established on a foundation of Modern Portfolio Theory, the book extends the theory to include asset management based on sharia. Chapters also consider how ethical investing is quickly becoming the driving force of the $100 trillion asset management industry. Taking a practical approach, John A. Sandwick, M. Kabir Hassan and Pablo Collazzo compare conventional and sharia portfolio performance and risk through measurement tools commonly used in asset management, including Sharpe ratio, standard deviation, Value at Risk, annualized mean return, and correlation. They map conventional portfolio construction and optimization, then reproduce the same processes with real-world, sharia-compliant portfolios.This book will be critical reading for scholars and students of Islamic economics and finance, Islamic studies, and financial regulation. Considering Islamic asset management as a unique function of Islamic finance, this book will also be a useful resource for practitioners and finance professionals.Trade Review’It is a timely guide to further contribute to this heavily debated claim that Islamic investments perform better in adverse economic situations. This is an excellent book as a guide on performance of Islamic finance investments versus conventional portfolios and fills the gaps on performance of Islamic asset management in the real markets. It is an excellent reference for scholars, practitioners and researchers in Islamic finance markets.’- Shamsher Mohamad, International Centre for Education in Islamic Finance, MalaysiaTable of ContentsContents: Foreword by Zeti Aziz Preface Introduction to A Guide to Islamic Asset Management 1. Literature review, research gap, industry and theoretical summaries 2. Research design and finding data 3. Results, relevance and limitations 4. Empirical analysis, research design and methodology 5. Discussion of findings 6. Implications for theory and practice 7. Limitations, and future research Annex: survey questions for major asset management banks References Index

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Book SynopsisIs it possible to identify the positive and negative effects of globalization on religious tourism or to estimate the transformation of the internal and external constructs of pilgrimage by these effects?In order to address these questions, this book highlights the importance of the search for identity and transformative experience during religious tourism. It also looks at how, recently, globalization has played a part in the changes of the concept of personal and social identity and the transformative experience of pilgrimage.The chapters, consisting of carefully selected case studies, analyse possible effects including the adoption of different new rituals, new pilgrims' values, changes of tradition, acceptance of technologic innovations, development of new business models, and other environmental and sociocultural changes. The book provides: a conceptual framework for understanding the impacts of globalization; integrated cross-disciplinar

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Book SynopsisThis timely book investigates the ideas and concepts that drive and shape Islamic finance. Hans Visser covers recent developments and explores tensions between belief systems and market demands, to consider the future of Islamic finance in the modern marketplace. In this updated third edition, Visser reviews the numerous products, institutions and markets offered by Islamic finance, situating them in the competitive contemporary environment. This incisive book questions the conceptual differences that have been established between Islamic finance and conventional finance, drawing attention instead to how the former imitates the latter. Offering a critical assessment of the claims of the ethical superiority of Islamic finance frequently made by its advocates, Visser further discusses the ways in which fiscal and monetary policy can be adapted to Islamic financial institutions. Concise, yet comprehensive in scope, this book offers new directions for economics and finance students interested in alternatives to conventional finance, as well as students of Islamic finance and Islam studies more broadly. International bankers, financial journalists and politicians will find Visser's succinct exploration of Islamic finance and financial institutions invaluable. Trade Review'There are many bad books on Islamic finance, but this is not one of them. Hans Visser clearly understands his subject and he has done his research.' -- Andrew Cunningham, Arab Banker'It is a testimony to the success of Hans Visser's book that it has reached a third edition. This popular book provides an admirably clear account of the principles of Islamic finance. At the same time it uses an evidence based approach to demonstrate its practical strengths and shortcomings. In this third edition, all the data has been updated providing the reader with an accurate assessment of where this unique type of finance is heading.' --Rodney Wilson, Durham University, UKTable of ContentsContents: Preface Introduction 1. Why Islamic finance? 2. Islamic law 3. The Islamic economy 4. Forms of Islamic finance 5. Islamic banks 6. Special sectors 7. Public finance, monetary policy and banking supervision 8. A tentative verdict and a question mark References Index

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Book SynopsisThe historical consciousness of medieval Jewry has engendered lively debate in the scholarly world. The focus in this book is on the historical consciousness of the Jews of Spain and southern France in the late Middle Ages, and specifically on their perceptions of Christianity and Christian history and culture. In his detailed analysis of Jews’ understanding of the history of the communities they lived among, Ram Ben-Shalom shows that in these southern European lands Jews experienced a relatively open society that was sensitive to and knowledgeable about voices from other cultures, and that this had significant consequences for shaping Jewish historical consciousness. Among the topics that receive special attention are what Jews knew of the significance of Rome, of Jesus and the early days of Christianity, of Church history, and of the history of the Iberian monarchies. Ben-Shalom demonstrates that, despite the negative stereotypes of Jewry prevalent in Christian literature and increasing familiarity with that literature, they were more influenced by their interactions with Christian society at the local level. Consequently there was no single stereotype that dominated Jewish thought, and frequently little awareness of the two societies as representing distinct cultures. This book contributes to medieval Jewish intellectual history on many levels, demonstrating that, in Spain and southern France, Jews of the later Middle Ages evinced a genuine interest in history, including the history of non-Jews, and that in some cases they were deeply familiar with Christian and sometimes also classical historiography. In providing a comprehensive survey of the multiple contexts in which historiographical material was embedded and the many uses to which it was put, it enriches our understanding of medieval historiography, polemic, Jewish-Christian relations, and the breadth of interests characterizing Provencal and Spanish Jewish communities.Table of ContentsNote on TransliterationIntroduction1 Genres and Motives2 Rome: Images and Influence3 Jesus and the Origins of Christianity4 History of the Church5 History of the Iberian MonarchiesConclusionBibliographyIndex

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Book SynopsisThis volume focuses on the migration and acculturation of images in Jewish culture and how that reflects intercultural exchange. Gender aspects of Jewish art are also highlighted, as is the role of images in interreligious encounters. Other topics covered include the history, codicology, and iconography of a Haggadah produced in the late fifteenth century.

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Book SynopsisContinuing his major contribution to medievalJewish intellectual history, Haym Soloveitchik focuses here on the radical GermanPietists and their main literary work Sefer ?asidim, and on the writings and personality of the Provençal commentatorRavad of Posquières. In both areas he challenges reigning views and sets a newagenda for research.

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Book SynopsisThis revelatory Handbook explores the relationship between religion and health, emphasising the effects of organised religion and spirituality on community, population, and public health. While comprehensively summarising the current state of the field, it focusses on pursuing new pathways vital for human health in a turbulent world.

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Book SynopsisIslamic Social Finance provides an introduction to the Waqf system, which has played a significant socio-economic role throughout the history of Islamic civilization. In a contemporary framework, Waqf creates new networks between micro-entrepreneurs, Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs), and entrepreneurship through voluntary donations made by individuals in a society. In other contexts, Waqf supports the financial system and contributes to the UN sustainable development goals (SDGs).The authors explore the relationship between the roles Waqf plays in realizing the SDGs, its contributions in many sectors of the economy, and the Waqf practices among the Southeast Asia countries, particularly Malaysia. They highlight the existing Waqf models and framework that have been used by many countries for entrepreneurship that can be used or adapted for the benefits of SMEs.This book is a comprehensive overview for academics, postgraduate students, entrepreneurs, and policy makers who wish to understand how Waqf can contribute to the economic progress of individuals and society at large.Trade Review‘The merits of Waqf Islamic endowments have been rediscovered in recent years and they are now found world-wide wherever there are Muslim communities. It is the adaptability of Waqf, including the ability to change the share of benefactors, which has encouraged many to become founders. Of particular interest is the experience of Southeast Asia, a focus of this book, from which lessons can be learnt.’ -- Rodney Wilson, Durham University, UK‘The authors provide a comprehensive overview of the importance of Waqf financing to MSEs. In a post COVID-19 world, a wide array of economic solutions is needed to support entrepreneurs as economies recover from the devastating global pandemic. Situating this need within the global economy, the authors provide case examples from Malaysia and Indonesia, primarily, to support their argument. A very compelling and important look into ways socially conscious financial options can build back stronger economies.’ -- Karen Hunt Ahmed, Nashville International Academy, US‘Being one of the “purest” Islamic Finance branches, Waqf indeed could contribute enormously to achieving SDGs, such as eliminating poverty, reducing income inequality and other goals. In this book, Waqf, or to be exact contemporary Waqf, in the dynamic global scene, is presented in an interesting and clear way. The book demonstrates how it is able to help SMEs to not only grow and be sustainable, but also contribute to the economic growth of the nation, and strengthening of the society.’ -- Baharom Abdul Hamid, INCEIF University, Malaysia‘I highly recommend this book to academicians, practitioners, and policymakers to shape the post-pandemic landscape of Waqf and SMEs. The fascinating about this book is the way the authors present waqf roles in different sectors such as agriculture, education, tourism etc. and synthesizing it with capital market instruments such as REITS and stocks, promoting social development and sustainability.’ -- Raditya Sukmana, Universitas Airlangga, IndonesiaTable of ContentsContents: Forewords Introduction to Islamic Social Finance 1. The concept of waqf 2. The role of waqf in sustainable economic development 3. Waqf contributions to sectors 4. Exploring waqf practices in Southeast Asia 5. Waqf development in Malaysia 6. Waqf for small and medium enterprises Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisExamining how religion influences the dynamics of consumption in developing nations, this book illuminates the strategic placement of these nations on the global marketing stage both in terms of their current economic outlook and potential for growth.Expert contributors highlight the individual aspects of religion that influence consumers, from perception of the self and motivations to personality and attitude. Discussing consumers’ religiosity and consumption in a range of cultural and social settings, taking social class, sub-cultures and values into consideration, the contributors analyse how these factors interrelate to shape family and societal consumption issues. Chapters also explore the ethical issues related to consumption and religion as well as the place of religion in branding and brand culture in developing nations. Taking a broad approach, the book draws on examples of practices from religions including Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Sikhism, Atheism, and African Traditional Religions.This book will be a valuable resource for scholars and students of marketing, consumer behaviour and economic psychology. Its insights into consumption practices in religious contexts will also be beneficial for business managers and policy makers.Trade Review'This book captures the contemporary importance of religion, its nuances and more importantly its values that influence and impact consumers' decisions, along with understanding the role of digital enhancements from a developing nation's perspective.' -- Vish Maheshwari, Staffordshire University, UK'The lives of the majority of people in developing nations have been circumscribed by their belief systems. The things that they do or do not do; the jobs they accept or do not accept, and the things that they buy or do not buy have all been dictated by what they believe or do not believe. Thus, a book that shines light on consumer behaviour and the belief systems in developing nations performs a useful service not only to marketers, but also to employers, researchers, policy makers, and politicians. To this end, Religion and Consumer Behaviour in Developing Nations is unparalleled in its contribution.' -- P. Sergius Koku, Florida Atlantic University, US

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Book SynopsisThe dynamics of the global business environment necessitate that organizational assumptions and underpinnings are understood in their socio-cultural context. This pioneering book covers issues related to Islamic assumptions about organization and management, enabling readers to understand the challenges in managing corporations that operate in an Islamic environment.The author provides an original and up-to-date treatment of management orientations and practices in Muslim countries and provides pertinent information about the frame of reference for Muslims and Muslim organizations. Relying on classic interpretations of organizational issues without ignoring contemporary thought, the author uses original sources and extensive business, psychology, sociology, and religious references to highlight the orientations and practices that lead to superior performance in a Muslim environment. He goes on to identify both organizational and societal attributes that are essential for effective relationships at the workplace, underscoring the peculiarities of personal relationships and their tremendous influence on organizational expectations and conduct.Scholars and practitioners who specialize in business, economics, international relations, religion, and sociology will find this book a necessary resource for broadening their understanding of the religious and cultural aspects of conducting business across cultures. The comprehensive and original coverage of the book will prove useful in understanding business, cultural, and philosophical issues related to the Islamic World.Trade Review'Islamic business practice is without doubt a much neglected area and this book is a worthy attempt to address that neglect. It is a very full book, densely packed with perspectives, statistics and reflections.' -- Christopher Graham, The Delta Intercultural AcademyTable of ContentsContents: Preface 1. Business and Trade in Islamic Thought 2. Human Nature and Motivation 3. Islamic Schools of Thought 4. Islamic Work Ethic and Values 5. The Structure and Functions of Groups 6. Power and Authority 7. Decision Styles and Group Dynamics 8. Leadership and Organization 9. Organizational Structure 10. The Human Resources 11. Organizational Development and Change Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisOne of the most significant works on Anglican and Women's history to be published in recent years. Includes a foreword by the Archbishop of Canterbury. This book tells the story of how a parish women's meeting started in 1876 by a Victorian vicar's wife is now the most authentic and powerful organization of women in the new global Christianity. Its cross-disciplinary approach examines how religious faith and shifting ideologies of womanhood and motherhood in the imperial and post colonial worlds acted as a source of empowerment for conservative women in their homes, communities and churches. In contrast to much of feminist history, A History of the Mothers' Union 1876-2008: Women, Anglicanism and Globalisation shows how the beliefs of ordinary women led them to become advocates and activists long before women had the vote or could be ordained priests. Having survived an identity crisis over social and theological liberalism in the 1960s, the Mothers' Union provides a model of unity and reconciled diversity for a divided world wide church. Today it is hailed by the Archbishop of Canterbury and international development practitioners as an outstanding example of global Christian engagement with poverty and social transformation issues at the grass roots. Thematerial is arranged both thematically and chronologically. Case studies of Australia, Ghana and South Africa trace how the Mothers' Union arrived with white British women but evolved into indigenous organizations. CORDELIA MOYSE is Adjunct Professor of Church History at Lancaster Theological Seminary, Lancaster, PA, USA.Trade ReviewA fine contribution to British women's and British religious history. * JOURNAL OF BRITISH STUDIES *Will engage and stimulate historians of both religion and gender. * ENGLISH HISTORICAL REVIEW *There are issues here that will engage and stimulate historians of both religion and gender. * ENGLISH HISTORICAL REVIEW *Recommended for seminary and university libraries. * ANGLICAN AND EPISCOPAL HISTORY *It is difficult to imagine how this book could have been improved. It is an outstanding example of a balanced, clear and contextually sensitive account. Specialists and generalists will find it enormously rewarding. * THEOLOGY *Consider that until Cordelia Moyse's A History of the Mothers' Union, this organization has been ignored by academic historians of any discipline. This situation alone would make Moyse's book worth reading. However, her carefully chosen scope and cautious use of sources make her work mandatory reading. * ANGLICAN THEOLOGICAL REVIEW *At last a careful study of the Mothers' Union based on the wonderful archives created at Mary Sumner House and now in the Lambeth Palace Library. [...] A thoughtful and carefully prepared book. * THE MAGAZINE OF MU AUSTRALIA *This important book is in some sense an untold history of the Anglican Communion itself, charting the globalization and development of Anglican faith and cultures. * LIVING CHURCH *Table of ContentsForeword by the Archbishop of Canterbury and Jane Williams Part I, 1876-1909 Launching the Mothers' Union Identity and Spirituality Marriage and Family Life Membership and Worldwide Work Part II, 1910-1944 Identity and Spirituality Marriage and Family Life Membership and Worldwide Work Part III, 1945-1974 Identity and Spirituality Marriage and Family Life Membership and Worldwide Work Part IV, 1975-2008 Mission and Spirituality in a Global Age Conclusion Appendices Bibliography

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Book SynopsisA much-awaited new book by the foremost scholar of secularisation and religion in the modern world. In the 1960s, two great social and cultural changes of the western world began. The first was the rapid decline of Christian religious practice and identity and the rise of the people of 'no religion'. The second was the transformation in women's lives that spawned a demographic revolution in sex, family and work. Both phenomena were sudden though not uniform in their impact. The argument of this book is that the two were intimately connected, triggered byan historic confluence of factors in the 1960s. Canada, Ireland, UK and USA represent different stages of secularisation for the book's study. The religious collapse in mainland Britain and most of Canada was sharp and spectacular but contrasted with the more resilient religious cultures of the United States, the Canadian Maritimes, Ireland and Northern Ireland. Using statistical evidence from government censuses, the book demonstrates how secularisation was deeply linked to demographic change. Starting with the distinctive features of the 1960s, the book quantifies secularisation's scale, timing and character in each nation. Then, the intense links of women's sexual revolution to religious decline are explored. From there, women's changing patterns of marriage, coupling and birthing are correlated with diminishing religiosity. The final exploration is into the secularising consequences of economic change, higher education and women's expanding work roles. This book transforms the way in which secularisation is imagined. Religion matters more than mere belief, practice and the churches; it shapes how populations construct their sexual practices, families and life-course. In nations where religion has been dissolving since 1960 into apathy and atheism, the process has been part of a demographic revolution built on new moral codes. Connecting religious history with the history of population, this volume unveils how the historian and sociologist need to engage with the demographic enormity of the decline of Christendom. CALLUM G. BROWN is Professor of Religiousand Cultural History at the University of Dundee.Trade ReviewMakes an important contribution to our understanding of religion and identity in this period. * HISTORY *An indispensible contribution to the field. The book will go a long way toward helping to bring gender as a crucial category of analysis from the periphery to the center of the secularization debate. * CHURCH HISTORY *Laden with social scientific data, this work will appeal to students at all levels interested in contemporary Western religious culture, sociology of religion, and gender studies. Recommended. * CHOICE *Table of ContentsIntroduction The Sixties Religious change Sex and religion Family and religion The economy and women's religion The decision makers Bibliography

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Book SynopsisThe Sydney Jewish community is dynamic and vibrant, with many communal, social and religious institutions. This book investigates the Sephardic community of Sydney -- their history, their experiences as new immigrants in a host society after arriving from traditional Moslem cultures, as well as the changes they have undergone since they arrived in Australia. The Sephardic community comprises about 3,000 of the 40,000 Jews in Sydney, whose majority reside in the eastern suburbs, in Sydney's multicultural inner-city 'ethnic belt'. Although the Sephardim share some cultural features with the Jewish majority, there are substantial differences: they emphasise their cultural heterogeneity. Their experiences are viewed through the prism of their relationship to both the Ashkenazim and the larger Anglo-Australian society. Their inability to acculturate and assimilate into the Ashkenazi and Australian groups contributes profoundly to their poor self-image and to ethnic marginalisation. A negative ethnic identity and self-rejection, enhanced by rejection from the Ashkenazim and Australians, has a major impact on their everyday life and their perception of their social standing, especially on the younger Sephardic generation. This issue has been particularly relevant since 1988, when the Australian government moved to restrict Asian immigration. This became a media issue, with the Ashkenazim taking the side of white Australians and seeing themselves as superior to the Afro-Asian Jewish Sephardim, who are viewed as 'Asians' by both the Ashkenazim and the white majority. The result is a sense of 'double rejection', which pervades this group's political and social standing.Trade Review"Provides valuable insights into the dynamics of the formation of Sephardic Jewish identity..." -- Professor C Kessler, The University of New South Wales."A valuable study of the problems facing a migrant ethnical community arriving in Australia..." -- Professor R Gabby, The University of Western Australia."A commendable example of 'salvage ethnography'..." - Professor S Deshen, Tel Aviv UniversityTable of ContentsPreface; The Importance of Effective Reading Strategies for Science Teachers & Learners; Early Literacy Development: The Role of Storytelling, Joint Reading, & Symbolic Play; Assessing the Importance of Feedback to Teacher & Student Improvement in an Innovative Caribbean Reading Project Biological Literacy as an imperative of Present Time; Challenges in Dyslexia Research; Developmental Dyslexia: A Conceptual & Measurement Quandary; Teaching Cantonese Opera Script: Story Schema Approach; The Effects of Text, Graphic Images & Audio on Learning; Examining Ways to Improve Visual Teaching Materials: The Role of Visual Literacy & Predominate Learning Modality; Quality Metrics for Multimedia Reading: Assessment, Comprehension & Teaching; Do Illustrated Instructional Books Promote Multimedia Learning?; Index.

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Book SynopsisIndonesia is home to the largest Muslim community in the world. Much of the media attention given to manifestations of radical Islam in Indonesia after 9/11 and the Bali bombings of October 2002 have been limited to current affairs. This book provides a broader perspective about contemporary Islam in Indonesia through discussing two outstanding streams of thought and movements -- Islamic modernism and radical Islamic fundamentalism. These two multifaceted phenomena clearly illustrate the significant contemporary influence of the Middle East on the Indonesia archipelago, in an Islamic context. Thus the focus is twofold: the local context, and the impact of the Middle East on Islam in Indonesia. These two perspectives allow a comparative and cross-regional view which, combined with the broader historical narrative, provides insights into possible future trends. The author explains the importance of the reformist motivation; religious and social & political dimensions; ideology, perceptions, and interaction in the context of the transmission and dissemination of Islamic ideas; and the current and potential appeal of the war cry of Jihad in opposition to the unique bulwarks against it as suggested by the local Indonesian context. These topics make this book essential reading to understanding the current and future comprehensive challenges posed by radical Islam in the Indonesian archipelago.Trade Review"Carefully researched and engagingly written, this fine book deserves to be read by everyone interested in Indonesian Islam, as well as by the general reader curious about the varieties and future of Muslim politics." -- Robert W. Hefner, Professor of Anthropology, Associate Director of the Institute on Culture, Religion and World Affairs (CURA), Boston University."Giora Eliraz's book represents a valuable addition to the all too sparse collection of scholarly writing on Islam in the world's largest Muslim nation. With very few exceptions, most such studies are the work of area specialists with a deep understanding of their country of study but comparatively little knowledge of the Middle East. Eliraz's book is very different; it is the fruit of a sharp academic mind honed through decades of study of modernist Islamic thought and related movements in the Arab world now turned upon parallel developments in Indonesia. The result is a very well informed study uniquely enriched by the ability to read developments in Southeast Asia from a Middle Eastern perspective. Consequently anyone seeking to understand Indonesian Islam and its global context will benefit from this work - regardless of whether they are seasoned observers or are coming to this increasingly important subject for the first time." - Greg Barton.Table of ContentsContents: Preface; Acknowledgments; The Islamic Modernist Movement in the Malay- Indonesian World: A Comparative Look at Egypt; Muhammad Abduh's Heritage; The Challenge of the Islamic Modernist Movement in the Malay-Indonesian World -- The Reformist Motivation; The Religious Dimension; The Educational Dimension; The Social and Political Dimension; Challenging the Traditional World; A Comparative Look at Egypt; Historical Role and Impacts; Islamic Modernism in the Malay-Indonesian World: Suggested Explanations; Islamic Radicalism in Indonesia: Global and Local Contexts; Radical Islamic Fundamentalism -- Ideology and Perception; Transmission of Ideas and Ideological Interaction; The Social and Political Dimension; The Historical Perspective -- Dissemination of Islamic Ideas to Indonesia; The War Cry of Jihad in Indonesia; Summary and Reflections; Radical Islamic Fundamentalism in Indonesia: The Distinctiveness of the Indonesian Context: Marginal or Significant?; The Indonesian Context through the Fundamentalist Prism; The Indonesian Islamic Context: Summary and Reflections; Notes; Bibliography; Index

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Book SynopsisThe rise of the Islamic fundamentalist movement as a social and political force is the most important development in the modern Arab world. Beginning in the late 1970s, radical Islam directly affected Egypt and Jordan, neighbours and co-signatories of peace treaties with Israel. The radical Islamic movement in both these countries assumed two forms -- non-violent, represented mainly by the Muslim Brotherhood, and violent, represented by various terrorist groups. Both groups shared the objective of replacing the existing regimes with Islamic theocracies. Egypt and Jordan responded firmly to the growth of radical Islam, quashing terrorist activity. Successive Egyptian regimes attempted unsuccessfully to arrive at a compromise for coexistence with the Muslim Brotherhood, and resorted to firm countermeasures to strip the movement of its social and political power. In Jordan, where the Muslim Brotherhood enjoyed legal status, the regime kept a strict hold on the movement so that its influence would not exceed government-imposed limits. By the end of the 1990s, the Muslim Brotherhood and terrorist groups no longer posed an existential threat to the Egyptian and Jordanian regimes, since there was little chance of their seizing the government in the foreseeable future. Although they might succeed in toppling a head of state, it is unlikely that they would be able to establish an Islamic regime. At the same time, both regimes acknowledged that it was beyond their power to eradicate Islamic radicalism, and recognised that they would have to face its challenge for many years to come.Trade Review"Nachman Tal has written a unique book. It elucidates the variety of streams of radical Islam and the modus operandi of Egypt and Jordan in coping with them. Based on his intimate knowledge of the field, Tal's work is an indispensable source for understanding the relations between the ideology and the strategy of these radical streams." -- Dr Matti Steinberg, former advisor to the head of Israel's General Security Services, and guest lecturer, Princeton University."Nachman Tal's book presents an extensive review of the rise of violent and non- Islamic groups in Egypt and Jordan. Based on original research and the author's personal interviews with leading figures in the field, the book is a most impressive collection of information and records, covering both the radical groups themselves and the regimes' methods of confronting the Islamic threat." -- Prof. Shaul Mishal (Department of Political Science, Tel Aviv University), co-author of Investment in Peace: The Politics of Economic Cooperation Between Israel, Jordan and the Palestinians, writing in Ha'aretz.Table of ContentsIntroduction; PART I: RADICAL ISLAM IN EGYPT -- Egypt and Islamic Fundamentalism; Egypts Struggle against the Muslim Brotherhood; Islamic Terrorism in Egypt; Egypt Battles Islamic Terrorism; Egyptian Resistance to Fundamentalism. PART II: RADICAL ISLAM IN JORDAN -- 6 Jordans Struggle with Subversion and Terrorism; The Muslim Brotherhood in Jordan; Jordan against the Muslim Brotherhood; Jordanian Resistance to Fundamentalism; Radical Islam in Egypt and Jordan: An Integrative; Conclusion; Index.

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Book SynopsisIn today's world, Christianity and Islam are capable of dialogue. Neither faith has a single religious establishment or narrow belief system, both are rainbows of faith and practice. There is difference and there is delight for many believers in both traditions. Tragically, there is also some expression of institutional divergence. In Listening to Islam a devout Trappist monk, Thomas Merton, and a dedicated Sufi mystic, live in intimate prayerful relationship. Sayyid Qutb, a major ideologue of the Muslim Brotherhood, was a literary educationalist whose exposition of the Qur'an is justifiably famous, though his version of political Islam is offensive to many Muslims. Bishop Kenneth Cragg is a careful translator, expositor and analyst of the Qur'an and modern Islam. He has devoted much of his life to the Arabic language and its people. He speaks of himself and his Muslim interlocutors as those who believe in one God. Ziauddin Sardar, who describes himself as "a sceptical Muslim in search of Paradise", writes with remarkable fluency on the current confrontation between the West and Islam. Through Praise, Reason and Reflection, these four dialogists provide compelling evidence of the complexities, differences and rewards of exchanging ideas and opinions on the development and necessity of Islamic-Christian interfaith understanding.Trade Review"It seems to me that mutual comprehension between Christians and Muslims is something of very vital importance today, and unfortunately it is rare and uncertain, or else subjected to the vagaries of politics." -- Thomas Merton, writing to the Pakistani Sufi scholar Abdul Aziz on St. Stephens Day, 26 December 1962.

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Book SynopsisPurposeful suicide in contemporary Islam and the deep pathos in its frequency for religious ends is the main impulse to the topic of Faith at Suicide. The Islamic phenomenon needs to be set in a wider context which reckons with suicide's incidence elsewhere, with its uneasy associations in martyrdom and with how it interrogates -- or is interrogated by -- the ethics of religious faith. The enigma of wilful suicide is no less a challenge to sanity or compassion when such faith is absent from the deed or dimly yearned for by it. I am pregnant with my cause', orators may boast. But they were never pregnant with themselves. Our birth was unsolicited on our part. We have all to reach a philosophy about our living, which is perpetually at stake and which we are free to curtail. Dark cynics have said that life is no more than forbearing not to commit suicide. While the sheer mystery of birth demands we disavow all such self-refusal, what then of those who resolve to make it forfeit for an end they must also abdicate in doing so? Selves are banished and betrayed' when weary despair registers what ill-fate itself has done to them. It is more darkly so when the precious human frame, the body's wonder, by self-bombing' encases lethal death in and for and from itself. This book sets out to explain how the issue of suicide belongs with the conscience of Islam today, and how suicide in all circumstances, with or without religious overtones -- be they Islamic or Christian or other faith -- is an inherent contradiction of our common humanity, as expressed in human birth which expressly involves us in mankind.

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Book SynopsisThis book investigates the transformative period in the history of the Jews of Libya (1938-52), a period crucial to understanding Libyan Jewry's evolution into a community playing significant roles in Israel, Italy and in relation with Qaddhafi's Libya. Against a background of a reform conscious Ottoman administration (1835-1911) and subsequent stirrings of modernisation under Italian colonial influence (1911-43), the Jews of Libya began to experience rapid change following the application of fascist racial laws of 1938, the onset of war-related calamities and violent expressions of Libyan pan-Arabism, culminating in mass migration to Israel in the period 1949-52. By focusing on key socio-economic and political dimensions of this process, the author reveals the capacity of Libyan Jewry to adapt to and integrate into new environments without losing its unique and historical traditions.Trade Review"Dr Roumani uses a wide range of archival and oral sources, many of which have never been used before. Throughout the book, he reveals a mastery of the social and political history, and a fine understanding of the lives, hopes, fears and aspirations of Libyan Jews. His book is a testimony to their suffering and their fortitude." -- From the Foreword by Sir Martin Gilbert."Maurice Roumani has given us an impeccably researched, richly documented, and keenly insightful survey of Libyan Jewry's social and political evolution in the twentieth century. He brings to the study not merely the observations of a trained scholar with all of the requisite linguistic and methodological skills, but also the real life experience of someone who lived through the turbulent events of the period and was an actual witness to some of them. It is to Roumani's great credit that he is able to achieve an admirable balance of overall scholarly dispassion with the intimate poignancy of personal engagement. The Jews of Libya will surely take its place alongside the pioneer studies of Renzo De Felice and Harvey Goldberg." -- Norman A Stillman, Schusterman/Josey Professor of Judaic History, University of Oklahoma.Table of ContentsIntroduction; The Changing Fortunes of Libyan Jews Under Italian Colonialism; The British Military Administration: Hopes and Disillusion; The Role of International Jewish Organisations: Rehabilitation and Protection of Minority Rights; Exodus: The Choice of Israel; Settlement in Israel: The Pains of Displacement and the Difficulties of Absorption; Closing the Circle in 1967: The Final Exodus and its Challenges; Index.

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Book SynopsisThis is the first book in English to tell the story of this important, yet neglected, episode in modern Arab history. The research is based on archival material located in the United States, Britain, Canada and Israel, as well as available resources in Arabic. The use of these primary sources allows for a fresh look at the UAR.Trade ReviewIn spite of its short duration, the rise and demise of the United Arab Republic the union between Egypt and Syria (195861) is considered a seminal episode in the modern history of the Arab world. At the time, many Arabs hoped that the union would herald realization of the pan-Arab dream, but its disintegration shattered this dream beyond repair. With the wisdom of hindsight it is also clear that this episode had a significant, lasting impact on the evolution of Arab politics. -- From the Foreword by Moshe Maoz, author of "Asad: The Sphinx of Damascus"A superb narrative and analysis long overdue. -- Choice Outstanding Academic Book"An important book. Podehs is the most reliable of the histories of the union." -- The International History Review

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Book SynopsisPublished in association with the Canada Blanch Centre for Contemporary Spanish Studies.Trade Review"A penetrating appraisal of the specific mixture of ideological and strategic (indeed frankly opportunistic) motives driving the contradictory policies adopted by Francoists towards different groups of European Jews in the period between c1936 and 1945... The particular strength of Dr Rohr's work is its understanding of the constant interplay between the political mythology of Spanish antisemitism and Spain's geopolitical interests and colonial aspirations." -- Professor Helen Graham, Department of History, Royal Holloway, University of London."The author has reconciled several different kinds of history -- exploring political myths, colonialism and foreign policy during wartime as well as contributing to both Spanish and Jewish history... This engaging, stimulating and original work firmly gives the issue of race in contemporary Spain the historiographical importance that it merits. Just as the Moorish 'Other' has long been recognised as a significant term of reference of Spanish identity, this books shows how the construction of 'the Jew' plays a similar role." -- Dr Michael Richards, University of the West of England."This book debunks the so-called 'paradoxical' nature of Franco's supposed benevolence towards the Jews, showing that any generosity on the regime's part was both opportunistic and unreliable. Dr Rohr grounds Franco's relationship to the Jews during World War II in the fascinating and complex history of post-Inquisitorial Spanish attitudes towards Jews, ranging from Philosephardism to various forms of antisemitism according to shifting ideological goals. Rohr's reading of Franco's neo-Philosephardism in the context of his colonial ambitions in Northern Africa is groundbreaking." -- Dr Soledad Fox, Assistant Professor of Spanish and Comparative Literature, Williams College.Table of ContentsCONTENTS: Introduction - The Interplay of Political Myths, Foreign Policy and Colonial Ambitions; Degeneration, Regeneration and the Jews (1898-1931); Anti-Republican Antisemitism (1931-1936); Antisemitism as a Weapon of War (1936-1939); A Policy of Contradictions: Germanophilia and the Revival of Philosephardism (1939-1942); Welcoming the "Conspirators" (1943-1945); Epilogue: The Contradictions and Hypocrisy of Francoist Policy; Index.

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Book SynopsisFeatures: Investigates the significance, contribution, and role played by the State of Israel -- ideologically and practically -- in the identity of Diaspora Jews; Explores the extent and way Israel features in Diaspora identity through a range of issues including: anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism, Jewish continuity and Israel visits, the peace process, pro-Israel lobbying, philanthropy, religious thought and gender; Examines the place of Israel in the identity of Jewish communities in eight countries and amongst the Israeli Diaspora; A unique feature of this volume is that each chapter is followed by short and insightful viewpoints by Israeli and Diaspora commentators, with the book reflecting a dialogue between these different voices from across the Jewish world.Trade Review"...a thought-provoking collection of essays in an interesting, effective arrangement...Recommeded for academic and research libraries, as well as other libraries with collections on Israel and the Diaspora." -- Ilya Silbar Margoshes, University of Regina, SK Canada, in Association of Jewish Libraries Newsletter, May/June 2008."...a thought-provoking collection of essays in an interesting, effective arrangement...Recommended for academic and research libraries, as well as other libraries with collections on Israel and the Diaspora." -- Ilya Silbar Margoshes, University of Regina, SK Canada, in Association of Jewish Libraries Newsletter, May/June 2008.Table of ContentsPart I: ISSUES & THEMES -- Introduction: World Jewry, Identity and Israel; The New Anti-Semitism, Jewish Identity and the Question of Zionism; Jewish Continuity and Israel Visits; Israel in Orthodox Identity: The American Experience; Conservative Judaism, Zionism and Israel: Commitments and Ambivalences; The Place of Israel in the Identity of Reform Jews: Examining the Spectrum of Passive Identification with Israel to Active Jewish--Zionist; The Jewish Left, Jewish Identity, Zionism and Israel Attitudes to the Palestinian Intifada; The Changing Identity of American Jews, Israel and the Peace Process; Israels Foreign and Defence Policy and Diaspora Jewish Identity; Gender and Israel in Diaspora Jewish Identity; The Place of Israel in the Identity of Israelis in the Diaspora: An Ethnographic Exploration. Part II: COUNTRIES AND REGIONS -- Canada; Great Britain; Latin America; France; Australia; United States of America; South Africa; Russia. CONCLUSION -- Israel in Diaspora Jewish Identity; Glossary; Contributors; Index.

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Book SynopsisThis book documents and analyses the transformations in the Jewish-owned economy active in Salonica during the period of the consolidating Greek nation-state, prior to World War II. Based on archival materials, the author provides a comprehensive, comparative inter-ethnic empirical study of Jewish entrepreneurial patterns for two distinct historical periods: the multi-ethnic business world of Greek Macedonia (1912-1922) after its incorporation into the Greek nation-state; and the era of minority-majority relations (1923-1940), following a radical modification of the city's demographic composition -- a process that culminated in Salonica's ethnic unification. A macro analysis combines a comparative static overview of the Jewish-owned firms vs. the Greek-owned firms active in the city at three points in time (1912, 1921, 1930), with a dynamic analysis focusing on transitions in structure and entrepreneurial behaviour. A micro analysis then examines the characteristics of Salonica's Jewish entrepreneurial elite, its businessmen and professionals, including class resources, familial and ethnic networks, business strategies and methods. Included in the analysis is a unique database illustrating Jewish entrepreneurial patterns during the 1930s. This study applies the "ethnic economy" approach in explaining Jewish entrepreneurial dynamics, and contributes new theoretical insights. The research presented provides hitherto unavailable details about the economic and demographic history of the Jewish community of Salonica, a city known as the "Jerusalem of the Balkans" due to it being home to the largest concentration of Sephardic Jews found in the territories once belonging to the Ottoman Empire.Table of ContentsPreface; Historical overview; Polymeric dental prosthetic materials; Polymeric dental restorative materials; Applications of polymers in oral & maxillofacial surgery; Applications of polymers in periodontology treatments; Applications of polymers in orthodontic treatments; Polymeric dental impression materials; Index.

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Book Synopsis"Beyond the Border" sets the lives and work of Huguenot goldsmiths in the context of the different societies in which they lived and worked. Distinguished international scholars explore the contributions of individual goldsmiths drawing on new research. Michele Bimbenet Privat examines the lives and work of Huguenot goldsmiths in France during times of tolerance of the Protestant religion in the 16th and 17th centuries. She explains how protestant craftsmen dominated regional centres but found establishing a presence in the metropolis more challenging. The influence of the Louis XIV style was greater on the leading Dutch goldsmiths in the late 17th and 18th centuries. In contrast to London, first generation Huguenot goldsmiths played only a minor role in their adopted cities of The Hague and Amsterdam. Those who settled in Berlin and Kassel, often from Metz in Northern France, made a greater impact through the purity of style in which they continued to work in the 18th century. Those who settled in the English speaking world benefited from ambitious patronage from noble and professional clients. Goldsmiths who settled in the American colonies had more in common stylistically with those who worked in Dublin and Cork. First generation Huguenot goldsmiths in London set the pace for the next generation which produced in Paul de Lamerie one of the most successful craft businesses of his generation. "Beyond the Border" explores the transatlantic links between the Huguenot goldsmiths who settled in Europe and America.Table of ContentsPart I: Huguenot Goldsmiths in Northern Europe; Part II: Huguenot Goldsmiths in the English-speaking World; Index.

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Book SynopsisEdgar Morin, one of France's greatest living intellectuals, tells the story of his father, Vidal Nahoum, but also the story of Sephardic Jews, and of Europe. In this 'holographic history' Vidal's story, and that of his family, carries within it the flowering, decline, and death of Jewish culture in Spain, the passage from Empires to Nation States, the complex relations between Jews and Gentiles, between East and West, and, ultimately, the history of the twentieth century itself. Morin's work ranges from the great sweep of global historical events to the everyday details of individual lives, letters, feelings, reflections, and experiences. Vidal was born in 1894 in the Ottoman Empire's great Macedonian port. His great-grandfather came from Tuscany and spoke Italian. His mother tongue was fifteenth-century Spanish. He learned French and German as a child. When he was an adolescent, he dreamed of living in France; he was deported there as a prisoner, and then liberated by the French Prime Minister. He lived through the Balkan wars, the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, and two World Wars. Vidal cannot be isolated from his family. And as Edgar Morin explains, "this book also tells the stories of the men and women in his immediate family When, as his son, I inevitably come into his story... I describe him as objectively as possible. The reverence that inspired me did not call for a work of edification; it implied that I should attempt to write a truthful book. For this reason, the book is not in the least respectful, or at least not in the usual sense of the word. Vidal felt that loving someone meant being able to tease him. The author of these lines, who has inherited something of this trait, does not think it disrespectful to tease or make fun of the people he loves."Table of ContentsPrologue; The Nahum Family; Adolescence; The First World War; Move to Paris, marriage & Birth of a Son; Frenchification: First Phase (1921-1931); Rueil & the Death of Luna; A New Life (1931-1939); The 1939 to 1945 War; After the War (1945-1960); The Nineteen-Sixties; The Nineteen-Seventies; The Last Years; Epilogue.

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Book SynopsisThis book examines the role the Jewish Daily Forward played during the heyday of Jewish immigration to the United States, from 1897 to 1917. The JDF was a focus point for the 'Jewish street', as it dealt with issues of labour and strikes, Zionism and the American-Jewish Committee, and world war -- issues that were at the heart of Jewish everyday experience and concern. Although previous research and observation brought to the fore the inevitable policy and viewpoint contradictions expressed throughout its columns, this book is the first critical assessment of this eminent newspaper as its leader writers and columnists engaged with the centenary transition that saw myriad political and social change. The primary motivation for this investigation is the discrepancy between the paper's declared socialism on the one hand, and the co-operation between Abraham Cahan, JDF's editor, with the hard-line conservatives such as Jacob Schiff, on the other hand. By following Cahan's co-operation with the American-Jewish plutocracy, Ehud Manor suggests that the JDF was actually conservative in outlook, rather than progressive. The importance of such an historical account is not only in the uncovering of the checks and balances between different Jewish groups and Jewish polity and media, but also serves as an insight into the mechanism of Jewish modern politics. This book is based on Yiddish sources, the Forverts (JDF) issues, and other primary and secondary material. It is essential reading for all those engaged and interested in modern Jewish history.Table of ContentsIntroduction; "Seven Years of Famine"; "Jewish Question", "Jewish Politics"; The Politics of Abstention; Great War, Lesser Deeds; "Americanisation" & "Jewish Authenticity"; Glossary; Index.

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