Strife In the Sanctuary: Religious Schism in a Jewish Community

By Phil Zuckerman

Book Overview

For more than forty years there was a single synagogue in the quiet town of Williamette, Oregon. But then disagreements over gender roles, homosexuality, Israeli politics, and other issues tore the synagogue in two. Where there was once one Jewish community under one roof, there are now two hostile congregations-one Reconstructionist, one Orthodox-across the street from one another. Through a year as a participant in both congregations and in-depth interviews, Zuckerman tells a mesmerizing story of this religious schism. Strife in the Sanctuary then contemplates why religious groups split apart and how religious symbols come to mean different things to different groups. The first book-length study of a single congregation breaking in two, Strife in the Sanctuary provides a welcome ethnographic study for sociologists of religion. Plus, its moving story makes it an excellent read for undergraduate classes or anyone interested in religious divisions.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0761990542
• ISBN13: 9780761990543
• Release Date: January 1999
• Publisher: Altamira Press
• Length: 262 Pages
• Weight: 0.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

i couldn't put it down

I found this story fascinating. A real community drama. The author did an excellent job introucing the members of this Jewish coimmunity, laying out the conflicts, interviewing them for their own personal perspectives, and showing the deep divides that can arise among contemporary Jews. There was a lot of acrimony on both sides...but also a lot of humanity. This wasn't simply boring sociological analysis -- a real story, with drama and intrigue. One of the best studies of contemporary Jewish life I've ever read.

Great read on a fascinating topic!

When I first picked up Zuckerman's "Strife in the Sanctuary", I was a little dubious, not having much of a background in either religion or sociology. I quickly found that the story Zuckerman is telling is truly interesting, and that his presentation and writing style make complex issues and academic theories relevant and interesting to those of us without a great deal of background in these issues. One of the book's main qualities is the author's ability to delve into the humanity of the people and conflicts he is describing, and the reader gets an excellent sense of the tensions and struggles of factional strife. I have just read Zuckerman's new edited compilation of W.E.B. DuBois's writings on religion, am again very impressed with his work, and look forward to reading more of his insight and analysis in the future.