Jews and Jewish Education in Germany Today

Over the past two decades, Russian-speaking Jews from the former Soviet Union have become the majority in Germany's Jewish community. While these Jews strongly identify with world Jewry--they have sometimes been called the "third pillar" of the Jewish world--they do not have a strong connection with Germany itself. This book describes and analyzes the Jewish community in Germany, paying special attention to the influence of Russian-speaking Jews in that community and examining the relationship between Russian-speaking and German-speaking Jews. It also looks at how the identification of Russian-speaking Jews with world Jewry influences the Jewish educational framework in Germany and Jewish educational opportunities for young people. Annotation c2011 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Eliezer Ben-Rafael, Ph.D. (1974) in Sociology, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, was Weinberg Professor and was President of the International Institute of Sociology. He is now Professor Emeritus at Tel Aviv University. His recent works include Jewish Identities (2001) and Is Israel One? (2005). His edited works include Identity, Culture and Globalization (2001), Sociology and Ideology (2003), Comparing Modernities (2005), New Elites in Israel (2007, in Hebrew), Transnationalism (2009) and World Religions and Multiculturalism (2010). Olaf Glockner, Ph.D (2010) in Jewish History, University of Potsdam. He teaches various courses on Jewish subjects at the University of Potsdam and Humboldt University of Berlin. One of his main interests focuses on the insertion of Russian-speaking Jewish scientists in Germany and Israel. Among his recent works, he has co-authored Building a Diaspora: Russian-speaking Jews in Israel, Germany and the USA (2006). Yitzhak Sternberg, Ph.D. (2004) in Sociology, Tel Aviv University. He teaches sociology at the Open University and Beit Berl College, Israel. One of his main research interests is Nativism in immigrant societies. His edited works include Identity, Culture and Globalization (2001), Comparing Modernities (2005), New Elites in Israel (2007, in Hebrew), Transnationalism (2009) and World Religions and Multiculturalism (2010).