Strife in the Sanctuary

Phil Zuckerman is a professor of sociology at Pitzer College.

• chapter 1 1. Introductionchapter 2 2. Two Congregationschapter 3 3. Community Formschapter 4 4. The Community Before the Stormchapter 5 5. Division Beginschapter 6 6. Orthodoxychapter 7 7. The Schismchapter 8 8. Then There Were Twochapter 9 9. The Sociology of Religious Schismchapter 10 10. Conclusionchapter 11 Glossary

An eminently readable congregational study....Zuckerman's pursuit of neighborhood drama results in a narrative that unfolds like a novel, complete with characters, plot development, and resolution. Instead of masking the American Jewish experience with statistics and jargon, Zuckerman introduces the reader to the individuals living and shaping, smiling and sweating the American Jewish experience....Zuckerman's lively style and descriptive tone help to create a vivid picture of the community....Zuckerman's research yields macro results as well....Community leaders should take note for Zuckerman' study reveals the struggle of one community with issues that face nearly all contemporary Jewish communities. This congregational schism, claims Zuckerman, is neither unique nor isolated, but typical of a general trend within American Judaism....A fascinating contribution to both the sociology of religious schism and the understanding of the functioning of a congregation in the Western United States.