Title: Rising Sreams | זרמים בעליה
Published: October 2018
Overview:
Rising Streams is a first-of-its-kind study that explores and reports on the rise of Reform and Conservative Judaism in Israel. Based on original research, Dan presents new data on the streams and how Israelis engage with religion. His bold conclusion? There has been a fundamental shift in Israeli Jewish identity over the past two decades. If Israelis once "did not attend" an Orthodox synagogue, they are increasingly also "not attending" liberal synagogues. That is, Israeli Jews are increasingly accepting non-Orthodox liberal Judaism as authentic and legitimate expressions of their Judaism.
The book also looks at key aspects of religion and state, assessing the rights and access, or lack thereof, of the non-Orthodox movements in modern Israel.
Available for download in e-book form.
Coming Soon
Title: Millennial American Jews and the Reorientation of the Jewish Middle
Published: Coming soon in late 2020
Overview:
In this forthcoming book, Dan explores a range of new and creative Jewish expressions in North America that seem to be resonating with millennials.
In recent years, established Jewish institutions have struggled to engage with young adults, while membership and denominational affiliation have declined (among non-Orthodox American Jews). However, although young adult Jews may connect less with denominational labels and less frequently hold formal membership in established institutions, they seem no less interested in engaging in Jewish behavior when defined more broadly. In this forthcoming book, Dan claims we are seeing generational shifts in Jewish behavior and identity rather than declines, with data to back this up this assertion.
Young adult Jews are increasingly connecting to Judaism through innovative, often independent frameworks and organizations, including Independent Minyans, emergent communities, including the Jewish Emergent Network, innovative projects operating within the mainstream denominations, and thriving programs to engage with young adults “where they are.” Taken together, we dub these an ecosystem of Jewish innovation. The reason for the relative success of these has been their early understanding and adaptation to these generational shifts.
In understanding these adaptations, Jewish leaders can better understand how to steer Jewish institutions as American Jewry and the broader American society undergo such a generational shift.