Snapshot six:  Coming to America 

In our six-part series, we will be exploring Judaism as a civilization. Judaism is too broad a subject with too long and rich a history to be understood merely as a religion. We will examine that civilization through the lens of that history, that religion, and those forces from both within and without that have shaped its development up until today.

The United States has alternately been understood by Jews as The Golden Country and The Unkosher Country.  Jews have known more success and more acceptance in America than any other land of their sojourning.  And they have also witnessed more assimilation and ultimately disappearance here than anywhere else.  We will conclude our introductory exploration of Judaism by asking how we understand our dual roles as Americans and Jews.  What are our obligations to our past, our present and our future?  What choices do we need to make to continue this long history that we have inherited?  And ultimately, are we willing to make those choices?