American Jews (1920-1950),

The present dissertation takes as its research focus the period between 1920s and 1950s, or the three to four decades around WWII. The reason for doing so lies in the fact that both of the two most important events in the history of Judaism, namely the Nazi massacre of Jews and the founding of the State of Israel, took place in this period. To both events Judaism made religious adjustment and practical response, resulting in changes of Judaism in a number of aspects and, eventually, making Zionism the most important issue of American Jews and Judaism. Emerging from this period, Judaism began to take its final form in both content and form, shedding great influence on its current characteristics and development tendencies. With Marxist historical materialism as the guiding principle, the present dissertation adopts a comprehensive and systematic approach comprising theories and methods of a number of related disciplines, such as religious studies, history, culture, sociology, anthropology and ethnology, to examine American Judaism around WWII, its religious and historical factors in particular, from the perspective of historical cultural studies. After analyzing the significance and influence of Judaism of this period, the present dissertation proceeds to pinpoint its nature, characteristics, defects and future development tendencies, before finally coming to the following conclusions:Firstly, as an important component and development stage of world Judaism, American Judaism has its own unique characteristics. Having great importance on the history of American Jews, these characteristics had their merits and limits explicitly exposed in this period. Its relationship with industrialization, urbanization and modernization as well as its adjustment, therefore, is of great value as a form of historical experience.Secondly, the great difference telling American Judaist culture from cultures of other ethnic groups is the result of thousands of years of its unique religious tradition. American Jews came from different parts of the world, speaking different languages and practicing different cultures, for them conflicts were inevitable when they met in this special historical environment. But finally they all became accustomed to the American capitalist society, shedding great influence on establishing their life and eventually their development in the United States.Thirdly, religion and culture are the results of historical development, which are subject not only to the limitations of material production, but also to the influence of important historical events. The analysis and study of the creation and development of American Judaism, therefore, cannot be done to any avail without taking into consideration the historical environment of the whole world and the unique social and historical environments of the United States. Judaism is more a way of life and an attitude towards life than a religion and its content and development are, consequently, subject to influences of the major historical events in the United States and the whole world of that period.