An ethnographic study of an American conservative synagogue: An examination of the social strategies employed by an institution and its members for the satisfaction of spiritual needs in a situation of religious pluralism

This dissertation ethnographically details a suburban Conservative synagogue which was studied by the author as a participant observer for three years from 1991 to 1994, in order to examine the impact of religious pluralism upon the ability of religious institutions to satisfy the varied and sometimes discrepant spiritual needs of their membership while at the same time maintaining the social cohesiveness of the institution. The main research question examined is in three parts: (1) How are members among whom there exists a wide range of levels of religious education, able to involve themselves practically in the activities of the institution? The way in which a congregant participates in the worship service at a Conservative synagogue is largely determined by his or her knowledge of Judaic ritual practices. This includes the extent to which he or she is able to read, if not understand the prayers, many of which are in the Hebrew language. (2) How does such an institution meet the spiritual needs of it members? (3) How is the social cohesiveness and identity of such an institution maintained when there exists a pluralism of ideological perspectives on the part of the members?;The central finding of the research was that through a division of ritual and temple related tasks which were matched to the skills, abilities, and religious sensibilities of the members, the temple as an institution was able to achieve the aims as stated above. Secondary findings included: (1) the central role that social class within the larger Jewish community had upon the formation of congregational identity; and (2) the way in which the desire of suburban congregants to express their individuality while at the same time belong to a cohesive social group as central to the conduct of the worship service.