Judaism, History, Specific Demographics, Cultural 

Virtually all immigrants to Israel after 1949 were regarded as Jewish in their countries of origin. When they arrived in their new home, however, the enormous social and cultural differences among them and the varieties of their religious customs provided the stimulus for the recognition of new, distinct ethnic groups. This book is the result of a field study conducted in Ethiopia and Israel to document specific expressions of religious customs and their methods of transmission. Four religiously observant groups were studied: Ashkenazim, Sephardim, veteran Ethiopians, and recently arrived Ethiopians. Soroff comprehensively describes how the groups express their identities while maintaining their physical boundaries. The book also defines the roles of women and men in the transmission of ethnic identity. Contents: Introduction; The Setting; History of Immigration to Israel; Ethnic History of Study Groups; Ashkenazim: The Standard-Bearers; Sephardim: Mellow Orthodoxy; Veteran Ethiopians: Ancient Traditions in Transition; New Ethiopians: Guardians of the Ancient Traditions; Conclusion. - from Amzon