Author Description

In this unique study, Stephen Levine examines the particular characteristics of New Zealand Jewry, one of the most exotic Jewish communities in the world. Because it is so far from the rest of world Jewry, this community must continually face the challenge of Jewish continuity. Levine draws attention to the diversity in Jewish identity among New Zealand's Jews, as well as to the institutionalization of new relationships between the Jewish community and Israel. Ultimately, however, Levine stresses the community's interaction with world Jewry, despite the many challenges facing such a small and remote population. The New Zealand Jewish Community will be an essential volume for students of Judaism, the sociology of religion, contemporary history, and political studies.