German Studies Review · 1988 · 190 citations · 0 references
HumanitiesGermanHistoryCultural HistoryJewish StudiesSocial HistoryGerman Cultural HistoryGerman Social HistoryGerman-jewish StudiesJewish CommunitiesJewish HistoryJudaismGerman-jewish HistoryGerman-jewish Intellectual HistoryGerman-jewish Social HistoryJewish Assimilation In GermanyJewish Emancipation In GermanyJewish Identity FormationMetamorphosisSubculture Formation
In the period from 1780 to 1840 German Jewry underwent a twofold revolution that set the basic patterns of its experience for the century to follow: the end of the Jews's feudal status as an autonomous community forced them to face a protracted process of political and civic emancipation and a far-reaching social metamorphosis, while their encounter with the surrounding culture resulted in an intense productivity. In this groundbreaking study, David Sorkin argues that emancipation and the encounter with German culture and society led not to assimilation but to the creation of a new Jewish identity and community - a vibrant subculture - that produced many of Judaism's modern movements and a pantheon of outstanding writers, artists, composers, scientists, and academics.