Place Of Book-Learning Traditional Jewish Culture.

摘要

In this paper the author reconstructs the education of the East European Jew, bringing into sharp relief the cultural patterns which give rise to that education and, in turn, are perpetuated through the educational content and system. Intellectual achievement is the universal goal. Life-long study is considered to be com manded directly by God and highest social status goes to him who can give evidence of prolonged and fruitful study. This status is transmitted as a family heritage but it can also be attained by the poorest individual who is well versed in the content and interpretation of the Holy Books-'Better a learned bastard than an ignorant priest. This pattern is traced through acculturation processes outside of the Jewish communities in East Europe and its basic components in Jewish life in the United States are pointed out. Mr. Zborowski is a Research Consultant for the Columbia University project, Research in Contemporary Cultures, and a staff member of the Yiddish Scientific Institute. He is a graduate of the University of Paris and the Paris Institute of Ethnology, and Eleve Titulaire de l'Ecole des Hautes Etudes d'Histoire des Religions.