Synagogue Life: A Study in Symbolic Interaction

By Samuel C. Heilman

Book Overview

Via a participant-observer approach, Synagogue Life analyzes the three essential dimensions of synagogue life: the houses of prayer, study, and assembly. In each Heilman documents the rich detail of... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0226324885
• ISBN13: 9780226324883
• Release Date: March 1979
• Publisher: University of Chicago Press
• Length: 306 Pages
• Weight: 1.06 lbs.

Customer Reviews

The synagogue as subject of sociological study

Heilman takes a synagogue which he calls ' Kehilat Kodesh' and studies the interactions that take place within it. His goal is not to forward spiritual life but rather to provide knowledge about the 'symbolic interactions' the face- to -face meetings . He studies their rules and norms and analyzes the public space. He writes about gossip and its social functions. This book will give new knowledge about synagogue life to most readers. It is unlikely however to send anyone racing back to their siddur after having been long away from it.