At first glance, a bottle of peanut oil or a pack of trading cards might not seem to be appropriate sources for an exploration of Orthodox Judaism in the United States. As Zev Eleff demonstrates, however, debates surrounding the use of peanut oil during Passover and the selling and trading of “Torah Personalities” rabbi cards are useful avenues for understanding how Orthodoxy in America is both deeply rooted in and also in continual tension with contemporary trends, from material culture fads to political movements. Eleff’s fascinating study also finds Orthodox Jews and conservative Christians developing similar responses to the same dilemmas posed by forces external to their “tradition-bound” faith systems. Ultimately, Authentically Orthodox seeks to understand how leaders and practitioners of Orthodox Judaism in the United States have used the framework of authenticity as a means of both adapting to and resisting change.
Eleff, who serves as the president of...
