AMERICAN JEWS IN ISRAEL

A student of group identity whose works on Negro Americans, Americans in China and India (notably, Scratches on Our Minds) entitle him to examine the puzzling problem of American Jews in Israel with objectivity, understanding and a measure of challenge. In numbers, there are fewer American Jews in Israel than one might expect--and a large percentage of them still cling to their American citizenship, and too many by far abandon Israel when the way of life becomes too tough. The name they go by-""Anglo-Saxon""--immediately sets them apart as a contradiction. Mr. Isaacs explores through interviews why they came, what they mean by being a Jew or being au; American or becoming. Israelis. He finds in the goal of America as an ""open society"" with complete mobility a uniqueness that American Jews in Israel find hard to abandon for the intransigeance of Israeli limitations--in religion, in politics, in standard of living. In the process of this examination he reveals much that is often hidden about Israel. At the moment there is a timeliness that will sharpen interest-even as events must have Spurred American Jews in Israel to a decision.