In Landing’s chapter on Black Judaism in Philadelphia, he describes the movement for Black Judaism in Philadelphia beginning at the end of the 19th century through 1970. Previous academic work has focused on Chicago and Harlem as sites of Black Jewish life and thought. However, Landing closely examines the Black Jewish community in Philadelphia to analyze the internal dynamics of the community, the external impact they had on Black Judaism nationally, and how the group changed throughout the 20th century. Landing’s careful description of Black Judaism in Philadelphia offers essential insight about how different Jewish communities form a sense of identity and community across both time and space. Additionally, he pays extra attention to the ways that cultural markers and rituals varied within different communities of Black Jewish people. Ultimately, Landing argues that Philadelphia served as an essential center of Black Judaism which disseminated ideas and established important community relationships from 1900 to 1920.

Landing enriches his work by using strong, detailed descriptions of how Black Judaism did or did not adopt specific Jewish practices, rituals, and customs. These details provides substantial material to compare the religious practices of Black Judaism with those of the white Jews living in Philadelphia. Landing uses comparison of Jewish religious practice as a starting point for examining the relationship between the Black and white Jewish communities in Philadelphia. Furthermore, Landing analyzes Black Jewish religious observance to consider the ideological overlap between Black Judaism and fundamentalist Christian ideas. Landing could have strengthened his work by more deeply engaging with the ways that the Black Jewish community related to other Black faith communities in Philadelphia. Additionally, Landing’s careful language allows him to address how different actors created and defined “Black Judaism” as a distinct identity. His specific wording speaks to the nuanced way that communities in Philadelphia associated themselves with Black Judaism. However, I wish that Landing had spoke more directly to the broader impact of Black Judaism on our understanding of Jewish identity creation. As we learn more about the myriad of ways Jewish people have gathered, practiced, and understood themselves, Landing’s text offers a unique perspective on Jewish identity and community.

Source: Landing, Black Judaism, “Black Judaism in Philadelphia”, (339-359)