Discourse Analysis of "Islandness"

Minority religious groups are often viewed as social islands within societies, with barriers ranging from the physical barriers of Jewish ghettos in Poland and other countries during World War II, to social barriers like the seeming ‘backwardness’ of Mennonite and Amish communities. Even post-war, Jewish communities often form social islands due to their differing traditions and, in many cities, high-population densities in specific neighbourhoods. However, one article in The Forward, a U.S.-based weekly Jewish newspaper, “Helping Homeless, One Night at a Time,” illustrates one congregation’s quest to break down the perceived barriers between one Seattle congregation and the greater population.
The article describes the efforts of the Temple Beth Am’s congregation to provide relief to Seattle’s growing homeless population. The region was harde...