This volume contains the proceedings of the eponymous conference held in Munster in May 1998. Central concerns are a) Jewish political thinking in France and Italy, and b) the conflict between a laicist and a religious orientation in the state of Israel. There is detailed discussion both of the change in Jewish identity among diaspora Jews and of present-day and historical interpretations of the meaning of Zionism. Of crucial significance here is the question whether Gershom Scholem's hope that the decision in favour of statehood and historical awareness would lead to a revitalization of Judaism will retain its validity for the future.