In 1919, as American Judaism stood at a crossroads, scholar Israel Friedlaender issued a prescient warning about the mounting crisis of Jewish identity in the United States. His essay "The Problems of Judaism in America" challenged the superficial expansion of American Jewish communities, revealing a troubling pattern of "de-Judaization" among second and third-generation immigrants. Through historical analysis and cultural critique, Friedlaender diagnosed a fundamental flaw in Judaism's modernization: its reduction to mere religious doctrine during the emancipation period had stripped away centuries of rich cultural heritage. His theoretical framework proposed a bold reimagining of American Jewish identity, advocating for an evolution from narrow religious parameters to a comprehensive cultural model that would bridge traditional Jewish values with modern American life. Friedlaender's vision culminated in a blueprint for a "sharply marked community, distinct and distinguished" - one that would maintain authentic Jewish consciousness through enhanced education, scholarship, and cultural development while making meaningful contributions to American civilization. His prophetic analysis, cut short by his death in 1920, continues to resonate with contemporary debates about Jewish-American identity and cultural preservation.