the idea for the formation of a professional organization for scholars specializing in the sociology of jewry first surfaced in 1966; the concept was discussed by werner j. cahnman and norman l. friedman at an american sociological association (asa) conference. the association was informally launched by norman friedman and bernard lazerwitz in 1970; the event, titled "the sociological study of jewry" took place at the asa annual conference. sociologists solomon poll, mervin verbit and arnold dashevsky submitted a motion to establish a formal group; the motion was voted upon and accepted. the new group, the association for the social scientific study of jewry (assj or asssj) was launched and formally met the following year. the group has since organized annual conferences, established the academic journal "contemporary jewry", founded the "assj newsletter" and honors exceptional scholars in the field with the marshall sklare award.