Modern Halakhah for Our Time

Modern Halakhah for Our Time
Author: Emanuel Rackman
Publisher:
Total Pages: 216
Release: 1995
Genre: Religion
ISBN:

Of the few that have produced such legal codes, Judaism is perhaps the most law-oriented. But though much has been published on Judaism's legal aspects, little of it relates to the coordination of its legal and theological sides. It is therefore altogether appropriate that Rabbi Emanuel Rackman, one of the few who has, is a trained lawyer as well as a rabbi.

Studies in Contemporary Jewry

Studies in Contemporary Jewry
Author: Ezra Mendelsohn
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Total Pages: 400
Release: 1997-01-30
Genre: History
ISBN: 0195354680

Literary Strategies: Jewish Texts and Contexts collects essays on Jewish literature which deal with "the manifold ways that literary texts reveal their authors' attitudes toward their own Jewish identity and toward diverse aspects of the 'Jewish question.'" Essays in this volume explore the tension between Israeli and Diaspora identities, and between those who write in Hebrew or Yiddish and those who write in other "non-Jewish" languages. The essays also explore the question of how Jewish writers remember history in their "search for a useable past." From essays on Jabotinsky's virtually unknown plays to Philip Roth's novels, this book provides a strong overview of contemporary themes in Jewish literary studies.

Halakhah

Halakhah
Author: Chaim N. Saiman
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Total Pages: 312
Release: 2020-09-29
Genre: Philosophy
ISBN: 0691210853

How the rabbis of the Talmud transformed Jewish law into a way of thinking and talking about everything Typically translated as "Jewish law," halakhah is not an easy match for what is usually thought of as law. This is because the rabbinic legal system has rarely wielded the political power to enforce its rules, nor has it ever been the law of any state. Even more idiosyncratically, the talmudic rabbis claim the study of halakhah is a holy endeavor that brings a person closer to God—a claim no country makes of its law. Chaim Saiman traces how generations of rabbis have used concepts forged in talmudic disputation to do the work that other societies assign not only to philosophy, political theory, theology, and ethics but also to art, drama, and literature. Guiding readers across two millennia of richly illuminating perspectives, this panoramic book shows how halakhah is not just "law" but an entire way of thinking, being, and knowing.

A New Hasidism: Branches

A New Hasidism: Branches
Author: Arthur Green
Publisher: U of Nebraska Press
Total Pages: 512
Release: 2019-10
Genre: Philosophy
ISBN: 0827617976

You are invited to enter the new-old pathway of Neo-Hasidism—a movement that uplifts key elements of Hasidism’s Jewish revival of two centuries ago to reexamine the meaning of existence, see everything anew, and bring the world as it is and as it can be closer together. This volume brings this discussion into the twenty-first century, highlighting Neo-Hasidic approaches to key issues of our time. Eighteen contributions by leading Neo-Hasidic thinkers open with the credos of Zalman Schachter-Shalomi and Arthur Green. Or Rose wrestles with reinterpreting the rebbes’ harsh teachings concerning non-Jews. Ebn Leader assesses the perils of trusting one’s whole being to a single personality: can Neo-Hasidism endure as a living tradition without a rebbe? Shaul Magid candidly calibrates Shlomo Carlebach: how “the singing rabbi” transformed him and why Magid eventually walked away. Other contributors engage questions such as: How might women enter this hitherto gendered sphere created by and for men? How can we honor and draw nourishment from other religions’ teachings? Can the rebbes’ radiant wisdom guide those who struggle with self-diminishment to reclaim wholeness? Together these intellectually honest and spiritually robust conversations inspire us to grapple anew with Judaism’s legacy and future.

The Evolution of Halakha

The Evolution of Halakha
Author: Avishai Blau
Publisher: Independently Published
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2023-04-11
Genre:
ISBN:

The Evolution of Halakha: How Orthodox Judaism Adapts to Modern Times is a comprehensive exploration of the Orthodox Jewish legal system and its ongoing adaptation to the challenges and opportunities of modernity. In this book, the author delves into the rich history of halakha, tracing its evolution from its earliest origins to the present day. Along the way, the book examines the key debates and controversies that have shaped the Orthodox Jewish community, including the role of women in the synagogue, the acceptance of LGBTQ+ individuals, and the ongoing tension between tradition and modernity. Through in-depth analysis and engaging storytelling, the book offers a nuanced and thoughtful perspective on the ways in which the Orthodox Jewish community has navigated the complexities of modern times. It presents a range of perspectives and voices, drawing on the insights of rabbis, scholars, and community members to paint a complex and multifaceted picture of this dynamic legal system. Ultimately, The Evolution of Halakha offers a powerful testament to the resilience and adaptability of the Orthodox Jewish community. It is a must-read for anyone interested in the intersection of tradition and modernity, and in the ongoing evolution of one of the world's most fascinating legal systems.

Coherent Judaism

Coherent Judaism
Author: Shai Cherry
Publisher: Academic Studies PRess
Total Pages: 712
Release: 2021-06-29
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1644693429

Coherent Judaism begins by excavating the theologies within the Torah and tracing their careers through the Jewish Enlightenment of the eighteenth century. Any compelling, contemporary Judaism must cohere as much as possible with traditional Judaism and everything else we believe to be true about our world. The challenge is that over the past two centuries, our understandings of both the Torah and nature have radically changed. Nevertheless, much Jewish wisdom can be translated into a contemporary idiom that both coheres with all that we believe and enriches our lives as individuals and within our communities. Coherent Judaism explains why pre-modern Judaism opted to privilege consensus around Jewish behavior (halakhah) over belief. The stresses of modernity have conspired to reveal the incoherence of that traditional approach. In our post-Darwinian and post-Holocaust world, theology must be able to withstand the challenges of science and history. Traditional Jewish theologies have the resources to meet those challenges. Coherent Judaism concludes by presenting a philosophy of halakhah that is faithful to the covenantal aspiration to live long on the land that the Lord, our God, has given us.

A Guide to the Complex

A Guide to the Complex
Author: Shlomo M. Brody
Publisher: Koren Publishers
Total Pages: 456
Release: 2014-09-22
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 9781592643516

Abortion, stem-cell research, conversion standards, female rabbis, DNA testing, animal cruelty, civil marriages in Israel. While today's most hot-button halakhic issues elicit strong opinions on all sides, few understand the halakhic origins of their views, their historical development or social implications. Without fully grasping the issues at hand, respectful dialogue between conflicting opinions becomes impossible. In A Guide to the Complex, Brody presents over 130 of the most provocative, controversial topics in Jewish law today. The book's concise, articulate essays, based on the author's popular "Ask the Rabbi" column in The Jerusalem Post, cite sources and scholars from across the ideological spectrum in an effort to increase respect for the diversity of voices of the halakhic dialogue. This compendium of highly relevant essays gives an accurate picture of the legal, historical, and sociological factors that are fundamental to understanding halakhic debates.