Contents

Foreword Steven A. Fox ix Introduction: Not in the Heavens, Not Beyond the Sea, but Close to Us Rabbi Dana Evan Kaplan, PhD xi

Part One • Knowing God 1

1. Critical Thoughts on a Reform Jewish Theology Michael A. Meyer, PhD 7

2. An Experiential Approach to God Rabbi Rachel Timoner 13

3. My Fragmented Theology as a Reform Rabbi and Daughter of a Holocaust Survivor Rabbi Suzanne Singer 21

4. Where God Meets Gender Rabbi Elyse Goldstein 31

5. Speaking Truthfully about God Rabbi Michael Marmur, PhD 39

6. The Persistence of Life after Life Rabbi Paul Golomb 47

From A Life of Meaning: Embracing Reform 's Sacred Path. Copyright © 2018 by the Central Conference of American . Used by permission of Central Conference of American Rabbis. All rights reserved. Not to be distributed, sold or copied without express written permission. iv • A L i f e o f M e a n i n g

7. Science and Faith Rabbi Geoffrey A. Mitelman 57

8. The God Thing Rabbi David W. Nelson, PhD 67

Part Two • Choosing Covenant 77

9. Chosen for Torah Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch 81

10. Refining the Covenant Rabbi Rachel Sabath Beit-Halachmi, PhD 89

11. Is Authentic Judaism? Rabbi Kari Hofmaister Tuling, PhD 103

12. Jewish Religious Pluralism Rabbi Joan S. Friedman, PhD 111

13. Freedom within Limits Rabbi Jan Katzew, PhD 123

14. Let Every Blade of Grass Sing a Song of Praise Rabbi Shoshanah Conover 135

15. What Is Modern about Reform Judaism? Robert M. Seltzer, PhD 149

16. A of the Soul Rabbi Stanley M. Davids 165

17. The Role of Reform Judaism in Israel Rabbi Gilad Kariv 175

Part Three • Connecting to the Divine 179

18. The Power and Pitfalls of Personal Religious Autonomy Rabbi Ben Zeidman 183

From A Life of Meaning: Embracing Reform Judaism's Sacred Path. Copyright © 2018 by the Central Conference of American Rabbis. Used by permission of Central Conference of American Rabbis. All rights reserved. Not to be distributed, sold or copied without express written permission. Contents • v

19. The Jewish Path Rabbi Mark Washofsky, PhD 191

20. Mitzvah/Mitzvot Rabbi Carole B. Balin, PhD 199

21. Eating Our Values Rabbi Mary L. Zamore 207

22. Shabbat as a Spiritual Practice Rabbi Lisa L. Goldstein 217

23. Take Back Your Time Rabbi Mark Dov Shapiro 227

24. Ceremony versus Ritual Rabbi Stephanie M. Alexander 237

25. Seeking a Wild Heart in Wilderness Rabbi Mike Comins 241

26. Toward a Reform Jewish Mysticism Rabbi Ted Falcon, PhD 255

Part Four • Living the Texts 267

27. Four Exiles and Four Spiritual Revolutions Joel M. Hoffman, PhD 271

28. Our Tree of Life Rabbi Amy Scheinerman 289

29. Reform Approaches to Our Sacred Texts Rabbi Geoffrey W. Dennis 299

30. Hebrew in the Reform Movement Rabbi Hillel Gamoran 311

31. Why Reform Should Study Rabbi Dvora E. Weisberg, PhD 319

From A Life of Meaning: Embracing Reform Judaism's Sacred Path. Copyright © 2018 by the Central Conference of American Rabbis. Used by permission of Central Conference of American Rabbis. All rights reserved. Not to be distributed, sold or copied without express written permission. vi • A L i f e o f M e a n i n g

32. Reflections on Prayer Rabbi Peter S. Knobel, PhD 329

33. Worship and the Prayer Book Rabbi Richard S. Sarason, PhD 335

34. Reform Liturgy: Then and Now Rabbi Dalia Marx, PhD 349

35. Music and Worship Cantor Rosalie Boxt 369

Part Five • Building Community 377

36. Community: The Vehicle for Fulfilling the Jewish Dream Rabbi Charles A. Kroloff 381

37. Finding Meaning in Our Connectedness across the Generations Joshua Holo, PhD 389

38. Tradition! Transition! Rabbi Lisa Edwards, PhD 395

39. Family Rabbi Sue Levi Elwell, PhD 403

40. Contemporary Jewish Sex Ethics Rabbi David A. Teutsch, PhD 413

41. Converting to Judaism Rabbi Dana Evan Kaplan, PhD 423

42. A Personal Comment by a Reform Rabbi on Conversion Rabbi David Ellenson, PhD 435

43. Interfaith Families Rabbi Rachel Gurevitz, PhD 439

From A Life of Meaning: Embracing Reform Judaism's Sacred Path. Copyright © 2018 by the Central Conference of American Rabbis. Used by permission of Central Conference of American Rabbis. All rights reserved. Not to be distributed, sold or copied without express written permission. Contents • vii

44. Millennials: Building the Future of Reform Judaism Evan Traylor 451

45. Creating a Life of Meaning by Caring for Others Rabbi Neal Gold 463

46. Sacred Aging Rabbi Richard F. Address, DMin 471

Part Six • Dignity of the Other 477

47. Sacred Relationships William Berkson, PhD 481

48. Mussar and the Development of Spiritual Practices Alan Morinis, DPhil, and Rabbi Barry Block 493

49. The Centrality of Social Justice in Reform Judaism Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner and Rabbi David N. Saperstein 503

50. Integrating Our Stories: LGBTQ Folks in the Jewish Community Rabbi Nikki Lyn DeBlosi, PhD 515

51. Jews and Race Rabbi Rachel S. Mikva, PhD 525

52. A Reform Jewish Response to Poverty Rabbi Amy Schwartzman 541

53. Tending to the Sick Rabbi Shira Stern, DMin, BCC 549

54. Reform Judaism’s Healing Tent Rabbi Pearl Barlev, MAHL, BCC 557

55. The Mission of Israel among Humanity Rabbi Lance J. Sussman, PhD 569

From A Life of Meaning: Embracing Reform Judaism's Sacred Path. Copyright © 2018 by the Central Conference of American Rabbis. Used by permission of Central Conference of American Rabbis. All rights reserved. Not to be distributed, sold or copied without express written permission. viii • A L i f e o f M e a n i n g

56. The Importance of Reform Judaism Rabbi Eric H. Yoffie 579

Acknowledgments 591 About the Authors 595 Classsical Sources Cited 611 Index 617

From A Life of Meaning: Embracing Reform Judaism's Sacred Path. Copyright © 2018 by the Central Conference of American Rabbis. Used by permission of Central Conference of American Rabbis. All rights reserved. Not to be distributed, sold or copied without express written permission.