Contents
Foreword Rabbi 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 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. 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 Reform Judaism 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 Zionism 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 Jews Should Study Talmud 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.