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Honoring Tradition, Embracing Modernity

Honoring Tradition, Embracing Modernity

Name: Honoring Tradition, Embracing Modernity
Author: Rabbi Beth Lieberman
ISBN: 9780881233032

A Reader for the Union for Reform Judaism's Introduction to Judaism Course

Edited by Rabbi Beth Lieberman and Rabbi Hara E. Person

604 Pages7.00 × 10.00 × 1.00 in

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Digital (delivered electronically)

ISBN: 9780881233032
Published: 1st Jan 2017

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Description
Contents
Authors
Related Content

Acknowledgments
Dear Learner
Unit I. Beginnings
What is Judaism? Who Are the Jewish People?
On the Jewish People, Rabbi Rachel Timoner
Jewish Religious Pluralism, Rabbi Joan S. Friedman
On the Jewish People, Rabbi Evan Moffic
A Statement of Principles for Reform Judaism, CCAR,Pittsburgh, 1999
Jewish Ethics and Values
Midrashic Thoughts, from Mishkan HaNefesh
On Our Humanity, Rabbi Denise Eger
On Our Humanity, Rabbi Stephen Lewis Fuchs
On Our Humanity, Rabbi Judith Schindler
Not More Than My Place; Not Less Than My Space, Rabbi Laura Geller
Tzedakah, from Mishkan Moeid
Somebody’s Child, Deborah Greene
Holiness, Mitzvot, and Justice in Jewish Time, Rabbi Jonah Pesner
Unit II. Creating a Jewish Life in Time
The Jewish Calendar and Shabbat Source Texts
The Cycle of the Jewish Year, from Mishkan Moeid
The Jewish Calendar, Rabbi Alexander Guttmann
The Possibilities of Shabbat, from Gates of Shabbat
M’nuchah and M’lachah: On Observing the Sabbath in Reform Judaism, Rabbi Mark Washofsky
The Possibilities of Shabbat: Questions and Answers, from Gates of Shabbat
Welcoming Shabbat, from Gates of Shabbat
Establishing Definitions for Work and Rest on Shabbat, from Gates of Shabbat
More Thoughts on the Meaning of “Work” and “Rest,” from Gates of Shabbat
Thirty-Six More Ways to Celebrate Shabbat, from Gates of Shabbat
The Yamim Noraim (High Holy Days): The Days of Awe
Source Texts
On S’lichot, from Mishkan HaNefesh
Approaching the High Holy Days, Rabbi Elaine Zecher
Aseret Y’mei T’shuvah (The Ten Days of Repentance), from Mishkan Moeid
New Fruits and Old Crumbs for Rosh HaShanah, Ellen Zimmerman
Rosh HaShanah, from Mishkan Moeid
How to Harness the Healing Power of Forgiveness and Repentance, Aron Hirt-Manheimer
Shofar’s Voice: A Poem for the High Holidays, Stacey Zisook Robinson
Yom Kippur, from Mishkan Moeid
Fasting on Yom Kippur, from Mishkan Moeid
Indulging the Physical?, Jane E. Herman
The Three Festivals (Sukkot, Pesach, and Shavuot), Chanukah, Purim, and More
Source Texts
The Pilgrimage Festivals (Shalosh R’galim), from Mishkan Moeid
The Three Pilgrimage Festivals, Rabbi Joel Sisenwine
Dwelling in Safety on Sukkot: A Prayer for Refugees, Rabbi Michael Adam Latz
Pesach, from Mishkan Moeid
Passover Kashrut: A Reform Approach, Rabbi Mary L. Zamore
Next Year, May We All Be Free, Charlie Arnowitz
Counting the Omer, Rabbi A. Brian Stoller
Shavuot, from Mishkan Moeid
What Are the Numbers of Shavuot?, Ellen Zimmerman
Purim Source Texts
Purim, from Mishkan Moeid
An Adult Look at Purim, Rabbi Sari Laufer
Chanukah Source Texts
Chanukah, from Mishkan Moeid
Tu BiSh’vat (Fifteenth of Sh’vat), from Mishkan Moeid
The Festival of the Trees, Adam Fisher, from Seder Tu Bishevat
Tishah B’Av (Ninth of Av), from Mishkan Moeid
Unit III. The Cycle of Jewish Life
Creating a Jewish Home and Life
Source Texts
The Jewish Home: From the Physical to the Spiritual, Rabbi Joui M. Hessel, RJE
Consecration of a House, from On the Doorposts of Your House
The People of the Food, Tina Wasserman
Eating Our Values, Rabbi Mary L. Zamore
Marriage, Partnership, and More
Source Texts
Reform Jewish Sexual Values, CCAR Ad Hoc Committee on Human Sexuality
Resolution on State Restrictions on Access to Reproductive Health Services, 119th CCAR Convention
Working Together to Create a Holy Context, Rabbi Nancy H. Wiener
The Ceremony / The Wedding Canopy, Rabbi Nancy H. Wiener
Circling, Rabbi Nancy H. Wiener
The Ketubah, Rabbi Nancy H. Wiener
Rings and Vows, Rabbi Nancy H. Wiener
The Wedding Address, the Sheva B’rachot
Breaking a Glass, Rabbi Nancy H. Wiener
What Weddings Can Teach Us about Community, Rabbi Larry Karol
Divorce and Remarriage, from Navigating the Journey
Mourning a Marriage, Rabbi Laura Geller
Birth and Raising Up the Next Generation, and the Wisdom of Adulthood
Source Texts
Birth and Childhood, from Navigating the Journey
Resolution Adopted by the CCAR: The Status of Children of Mixed Marriages
CCAR Responsa: 61. A Child Raised in Two Religious Traditions
Raising and Educating a Jewish Child, from Navigating the Journey
Go and Learn from Abraham and Sarah: Jewish Responses to Facing Infertility, Daniel Kirzane and Rabbi Julie Pelc Adler
Resolution Adopted by the CCAR: Jewish Genetic Diseases
CCAR Responsa: 16. When Is Abortion Permitted
On Our Humanity, Rabbi Sue Levi Elwell
Talmud Torah: A Lifelong Pursuit, from Navigating the Journey
Lech L’cha, Go Forth: Aging as an Invitation to Gaining Wisdom, Rabbi Laura Geller
End of Life, Death, and Mourning
Source Texts
Death and Mourning, from Navigating the Journey
For the Mourner, from Mishkan T’filah for the House of Mourning
Yizkor, from Mishkan Moeid
Organ Donation, from L’Chol Z’man V’Eit
On Our Humanity, Rabbi Stephen Lewis Fuchs
Unit IV. Creating a Jewish Theology
Different Understandings of God
Source Texts
On God, Rabbi Kenneth Chasen
Women and Contemporary Revelation, Ellen M. Umansky
On God, Rabbi Paul Kipnes
On the Jewish People, Rabbi Joshua Stanton
On the Jewish People, Rabbi Bruce Kadden
On Holiness, from Mishkan HaNefesh
What Is a Mitzvah?, from Mishkan Moeid
On Halachah and Reform Judaism, Rabbi Mark Washofsky
On Our Humanity, Rabbi Micah Citrin
Our Role In the World, Rabbi Ariana Silverman
Where is the Spiritual Action? Rabbi Mike Comins
Jewish Faith, Rabbi Paul Citrin
The Synagogue
About the Sanctuary, Union Temple of Brooklyn
The Tallit, Rabbi Harvey J. Fields
Prayer
Source Texts
Jewish Music and Worship, Cantor Rosalie Boxt
The Order of Prayer, Rabbi Harvey J. Fields
Praying with Others, Rabbi Jeffrey W. Goldwasser
Building a Holy Network, Rabbi Evan Moffic
Communal Prayer, Rabbi Rachel S. Mikva
Creating New Prayers—A Controversy: Old and New, Rabbi Harvey J. Fields
Sacred Texts
Source Texts
Jewish Sacred Texts Timeline
From The Torah and the Jewish People, Rabbi Bernard J. Bamberger
Women and Interpretation of Torah, Dr. Tamara Cohn Eskenazi and Rabbi Andrea L. Weiss
Women and Post-biblical Commentary, Dr. Judith R. Baskin
Our Tree of Life, Rabbi Amy Scheinerman
Why Should Reform Jews Study Talmud? Rabbi Dvora E. Weisberg, PhD
Responsa, Rabbi Mark Washofsky
Unit V. The Jewish Story
The World of the Bible and the Rabbis and the Jewish World through the Enlightenment
Timeline of Jewish History
Four Exiles and Four Spiritual Revolutions, Dr. Joel M. Hoffman
Anti-Semitism and the Shoah (Holocaust)
Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Memorial Day), from Mishkan Moeid
Yom HaShoah, Rabbi Joel Sisenwine
The 614th Commandment, Rabbi Suzanne Singer
Love Letter to God, Rabbi Zoe Klein
Where God Dwells, Rabbi Andrew Vogel
Making Every Day a Blessing, Rabbi Kenneth Chasen
Israel and Zionism
Source Texts
Hatikvah
Prayer for the State of Israel
CCAR Resolution Condemning the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions Campaign against Israel
Yom HaZikaron (Israel Memorial Day), from Mishkan Moeid
Yom HaAtzma-ut (Israel Independence Day), from Mishkan Moeid
Restoring Tikkun Olam to Liberal Religious Zionist Activism, Rabbi Noa Sattath
The International Delegitimization Campaign against Israel and the Urgent Need of a Comprehensive, Two-State, End-of-Conflict Peace Agreement, John L. Rosove
The Tapestry of the Jewish People
How I Became a Reform Jew, Neshama Carlebach
Historical Reflections on 350 Years of American Jewish History, Rabbi Gary Phillip Zola
Denominations of American Judaism
1885 Pittsburgh Conference, CCAR
Reform Judaism—A Centenary Perspective, CCAR, San Francisco, 1976
Unit VI. Creating a Jewish Journey
A People and/or a Religion; My Jewish Journey; Next Steps and Siyum
Source Texts
Welcoming Converts, Rabbi Barry Block
Peace at Home: The Virtue of Sh’lom Bayit, from Mishkan HaNefesh
Questions You Might Be Asked by the Beit Din
Closing Note

Rabbi Beth Lieberman is passionate about growth and innovation in Jewish life. She has served both the Reform and Conservative Movements, organizing and building multigenerational faith communities, and her work in the literary world in the areas of Jewish scholarship, culture, and practice has received national acclaim. She serves as adjunct faculty at the Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion, School of Rabbinical Studies, in Los Angeles, mentoring the next generation of communal leaders. She serves on the editorial board of the CCAR Journal. Her writings have appeared in numerous publications, and she has written and taught widely about her role as literary editor and a revising translator of The JPS TANAKH: Gender-Sensitive Edition (Jewish Publication Society and Sefaria.org, 2023). She lives with her family in California, dividing her time between Los Angeles and New York. Please visit her website at www.rabbibethlieberman.com.

Rabbi Hara E. Person is the Chief Executive of Central Conference of American Rabbis. Previously, she was the CCAR's Chief Strategy Officer. In that capacity, she oversaw the Communications Department and served as Publisher of CCAR Press, and worked with leadership on overall organizational strategy. Rabbi Person was ordained in 1998 from Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion, after graduating summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Amherst College (1986) and receiving an MA in Fine Arts from New York University’s International Center of Photography (1992). She served as Educator at the Brooklyn Heights Synagogue from 1990-1996, and was the Adjunct Rabbi there from 1998-2019. Since 1998, Rabbi Person has been the High Holy Day Rabbi of Congregation B'nai Olam, Fire Island Pines, NY. Before coming to the CCAR, Rabbi Person was the Editor-in-Chief of URJ Books and Music, where she was responsible for the revision of The Torah: A Modern Commentary(2005) and the publication of many significant projects, including the Aleph Isn't Tough adult Hebrew series and Mitkadem: Hebrew for Youth as well as several award-winning children's books. While at URJ, she was also the Managing Editor of The Torah: Women's commentary, named the National Jewish Book Award Book of the Year in 2008. Rabbi Person is also the co-author of Stories of Heaven and Earth: Bible Heroes in Contemporary Children's Literature and as well as co-editor of That You May Live Long: Caring for Your Aging Parents, Caring for Yourself, and Editor of The Mitzvah Healing. Her essays and poems have been published in various anthologies and journals, including Bridges: A Jewish Feminist Journal, upstreet, Encyclopedia of Jewish American Popular Culture, Women and Judaism, The Continuum Encyclopedia of Children's Literature, and The Women's Haftarah Commentary. Rabbi Person lives in Brooklyn, NY, and is the mother of two young adults.