Modern Conservative Judaism

Evolving Thought and Practice

Elliot N. Dorff

• Publisher: The Jewish Publication Society
• Year: 2018
• ISBN:
  9780827613874
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Jewish Theology

A major Conservative movement leader of our time, Elliot N. Dorff provides a personal, behind-the-scenes guide to the evolution of Conservative Jewish thought and practice over the last half century. His candid observations concerning the movement's ongoing tension between constancy and change shed light on the sometimes unified, sometimes diverse, and occasionally contentious reasoning behind the modern movement's most important laws, policies, and documents. Meanwhile, he has assembled, excerpted, and contextualized the most important historical and internal documents in modern Conservative movement history for the first time in one place, enabling readers to consider and compare them all in context. In "Part 1: God" Dorff explores various ways that Conservative Jews think about God and prayer. In "Part 2: Torah" he considers different approaches to Jewish study, law, and practice; changing women's roles; bioethical rulings on issues ranging from contraception to cloning; business ethics; ritual observances from online minyanim to sports on Shabbat; moral issues from capital punishment to protecting the poor; and nonmarital sex to same-sex marriage. In "Part 3: Israel" he examines Zionism, the People Israel, and rabbinic rulings in Israel.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Donor Page
• Series Page
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Dedication
• Contents
• Foreword
• Preface
• Introduction
• Part 1
• 1. Emunah: Theology
• 2. Tefillah: Prayer
• Part 2
• 3. Talmud Torah: Study
• 4. Halakhah: Legal Theories
• 5. P’sak Din: Determining Conservative Practice
• 6. Nashim: Women in Jewish Life
• 7. Ḥayyim u’Mavet: Rulings on Bioethics
• 8. Masa u’Mattan: Legal Rulings on Business Ethics
• 9. Bein Adam LaMakom: Rulings on Ritual Observance
• 10. Tikkun Olam: Moral Guidance on Social Issues
• 11. Ḥayyei Min u’Mishpaḥah: Moral Guidance on Sex and Family Life
• Part 3
• 12. Am Yisrael: Peoplehood
• 13. Tziyyonut: Zionism and the State of Israel
• 14. Teshuvot Medinat Yisrael: Masorti Responsa in and for Israel
• Epilogue
• Appendix
• Source Acknowledgments
• Notes
• Bibliography
• Authors of Excerpted Texts
• List of Classical Sources
• Index
• About Elliot N. Dorff
• Series List