Open Judaism

A Guide for Believers, Atheists, and Agnostics

Barry L. Schwartz

• Publisher: The Jewish Publication Society
• Year: 2023
• ISBN:
  9780827619067
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Jewish Theology

Open Judaism offers a big-tent welcome to all Jews and Judaism. It is at once an invitation to the spiritually seeking Jew, a clarion call for a deeply pluralistic and inclusive Judaism, and a dynamic exploration of the remarkable array of thought within Judaism today. In honest, engaging language Barry L. Schwartz, a practicing rabbi and writer, presents traditional, secular-humanistic, and liberal Jewish views on nine major topics—God, soul, Torah, halakhah, Jewish identity, inclusion, Israel, ethics, and prayer. Teachings from many of Judaism's greatest thinkers organically reveal and embellish foundational ideas of Orthodox, Reform, Conservative, Reconstructionist, Renewal, and Humanistic Judaism. The conclusion sets forth core statements of belief in Judaism for believers, atheists, and agnostics, thereby summarizing the full spectrum of thought and enabling readers to make and act on their own choices.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Other Works by Rabbi Barry L. Schwartz
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Dedication
• Contents
• Preface
• Acknowledgments
• Introduction
• 1. About God
• 2. About the Soul
• 3. About the Torah
• 4. About Halakhah
• 5. About Jewish Identity
• 6. About Inclusion
• 7. About Israel
• 8. About Ethics
• 9. About Prayer
• Conclusion
• The Open Judaism Project
• Notes
• Bibliography
• Further Reading
• Index
• About Rabbi Barry L. Schwartz