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This is the book that American Jews and particularly American Reform Jews have been waiting for: a clear and informed call for further reform in the Reform movement.
In light of profound demographic, social, and technological developments, it has become increasingly clear that the Reform movement will need to make major changes to meet the needs of a quickly evolving American Jewish population. Younger Americans in particular differ from previous generations in how they relate to organized religion, often preferring to network through virtual groups or gather in informal settings of their own choosing.
Dana Evan Kaplan, an American Reform Jew and pulpit rabbi, argues that rather than focusing on the importance of loyalty to community, Reform Judaism must determine how to engage the individual in a search for existential meaning. It should move us toward a critical scholarly understanding of the Hebrew Bible, that we may emerge with the perspectives required by a postmodern world. Such a Reform Judaism can at once help us understand how the ancient world molded our most cherished religious traditions and guide us in addressing the increasingly complex social problems of our day.
- Sales Rank: #1610983 in Books
- Published on: 2013-11-01
- Original language: English
- Number of items: 1
- Dimensions: 9.22" h x 1.23" w x 6.72" l, 1.61 pounds
- Binding: Hardcover
- 384 pages
From Booklist
Rabbi Kaplan’s accessible and compelling exploration of the makings, markings, and current state of Reform Judaism provides an informative, comprehensive tour for both those new to the subject and those familiar with it. Kaplan surveys contemporary scholars, American Reform leaders, and “everyday” people who have come to Reform Judaism from other traditions or have become more aware of their identities as Reform Jews to personalize his presentation of history, social anthropology, and theology. Kaplan also does a fine job of explaining facts and discussing experiences. With a focus on individuals who reside elsewhere than the Northeastern U.S. seaboard and his own current association with a synagogue in Jamaica, the often exaggerated points of geographic and cultural connections fall away and give this book a feeling of broadness. An ideal candidate for those who find intellectual nurture in books like Martin Gilbert’s Jews in the Twentieth Century (2001) or simply wonder what exactly is this thing called being Jewish means for many in the twenty-first century. --Francisca Goldsmith
Review
Rabbi Dana Kaplan traces the ways in which Reform Judaism has met the challenges of living in a secular society and sets forth his view of what it must do moving forward. He argues that a tent so big it includes every point of view is too vague to win the souls of today's young people. Kaplan's book is a warning that, despite its expensive buildings and trained professional staffs, the Reform movement may not be able to sustain itself unless it can articulate a reason for its existence.Rabbi Jack ReimerBest Jewish Books 2013 J Weekly of Northern California
“Judaism is at a crossroads. . . . Those eager to understand and participate in this exciting new chapter in Jewish history will find extensive background and stimulation in The New Reform Judaism, a valuable contribution to this evolving discourse.”—Rabbi Rick Jacobs, president, Union for Reform Judaism (Rabbi Rick Jacobs 2013-03-05)
“Dana Evan Kaplan has become the chronicler of contemporary Reform Judaism. In this fascinating book, he takes us on a journey through the complexities of a modern liberal faith that is now confronting a period of great upheaval . . . an upheaval that impacts all Jews and all religious Americans.”—Rabbi Eric H. Yoffie, president emeritus, Union for Reform Judaism (Rabbi Eric H. Yoffie 2013-03-05)
"[The New Reform Judaism] is a useful resource for clergy as well as for synagogue and academic libraries."—Barbara M. Bibel, Jewish Book Council (Barbara M. Bibel Jewish Book Council)
"Rabbi Kaplan's accessible and compelling exploration of the makings, markings, and current state of Reform Judaism provides an informative, comprehensive tour for both those new to the subject and those familiar with it."—Francisca Goldsmith, Booklist (Francisca Goldsmith Booklist 2013-11-15)
From the Author
The New Reform Judaism covers questions of belief and practice, including what we could and should believe and how we might develop a coherent theology acceptable to most Reform Jews. In clear prose filled with interesting stories, the narrative explains why it is difficult to define "Judaism" from an essentialist point of view and how we can use a polythetic understanding of religion to build a clear description of Reform Judaism. To illustrate the difference between and essentialist definition and a polythetic understanding, consider these two cases: a clock is a device that tells time whereas a frog is a reptile that has a certain number of common characteristics but is not necessarily green and does not necessarily jump from lily pad to lily pad!
The book includes discussions of how Reform Judaism should be observed, bringing three test cases: Kashrut, Shabbat, and marriage and divorce. These cases are interesting in their own right and can be used in a congregational context to get a stimulating discussion going. I argue that many of the Reform objections to specific Jewish laws are protests of conscience. Religious laws that violate out ethical sensitivities will not be acceptable to us under any circumstances. But where does this ethical sensitivity come from?
I also describe the revival of traditional practices and the various attempts to promote specific ritual behavior. Here the reader will see the names of some of the best known Reform rabbis of the previous generation including Rabbi Solomon Freehof, who paraphrased Mordecai Kaplan's Reconstructionist dictum that, "the past has a voice, not a veto." Freehof called for "guidance rather than governance." Beginning on page 148, the text describes how the UAHC responded to the, "unprecedented challenge" of antinomianism and anomie. As early as 1997, Rabbi Eric H. Yoffie said, "This is the single most momentous hour in the history of our movement. We must now decide whether our Reform heritage will be permitted to wither, or if it will be handed over to generations to come."
The book describes the "revolution" that has taken place in both worship and practice, as well as values and ethics, outlining some of the better known challenges that we have faced as well as describing some of the "cutting edge" issues that are only now being discussed.
Towards the end of the book, I ask "Who is a (Reform) Jew?" which has been one of my main research interests for many years. On page 240, I call for "a more aggressive proselytization policy." The book also looks at the boundaries of Reform Judaism, again bringing three test cases, in this case: Messianic Judaism, Jubus, and Judaism with a Humanistic perspective.
The book includes many of the spiritual and organizational accomplishments of recent decades but does not hesitate to be critical when it seems justified. On page 312, for example, I write "There is a devil's bargain being made between an often self-satisfied leadership and an apathetic laity. Many Reform synagogues have large numbers on the books but few active participants. We are now seeing the consequences of the benign neglect that has been plaguing Reform Judaism for many years."
The New Reform Judaism concludes with many of the religious developments that are likely to shape the spiritual landscape of the next ten years including the development of the cyber sanctuary and the virtual congregation, integrating meditation and Eastern philosophies, creative expression of spirituality through art, music, and dance, and adventure religion and wilderness Judaism.
I conclude with the promise of Reform Judaism, arguing that the theological contradiction inherent in our contemporary religious environment can be seen as a healthy part of postmodern pluralism. Nevertheless, in an era in which boundaries and borders of all kinds are fading if not disappearing, we urgently need to clarify what we believe religiously. Then we need to communicate those religious beliefs with conviction and passion.
The book includes a forward by Rabbi Eric H. Yoffie and an afterword by Rabbi Rick Jacobs.
"Judaism is at a crossroads ... Those eager to understand and participate in this exciting new chapter in Jewish history will find extensive background and stimulation in The New Reform Judaism, a valuable contribution to this evolving discourse." Rabbi Rick Jacobs, president, Union for Reform Judaism.
"Rabbi Dana Evan Kaplan has become the chronicler of contemporary Reform Judaism. In this fascinating book, he takes us on a journey through the complexities of a modern liberal faith that is now confronting a period of great upheaval ... an upheaval that impacts all Jews and all religious Americans." Rabbi Eric H. Yoffie, president emeritus, Union for Reform Judaism.
Most helpful customer reviews
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful.
REFORM JUDAISM -- PREPARE TO BE SURPRISED
By Rick L
This book is a publication of The Jewish Publication Society and that guarantees me of quality. This book purports to be and apparently is a very thorough introduction to Reform Judaism, of which I previously knew nothing. RJ is a couple hundred years old and it rejected all the laws and rituals of Orthodox Judaism. Kaplan spells out the RJ position is that the Hebrew Bible was inspired by God, but written by men. Therefore, RJ appeals to modern and ongoing inspiration to develop and maintain its religion and spirituality.
RJ's abandonment of Torah commands and rituals has allowed its spirituality to overflow, especially in the area of social justice. So, for example, RJ endorses and enforces full equality for women in its "denomination" of Judaism. And, it quickly overturned any biases toward gays, lesbians, bisexual, and transgendered, as all these are people created in God's image. There are marriage or union ceremonies for gays in RJ.
The book testifies that there is a wide spectrum of belief and practices in Judaism, which I could not have imagined. It gives a blueprint for updating other religions in parallel fashion, and demonstrates what that change might look like, and how they might rationalize those changes, within the framework of a courageous reinterpretation of the Bible.
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful.
A powerful indictment of current trends in Reform Judaism
By William K. Berkson
"Whether you call [the Reform movement] salad bar religion or a filling-station synagogue, the imagery is not pleasant. There is a devil's bargain being made between an often self-satisfied leadership and an apathetic laity. Many Reform synagogues have large numbers on the books but few active participants. We are now seeing the consequences of the benign neglect that has been plaguing Reform Judaism for many years." (p. 312)
This is Reform Rabbi Kaplan's indictment of current Reform Judaism, which in his view sorely needs a new, coherent theological vision if it is to thrive in the future. Strikingly, the forward to the book by Rabbi Eric Yoffie, outgoing President of the Union for Reform Judaism, and the afterward, by Rabbi Rick Jacobs, the new President of the URJ, both disagree with the thesis of the book.
I, as an active Reform Jew, find Rabbi Kaplan's message a very welcome voice, especially coming from clergy, and hope that many others will join him in rejecting the current 'cafeteria' or as he puts it 'salad bar' approach which tries to be all things to all people. The problem with the dominant approach is that it has no power to inspire or lead.
Proverbs 29:18 says 'Where there is no vision, the people fall into disorder, but happy are they who keep the Torah." The current Reform movement lacks vision, and the people have fallen into disorder. Thus to me Rabbi Kaplan's thesis is sound, and Rabbi Yoffie's and Jacobs's rejection of it a very worrisome indicator of continuing problems.
The bulk of this book is reportage on the development of the reform movement. He summarizes past Reform Jewish history, and chronicles the recent history of how we came to be in the current situation. You can read only here about recent turmoil in Reform Judaism, which makes the book invaluable to Reform Jews who are not in the know about what has happened in the leadership, and do care about the future of Reform Judaism.
I do have some disagreements with Rabbi Kaplan's characterization of Reform history, as I don't think he gives enough weight to conflicting views within the Reform movement. Classical Reform in America, from 1885 to the 1920s, did reject halacha and the Talmud, but some earlier and later leaders acknowledged the importance of the Talmudic heritage, and wanted a kind of Reform halacha. Currently Rabbi Mark Washofsky, author of Jewish Living, represents the 'Reform halacha' view. Rabbi Richard N. Levy's A Vision of Holiness advocated instead the Reform 'salad bar' view that Rabbi Kaplan criticizes in this volume.
I will be looking forward to seeing whether other Reform leaders follow Rabbi Kaplan's clear sighted and courageous assessment of the problems of the Reform movement.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful.
Excellent overview.
By quiske
This is an excellent overview of past and present Reform Judaism from the perspective of the Union for Reform Judaism. Reform Judaism has consciously undertaken to move away from many traditional practices, resulting in many controversies over which new directions to take. The value of the book is greatly enhanced by Kaplan's candid description of these controversies. Interestingly, Kaplan refers repeatedly to Reform Judaism's special respect for modern biblical scholarship, without indicating how that respect manifests itself in the life of contemporary Reform congregations.
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