Can the teachings of Judaism provide a sacred framework for repairing the world?
In this groundbreaking volume, leading rabbis, intellectuals, and activists explore the relationship between Judaism and social justice, drawing on ancient and modern sources of wisdom. The contributors argue that American Jewry must move beyond “mitzvah days” and other occasional service programs, and dedicate itself to systemic change in the United States, Israel, and throughout the world. These provocative essays concentrate on specific justice issues such as eradicating war, global warming, health care, gay rights and domestic violence, offering practical ways to transform theory into practice, and ideas into advocacy.
Rich and passionate, these expressions will inspire you to consider your obligations as a Jew, as an American and as a global citizen, while challenging you to take thoughtful and effective action in the world.
Contributors:
Martha Ackelsberg, PhD Rabbi Rebecca Alpert, PhD Diane Balser, PhD Jeremy Benstein, PhD Rabbi Phyllis Berman Ellen Bernstein Marla Brettschneider, PhD Rabbi Sharon Brous Aryeh Cohen, PhD Stephen P. Cohen, PhD Rabbi Elliot N. Dorff, PhD Aaron Dorfman Jacob Feinspan Rabbi Marla Feldman Sandra M. Fox, LCSW Julia Greenberg Mark Hanis Rabbi Jill Jacobs Rabbi Jane Kanarek, PhD Rabbi Elliot Rose Kukla Joshua Seth Ladon Arieh Lebowitz Rabbi Michael Lerner, PhD Shaul Magid, PhD Rabbi Natan Margalit, PhD Ruth Messinger Jay Michaelson Rabbi Micha Odenheimer Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner Judith Plaskow, PhD Judith Rosenbaum, PhD April Rosenblum Adam Rubin, PhD Danya Ruttenberg Rabbi David Saperstein Joel Schalit Rabbi Sidney Schwarz, PhD Martin I. Seltman, MD Dara Silverman Daniel Sokatch Shana Starobin Naomi Tucker Abigail Uhrman Rabbi Arthur Waskow, PhD Rabbi Melissa Weintraub
Can the teachings of Judaism provide a sacred framework for repairing the world?
In this groundbreaking volume, leading rabbis, intellectuals, and activists explore the relationship between Judaism and social justice, drawing on ancient and modern sources of wisdom. The contributors argue that American Jewry must move beyond “mitzvah days” and other occasional service programs, and dedicate itself to systemic change in the United States, Israel, and throughout the world. These provocative essays concentrate on specific justice issues such as eradicating war, global warming, health care, gay rights and domestic violence, offering practical ways to transform theory into practice, and ideas into advocacy.
Rich and passionate, these expressions will inspire you to consider your obligations as a Jew, as an American and as a global citizen, while challenging you to take thoughtful and effective action in the world.
Contributors:
Martha Ackelsberg, PhD Rabbi Rebecca Alpert, PhD Diane Balser, PhD Jeremy Benstein, PhD Rabbi Phyllis Berman Ellen Bernstein Marla Brettschneider, PhD Rabbi Sharon Brous Aryeh Cohen, PhD Stephen P. Cohen, PhD Rabbi Elliot N. Dorff, PhD Aaron Dorfman Jacob Feinspan Rabbi Marla Feldman Sandra M. Fox, LCSW Julia Greenberg Mark Hanis Rabbi Jill Jacobs Rabbi Jane Kanarek, PhD Rabbi Elliot Rose Kukla Joshua Seth Ladon Arieh Lebowitz Rabbi Michael Lerner, PhD Shaul Magid, PhD Rabbi Natan Margalit, PhD Ruth Messinger Jay Michaelson Rabbi Micha Odenheimer Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner Judith Plaskow, PhD Judith Rosenbaum, PhD April Rosenblum Adam Rubin, PhD Danya Ruttenberg Rabbi David Saperstein Joel Schalit Rabbi Sidney Schwarz, PhD Martin I. Seltman, MD Dara Silverman Daniel Sokatch Shana Starobin Naomi Tucker Abigail Uhrman Rabbi Arthur Waskow, PhD Rabbi Melissa Weintraub
Foreword David Ellenson Acknowledgments Introduction PART JUDAISM, JUSTICE, AND AMERICAN LIFE Can Social Justice Save the American Jewish Soul? Sidney Schwarz What Does Tikkun Olam Actually Mean? Jane Kanarek Divine Limitation and Human Responsibility Or N Rose Preaching What I Practice: The Power of Jewish Organizing Margie Klein The Legacy of Abraham Joshua Heschel: Jewish Spirituality and Political Transformation Michael Lerner Religious Leadership and Politics David Saperstein PART II RENEWING CREATION: JUDAISM AND THE ENVIRONMENT Rereading Genesis: Human Stewardship of the Earth Ellen Bernstein Jewish Textual Practice and Sustainable Culture Natan Margalit Wonder and Restraint: A Rabbinical Call to Environmental Action COEJL Toxic Waste and the Talmud Jeremy Benstein Judaism, Oil, and Renewable Energy Shana Starobin PART III THE TEMPLE OF THE SPIRIT: THE HUMAN BODY Redemption for Radicals: Jewish Congregation-Based Community Organizing Jonah Dov Pesner The Blood of Our Neighbors: American Health Care Reform Sandra Fox and Martin Seltman The Global AIDS Crisis: Caring for the Sick by Standing with the Activists Jacob Feinspan and Julia Greenberg A Jewish View of Embryonic Stem Cell Research Elliot N Dorff The Brownsville Legacy: Judaism and Reproductive Rights Judith Rosenbaum Looking Inward: Domestic Violence within the Jewish Community Naomi Tucker PART IV THE YOKE OF OPPRESSION: SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE Hearing the Voice of the Poor Aryeh Cohen A Jewish Vision for Economic Justice Jill Jacobs Why a Labor Movement Matters Arieh Lebowitz And If Not Together, How? Jews and Immigration in the United States Dara Silverman vi CONTENTS Gracious Giver of Wisdom: Recovering America's Great Public School System Marla Feldman and Joshua Seth Ladon The Possibility of Change: An Argument for Restorative Justice Sharon Brous and Daniel Sokatch PART V KLAL YISRAEL: CREATING AN INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY The Significance of Sex: Social Order and Post-Mythic Religion Jay Michaelson Beyond Same-Sex Marriage: Social Justice and Sexual Values in Judaism Martha Ackelsberg and Judith Plaskow Priority Lists: A Dialogue on Judaism, Feminism, and Activism Rebecca Alpert and Danya Ruttenberg Created Beings of Our Own: Toward a Jewish Liberation Theology for Men, Women, and Everyone Else Elliot Rose Kukla Multiracial Jewish Families: A Personal and Political Approach to Justice Politics Marla Brettschneider Differently Abled: The Lesson of Rabbi Elazar Abigail Uhrman PART VI SEEKING PEACE: ISRAEL, PALESTINE, AND AMERICAN JEWRY Warriors, Prophets, Peacemakers, and Disciples: A Call to Action in the Face of Religiously Inspired Violence Melissa Weintraub Plotting the Middle Path to Israeli-Palestinian Peace: The Role of American Jews Diane Balser Imitatio Dei and/as Shared Space: A Jewish Theological Argument for Sharing the Holy Land Shaul Magid Everything Falls Apart Joel Schalit The Challenge of Making Peace Stephen P Cohen PART VII THE SEVENTY NATIONS: GLOBAL CONCERNS Am I My Brother’s Keeper If My Brother Lives Halfway Around the World? Ruth Messinger and Aaron Dorfman A Jewish Response to Globalization Micha Odenheimer "Silence Is Akin to Assent": Judaism and the War in Iraq Adam Rubin Once Again: Genocide in Darfur Mark Hanis How to Split the Sea: Anti-Semitism and Social Change April Rosenblum Reopening the Tent of Abraham Phyllis Berman and Arthur Waskow Notes Credits Righteous Indignation on the Web About the Editors