Taking Hold Of Torah: Jewish Commitment And Community In America

Book Summary

Jews, like other Americans, have both benefited and suffered from the fraying of traditional loyalties that has come to characterize modern American culture. In each of the five chapters, Arnold M. Eisen examines a major issue or theme related to his vision for the renewal of American Judaism -- in terms of one of the five books of the Torah. What is the meaning and purpose of Jewish tradition? What is the significance of faith and covenant? What are the contemporary uses of ritual? What should a new agenda for politics in American Jewish life include? What legacy is to be left to future generations? This encouraging work is essential reading for anyone concerned with questions of Jewish faith and the future of Judaism in America. Now in paperback Taking Hold of TorahJewish Commitment and Community inAmericaArnold M. Eisen A personal meditation on the meaning ofJudaism today and a vision for revitalizing Jewish community and tradition inAmerica. "Arnold M. Eisen offers a personal plea for -- and avision of -- the revitalizing of American Judaism through a renewed relationship toJewish tradition and the strengthening of Jewish communities." -- Jewish BookNews ..".required reading for Jewish communal professionals, Taking Hold of Torah] spells out the discontents and dreams of the baby boomers andtheir children who are reinventing Jewish communal life for the modern world." --Jewish Exponent "Melding autobiography with biblical exegesis, philosophical speculation and a program for Jewish educational reform, the book isan unbuttoned riff on what's ailing modern Jews." -- Forward ..".apersonal story of a modern Jew trying to make sense of Judaism in a time when Jewscan choose whether and how to be Jewish...." -- The JewishAdvocate Jews, like other Americans, have both benefitted andsuffered from the fraying of traditional loyalties that has come to characterizemodern American culture. In each of the five chapters, Arnold M. Eisen examines amajor issue or theme related to his vision for the renewal of Jewish communities --in terms of one of the five books of the Torah. What is the meaning and purpose ofJewish tradition? What is the significance of faith and covenant? What are thecontemporary uses of ritual? What should a new agenda for politics in AmericanJewish life include? What legacy is to be left to future generations? Thisencouraging work is essential reading for anyone concerned with questions of Jewishfaith and the future of Judaism in America. Arnold M. Eisen isProfessor and Chair of Religious Studies at Stanford University, a frequent speakeron issues related to contemporary Jewish life before lay and scholarly audiencesthroughout North America, and an active participant in communal discussionsconcerning the future of American Judaism. His publications include The ChosenPeople in America (Indiana University Press) and Rethinking Modern Judaism: Ritual, Commandment, Community, winner of a Koret Jewish Book Award. TheHelen and Martin Schwartz Lectures in Jewish Studies Contents: Introduction1. Genesis: Taking on Tradition2. Exodus: History, Faith, and Covenant3.Leviticus: Ritual and Community4. Numbers: Politics in the Wilderness5. Deuteronomy: Legacies

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