Overview

Why be Jewish? A fascinating dialogue across denominations of the High Holy Days and their message of Jewish purpose beyond mere survival. Almost forty contributors from three continents—men and women, scholars and poets, rabbis and theologians, representing all Jewish denominations and perspectives—examine the tension between Israel as a particular People called by God, and that very calling as intended for a universalist end, furthering God's vision for all the world, not just for Jews alone. This balance of views arises naturally out of the prayers in the High Holy Day liturgy, coupled with insights from philosophy, literature, theology and ethics. This fifth volume in the Prayers of Awe series provides the relevant traditional prayers in the original Hebrew, alongside a new and annotated translation. It explores the question ""Why be Jewish?"" in a time when universalist commitment to our planet and its people has only grown in importance, even as particularist questions of Jewish continuity have become ever more urgent. Prayers of Awe: A multi-volume series designed to explore the High Holy Day liturgy and enrich the praying experience for everyone—whether experienced worshipers or guests who encounter Jewish prayer for the very first time. Contributors Rabbi Bradley Shavit Artson, DHL Rabbi Tony Bayfield, CBE, DD Rabbi Will Berkovitz Dr. Annette M. Boeckler Dr. Erica Brown Rabbi Lawrence A. Englander, CM, DHL, DD Rabbi Lisa Exler Rabbi Shoshana Boyd Gelfand Rabbi Laura Geller Rabbi Edwin Goldberg, DHL Rabbi Andrew Goldstein, PhD Dr. Joel M. Hoffman Rabbi Lawrence A. Hoffman, PhD Rabbi Walter Homolka, PhD, DHL Rabbi Elie Kaunfer, DHL Rabbi Reuven Kimelman, PhD Dr. Mark L. Kligman Rabbi Noa Kushner Rabbi Daniel Landes Rabbi Asher Lopatin Catherine Madsen Rabbi Jonathan Magonet, PhD Rabbi Dalia Marx, PhD Ruth Messinger Rabbi Charles H. Middleburgh, PhD Rabbi Jay Henry Moses Rabbi Rachel Nussbaum Rabbi Jack Riemer Rabbi Jeffrey K. Salkin, DMin Rabbi Marc Saperstein, PhD Rabbi Dennis C. Sasso, DMin Rabbi Sandy Eisenberg Sasso, DMin Rabbi Jonathan P. Slater, DMin Rabbi David A. Teutsch, PhD Rabbi Margaret Moers Wenig, DD Rabbi Daniel G. Zemel Dr. Wendy Zierler

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9781681629742

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Reviews

This set of essays begins with the suggestion that the word all, when used in the high holiday liturgy, is meant to universalize the prayers to be applicable and inclusive of all humanity. From that proposal, a diverse group of scholars proceed to explore many aspects of the High Holiday prayers, as well as some prayers that are recited year-round, such as the Prayer for the State of Israel. Rabbis from Reform, Conservative, Reconstructionist, and Orthodox streams are all represented among the authors. While the prayers are a jumping off point for the essays, the exploration of universalism vs. particularism in Judaism branches out from there. There are most definitely some gems of thought and interpretation in this volume. Notes. Glossary.</p>--Arnold D. Samlan Jewish Book Council

This set of essays begins with the suggestion that the word all, when used in the high holiday liturgy, is meant to universalize the prayers to be applicable and inclusive of all humanity. From that proposal, a diverse group of scholars proceed to explore many aspects of the High Holiday prayers, as well as some prayers that are recited year-round, such as the Prayer for the State of Israel. Rabbis from Reform, Conservative, Reconstructionist, and Orthodox streams are all represented among the authors. While the prayers are a jumping off point for the essays, the exploration of universalism vs. particularism in Judaism branches out from there. There are most definitely some gems of thought and interpretation in this volume. Notes. Glossary.--Arnold D. Samlan Jewish Book Council This set of essays begins with the suggestion that the word all, when used in the high holiday liturgy, is meant to universalize the prayers to be applicable and inclusive of all humanity. From that proposal, a diverse group of scholars proceed to explore many aspects of the High Holiday prayers, as well as some prayers that are recited year-round, such as the Prayer for the State of Israel. Rabbis from Reform, Conservative, Reconstructionist, and Orthodox streams are all represented among the authors. While the prayers are a jumping off point for the essays, the exploration of universalism vs. particularism in Judaism branches out from there. There are most definitely some gems of thought and interpretation in this volume. Notes. Glossary.--Arnold D. Samlan Jewish Book Council Almost forty contributors from three continents men and women, scholars and poets, rabbis and theologians, representing all Jewish denominations and perspectives examine the tension between Israel as a particular People called by God, and that very calling as intended for a universalist end, furthering God's vision for all the world, not just for Jews alone. This balance of views arises naturally out of the prayers in the High Holy Day liturgy, coupled with insights from philosophy, literature, theology and ethics. This fifth volume in the Prayers of Awe series provides the relevant traditional prayers in the original Hebrew, alongside a new and annotated translation. It explores the question Why be Jewish? in a time when universalist commitment to our planet and its people has only grown in importance, even as particularist questions of Jewish continuity have become ever more urgent. Another superb collection from Jewish Lights to help worshippers be inspired during the High Holy Days. Rabbi Lawrence A. Hoffman, PhD, has served for more than three decades as professor of liturgy at Hebrew Union College Jewish Institute of Religion in New York. He is a world-renowned liturgist and holder of the Stephen and Barbara Friedman Chair in Liturgy, Worship and Ritual. His work combines research in Jewish ritual, worship and spirituality with a passion for the spiritual renewal of contemporary Judaism.--Rabbi Dov Peretz Elkins Jewish Media Review

This set of essays begins with the suggestion that the word all, when used in the high holiday liturgy, is meant to universalize the prayers to be applicable and inclusive of all humanity. From that proposal, a diverse group of scholars proceed to explore many aspects of the High Holiday prayers, as well as some prayers that are recited year-round, such as the Prayer for the State of Israel. Rabbis from Reform, Conservative, Reconstructionist, and Orthodox streams are all represented among the authors. While the prayers are a jumping off point for the essays, the exploration of universalism vs. particularism in Judaism branches out from there. There are most definitely some gems of thought and interpretation in this volume. Notes. Glossary.--Arnold D. Samlan Jewish Book Council

Author Information

Rabbi Lawrence A. Hoffman, PhD, has served for more than three decades as professor of liturgy at Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion in New York. He is a world-renowned liturgist and holder of the Stephen and Barbara Friedman Chair in Liturgy, Worship and Ritual. His work combines research in Jewish ritual, worship and spirituality with a passion for the spiritual renewal of contemporary Judaism. His many books, written and edited, include seven volumes in the Prayers of Awe series: Who by Fire, Who by Water—Un'taneh Tokef; All These Vows—Kol Nidre; We Have Sinned: Sin and Confession in Judaism—Ashamnu and Al Chet; May God Remember: Memory and Memorializing in Judaism—Yizkor; All the World: Universalism, Particularism and the High Holy Days; Naming God: Avinu Malkeinu—Our Father, Our King; and Encountering God: El Rachum V'chanun—God Merciful and Gracious. Hoffman also edited the ten-volume series My People’s Prayer Book: Traditional Prayers, Modern Commentaries, winner of the National Jewish Book Award; and coedited My People’s Passover Haggadah: Traditional Texts, Modern Commentaries, a finalist for the National Jewish Book Award (all Jewish Lights). Rabbi Hoffman cofounded and developed Synagogue 2/3000, a transdenominational project to envision and implement the ideal synagogue of the spirit for the twenty-first century. In that capacity, he wrote Rethinking Synagogues: A New Vocabulary for Congregational Life (Jewish Lights).

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