Questions and Reform Jewish Answers: New American Reform Responsa

By Walter Jacob

Book Overview

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0881230359
• ISBN13: 9780881230352
• Release Date: January 1990
• Publisher: Central Conference of Amer
• Length: 443 Pages
• Weight: 1.38 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.3" x 1.0" x 6.3"

Customer Reviews

Wisdom of the Ages - Today

This book is an essential tool on the bookshelf of any Reform Rabbi. It represents the modern answer to the Responsa method, a millenia-old Jewish tradition of answering important contemporary questions which are not specifically treated by the Torah or its interpretive texts. The methodology employed attempts to determine the principles underlying the source material and apply the principles to the issue presented. As applied to present day questions within the Reform Jewish movement, typically a congregant of a synagogue whose rabbi is a member of the Central Conference of American Rabbis is referred to the Responsa Committee with the question which the member rabbi himself feels unqualified or uneasy in answering. The question is then posed, perhaps in a more suitable reformulation, to the Responsa Committee by the Chairman, who then gathers the answers of the Committee members and synthesizes a draft of the Responsum which is circulated to the Committee members. What is the responsibility of an AIDS carrier? Shall CPR be given to the frail elderly? Can genetic engineering be patented? May a Torah be loaned conditionally? Can there be a 'berit' for Messiac Jews? What is the relationship of Jews to Hindus? May a criminal be a member of the congregation? May a 'tallit' be worn at an interfaith service? Are any plantings appropriate in a cemetary? May a wedding be video taped? Must a Jewish lawer defend terrorists? 246 such questions are answered in this volume. If you are a Rabbi, or just want to know how they think,this is the book for you.