Contemporary Jewish Ethics and Morality: A Reader [Hardcover]

Elliot N. Dorff (Editor), Louis E. Newman (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 30, 1995

Dorff and Newman collect the best of recent work in Jewish ethics. The volume will serve as an introduction to Jewish ethics by acquainting the reader with the distinctive methodological issues involved, and will also suffer a sampling of Jewish positions on contemporary moral problems; it will thus be suited to a variety of courses in Jewish Studies.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Not only the first book of Jewish ethics and morality in two decades, it is also a landmark work on the leading edge of Jewish thought. One of the remarkable features of this anthology is the scope of the views it presents....Because it is accessible to a wide audience, lay persons who must face agonizing choices will find this meaningful work an excellent guide to decision-making....This anthology is an absolute necessity for the contemporary Jew who wants to strive to live a thoughtful and meaningful life. It has to be read slowly, savored, and constantly reviewed. It does not belong on the shelves of rabbis, Jewish scholars, ethicists, and ordinary people, but in their hands. It is simply the best in its field. It is post-modern and it will endure." --The Jerusalem Post Magazine

"An excellent collection of articles! It is a much-needed and up-to-date replacement for Kellner's Contemporary Jewish Ethics. Exactly the book I have been waiting for to use in my Jewish Ethics course."--Jeffrey Rubenstein, New York University

"Superb! Very perceptive and comprehensive in its topic. It filled out a neglected area of previous study and gave me some frameworks for evaluating Christian Ethics."--Prof. Kennard, Moody Bible Institute

"Having taught Jewish Ethics for ten years, I have been searching for a textbook so comprehensive and thorough. It is a very valuable contribution to the field and a blessing for instructors and students."--Stanley Wagner, University of Denver

"A valuable collection of thirty-two essays, gathered into two parts, that presents the vast resources and diversity of Jewish ethics....This collection is an essential resource to students and scholars of religious ethics, and is indispensable for college, university, and seminary libraries."--Gabriel Palmer-Fernandez, Youngstown State University

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

About the Author

Elliot N. Dorff, Rector and Professor of Philosophy, University of Judaism. Louis E. Newman, Professor of Religion and Theology and Director of Program in Judaic Studies, Carleton College.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 488 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (March 30, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0195090659
• ISBN-13: 978-0195090659
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.8 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,072,604 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A well-written study of Jewish ethics, November 10, 2004

By 

R. Kaiser (New Hampshire) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Contemporary Jewish Ethics and Morality: A Reader (Paperback)

The publisher notes that "Over the past decade much significant new work has appeared in the field of Jewish ethics. While much of this work has been devoted to issues in applied ethics, a number of important essays have explored central themes within the tradition and clarified the theoretical foundations of Jewish ethics. This important text grew out of the need for a single work which accurately and conveniently reflects these developments within the field."

[It presents...] "carefully organized recent essays on Jewish ethical theory and practice. Serving as an introduction to Jewish ethics, it acquaints the student with the distinctive methodological issues involved and offers a sampling of Jewish positions on contemporary moral problems. The book features work from both traditionalist and liberal contributors, making this the only volume which encompasses the full range of contemporary Jewish ethical perspectives. Writers such as Harold Schulweis, Judith Plaskow, David Novak, David Hartman, and Blu Greenberg discuss law and ethics, natural law, humility, justice, sex and the family, euthanasia, and other vital issues relating to modern Judaism. Many of the readings appear here for the first time, making this important text the most timely sourcebook in its field."