A Vision of Holiness: The Future of Reform Judaism [Paperback]

Richard N. Levy (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0807409413 | ISBN-13: 978-0807409411 | Publication Date: August 1, 2005

Where is Reform Judaism heading in the twenty-first century? This was the question before the Central Conference of American Rabbis as it undertook to write a Statement of Principles, the fourth in a series of comprehensive statements that the Reform rabbinate has adopted throughout its history to help inspire the thought and practice of Reform Judaism. A Vision of Holiness is an explication of the Pittsburgh Principles’ vision, as seen through the lens of the rabbi who guided the process and shaped the document. It is a personal reflection of a communal vision, an attempt to explore the implications of the 1999 document. A Vision of Holiness will change all of its readers, Reform or not, to reflect on the nature of their religious lives and deepen their relationships with God, their absorption in Torah, and their critical commitment to the destiny of the Jewish people and the Jewish state. A Vision of Holiness illumines the manner in which this vibrant group of Jews envisions its purpose in the world and sets forth challenges for Reform Judaism’s ongoing engagement with mitzvot.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Since 1885, when a group of Reform rabbis promulgated the radical Pittsburgh Platform, Reform Judaism has been moving steadily rightward toward traditional Jewish thinking and observance—a trend culminating in the new "statement of principles" the denomination adopted in 1999. This book includes the 1999 document as well as earlier declarations of a Reform creed, enabling the reader to see the remarkable shift in how Reform Jews define themselves. These changes have contributed to Reform Judaism being America's largest Jewish denomination today. Levy, who has served as a rabbi and is currently director of a Reform rabbinical school in California, analyzes and explains each of the principles that were adopted in the 1999 report, which he helped create. He organizes them into three categories of Reform belief and behavior with regard to God, Torah and the Jewish people. The material is clearly presented, and Levy displays a strong historical perspective, such as when he describes the transformation of Reform views from anti-Zionist to Zionist. Complicated theological issues are lucidly explicated, sometimes using helpful homespun illustrations. The book will appeal to Reform Jews but also to others interested in the development of religious creeds and their influence on American society. (Aug. 15)
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Product Details

• Paperback: 296 pages
• Publisher: Urj Press (August 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0807409413
• ISBN-13: 978-0807409411
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,419,059 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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6 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A profound examination of faith and practice, February 8, 2006

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Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Vision of Holiness: The Future of Reform Judaism (Paperback)

Rabbi Richard N. Levy presents A Vision Of Holiness: The Future Of Reform Judaism, an in-depth answer to the question, "Where is Reform Judaism heading in the twenty-first century?" Sections cover "The Reform Jew in Dialogue with God", "The Reform Jew in Dialogue with Torah", and "The Reform Jew in Dialogue with the Jewish People", and seek to promote a greater understanding as to the role of Reform Judaism toward its followers, toward the veneration of God, and toward both Jewish and Gentile society at large. Painstakingly written, and taking to heart Reform Judaism principles such as "Having Stood at Sinai, We Respond to the Call of Mitzvot Amid Modernity", "Members of a Holy People, We Are Rooted in a Holy Land", and "We are Committed to the Equality of All the People of God", A Vision Of Holiness is a profound examination of faith and practice.