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Evolving Halakhah: A Progressive Approach to Traditional Jewish Law
Download PDF Evolving Halakhah: A Progressive Approach to Traditional Jewish Law
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Review
"For those of us who have argued that the traditional Halakhah [Jewish law] is far more open, pluralistic and compassionate than it has been made to be, Dr. Zemer now provides a detailed documentation of that position ... an indispensable resource for understanding the core of Jewish tradition." ―Dr. Neil Gillman, professor of Jewish philosophy, The Jewish Theological Seminary of America “In its own right, an important link in the chain of liberal Halakhah ... deserving of assessment and respect as a collection of responsa.†―Rabbi David Ellenson, PhD, president, Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion “Through this scholarly yet accessible book, Zemer challenges those who have allowed Halakhah to become rigid and callous. Zemer brilliantly demonstrates that justice and compassion provide the basis for authentic halakhic decisions and demands acceptance for his progressive approach.†―Rabbi David Teutsch, president, Reconstructionist Rabbinical College “Grounded in the tradition of adaptation and renewal, Zemer's voice is vital to our survival today.†―Rabbi Naamah Kelman, coordinator, Beit Midrash, a Liberal Yeshiva, Jerusalem “Finally, a text for liberal Jews enabling us to encounter Halakhah as a significant and meaningful structure in our lives.†―Rabbi Sheldon Zimmerman, vice president, Jewish Renaissance and Renewal, United Jewish Communities “An extraordinary achievement, for it both projects deep respect for Halakhah and contributes to its development. Rabbi Zemer searches for traditional precedents that allow for flexibility and reflects a Halakhah that walks in the footsteps of Hillel rather than of Shammai.†―Rabbi W. Gunther Plaut, editor, The Torah: A Modern Commentary
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About the Author
Rabbi Dr. Moshe Zemer is founding director of the Freehof Institute of Progressive Halakhah in Tel Aviv, where he lives. A congregational rabbi for over thirty-five years, he is one of the rabbis who established the Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism, and serves as president of its Rabbinical Court. Zemer has edited a series of books on Jewish law and published many articles about Halakhah, and is currently senior lecturer in Rabbinics at Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion in Jerusalem.
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Product details
Paperback: 480 pages
Publisher: Jewish Lights; 1 edition (April 1, 2003)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1580231276
ISBN-13: 978-1580231275
Product Dimensions:
6 x 1.2 x 9 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review:
4.1 out of 5 stars
9 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank:
#4,608,501 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Rabbi Zemer's Evolving Halakhah: A Progressive Approach to Traditional Jewish Law, takes a novel and I think very fruitful method and applies it to Jewish law. Rabbi Zemer is a progressive Rabbi in Israel (as the branch of Reform is called there) and is well versed in the vast literature of Halakhah, or Jewish law. As such, he does not simply play the Reform card by saying "Halakhah is no longer valid" and endorse a spiritual, cultural, or ethnic Judaism. Rather, he takes Halakhah on its own terms, using its very rules and precedents to show that in the past lenient, more humane rulings were far more common than today.As an Israeli rabbi, much of Rabbi Zemer's book applies to Jews living in Israel, where such matters as marriage, divorce, and `who is a Jew' are handled by an established religious body. In America, things are much more fractured. Issues such as these come up, but are treated quietly within the confines of particular American communities and denominations. In a way, American Judaism is far more like the kind of Judaism that Zemer espouses: pluralistic, open to disagreement, fluid.Perhaps the meta-conclusion that this books shows, but which Rabbi Zemer never quite spells out enough, is that more often than not Halakhah is decided based on political considerations. When all Jews were observant (and largely poor) rabbis tried to take a lenient approach for the sake of compassion. There was nothing riding on allowing a couple to marry, for instance, rather than the pain or suffering caused by their inability to marry due to mamzer, or illegitimate issues. Today, strictness in Halakhah has become a way for the Orthodox to both differentiate themselves from secular Jews, and from other Orthodox groups. Strictness becomes a way to prove one's Orthodox credentials and in some instances have gone so far as to become mannerist in appearance.Rabbi Zemer offers a well-reasoned and detailed book on the rationale behind more liberal, humanistic halakhic decisions. As much as possible he tries to take the politics out of religious Jewish law, and place it on a more humane footing.
I found Evolving Halakhah to be a fascinating book. It covers everything fro converts to Judaism, to the peace process. Rabbi Moshe Zemer put a positive interpretation on Halakhah, enabling progressive jews to awake to the possibilities of jewish tradition. I strongly recommend it to anyone searching more about Halakhah.
Interesting take on Jewish Laws.
I am reading this book with a group as part of a class at my Synagogue (Reform). We are reading slowly and discussing each page. Reading it with a knowledgeable group has added a great deal of meaning to the content. I think I would be missing much of the meaning and back story if reading this on my own. Our instructor is a Reform rabbi. Of course, I think if you are not a Reform Jew, you might find some of the arguments too liberal. Although I am not a Reform Jew by birth (raised "Conservadox"), I agree with the premise of the book that laws have to evolve and suit the times in which we live. Anything that does not grow with the times will become obsolete and out of step with humanity. Interesting arguments among the religious scholars in each age.
Moshe Zemer's Evolving Halachah is indeed a late 20th landmark in liberal Jewish thought, for it is the first time a comprehensive philosophy of Jewish law has been in articulated in English. Zemer's position as Chairman of Israel's Reform Jewish Bet Din, or religious court, gives him the authority to speak on his subject. The book looks mostly at Halachah from the vantage point of Jewish issues in Israel, such as conversion, Sabbath observance, military service in the territories, women's rights in marriage, divorce and the synagogue; Jewish burial customs and issues; and many others.However, the problem this writer sees with the work, is the nature of the author is up against. Solomon Freehof, the pioneering American Reform Halachist, compiled a series of Reform Responsa or letters of commentary on Jewish legal issues over the nearly five decades he was active in this field, and so has his successor, Rabbi Walter Jacobs. However, Freehof's vast compendium of published work is not once alluded by Zemer, and only 2 of his responsa are noted in the entire book, while the volumes Jacobs compiled are nowhere noted.Further, the principle notion of Reform has always been accommodation to modernity, but the limits of that accommodation have never really been clearly articulated. From the earliest days of reform in Germany 200 years ago, convenience has played a large role in determining the Reform outlook, which is why for example the Reform movement has issued 4 major `platform statements' on theology and Jewish Practice in the last 130 years.Zemer's biggest problem though is twofold: the ignorance of his Reform laity on the one hand, and the deeply embedded charisma of a clear, and charismatic Orthodox worldview on the other. Of his 11 proposed principles to govern halachic change, only one reminds the worshipper of God or would provide even the slightest incentive to practice, which is the inherent holiness of the mitzvoth. In the Orthodox realm, they have 13 principles of halachic change, fist articulated in the Talmud 1500 years ago, and part of the daily prayer service every day to this day.This writer would say therefore, that while Zemer's book is an outstanding pioneering effort, it bites off more than it can chew, essentially arguing it's principles without an adequate philosophic grounding. However, while the grounding of this work is week, that doesn't mean none exists; merely that it must come from another quarter. In "Jewish History and Divine Providence(available here on Amazon.com)," I supply the rationale missing from Zemer's text: namely an argument which examines the relationship between Jewish law, Jewish history and it's actual practice, shows how the mitzvoth have actual effect in the real world, and how Jewish practice or the lack of it has influenced modern Jewish history.With "Jewish History and Divine Providence" and "Evolving Halachah," the reader will have a complete praxis of liberal Judaism, one by which to live and practice, not avoid.
This book is about technical jewish laws. It is NOT about current affairs in Israel, which i was told itwas about. If you are interested in nitpicking do's and dont's and need to see someone's proof of thedownside of inflexible following of rules, this book may be for you.Otherwise, though well written, i would say it was a waste of time.
WE ARE STUDYING THIS BOOK AT THE TEMPLE RIGHT NOW.IT IS EXACTLY WHAT I EXPECTED.
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