Modern Conservative Judaism: Evolving Thought and Practice

JPS Anthologies of Jewish Thought

by Elliot N. Dorff

A major Conservative movement leader of our time, Elliot N. Dorff provides a personal, behind-the-scenes guide to the evolution of Conservative Jewish thought and practice over the last half century. His candid observations concerning the movement’s ongoing tension between constancy and change shed light on the sometimes unified, sometimes diverse, and occasionally contentious reasoning behind the modern movement’s most important laws, policies, and documents. Meanwhile, he has assembled, excerpted, and contextualized the most important historical and internal documents in modern Conservative movement history for the first time in one place, enabling readers to consider and compare them all in context.

In “Part 1: God” Dorff explores various ways that Conservative Jews think about God and prayer. In “Part 2: Torah” he considers different approaches to Jewish study, law, and practice; changing women’s roles; bioethical rulings on issues ranging from contraception to cloning; business ethics; ritual observances from online minyanim to sports on Shabbat; moral issues from capital punishment to protecting the poor; and nonmarital sex to same-sex marriage. In “Part 3: Israel” he examines Zionism, the People Israel, and rabbinic rulings in Israel.
 

Genres: Judaism, Jewish

484 pages, Paperback

Published June 1, 2018

Reviews

[Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A genuinely helpful guide to the plurality of views around theology, halacha and ethics within Masorti Judaism. Draws heavily on the "emet ve'amunah" document as well as the many teshuvot on the Rabbincal Assembly's website, but edits them down so it is more accessible and not too dry. Also provides some additional context to some of the major decision (often not available on the face of the documents) which helps with understanding the historical developments.