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Path: senator-bedfellow.mit.edu!bloom-beacon.mit.edu!newsfeed.stanford.edu!headwall.stanford.edu!newshub.sdsu.edu!elnk-nf2-pas!elnk-pas-nf1!newsfeed.earthlink.net!sn-xit-02!sn-xit-04!sn-xit-01!sn-post-02!sn-post-01!supernews.com!corp.supernews.com!not-for-mail From: SCJ FAQ Maintainer <maintainer@scjfaq.org> Newsgroups: soc.culture.jewish,soc.culture.jewish.moderated,news.answers,soc.answers Subject: Judaism Reading List: Conservative Judaism (Pt. V) Approved: news-answers-request@MIT.Edu,scjm-approval@scjm.org Followup-To: soc.culture.jewish Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2004 11:07:04 -0800 (PST) Organization: Ye 'Ol Disorganized NNTPCache groupie Message-ID: <cons.r.l_1076699222@shelob.pacificnet.net> X-Autogenerated: Mirror X-Mirrored-by: <faigin@pacificnet.net> URL: http://master.scjfaq.org/rl/ URL: http://www.scjfaq.org/rl/ Expires: 28 Mar 2004 19:07:02 GMT Cache-Post-Path: excel3.!unknown@shelob.pacificnet.net X-Cache: nntpcache 3.0.1 (see http://www.nntpcache.org/) X-Complaints-To: abuse@supernews.com Lines: 984 Xref: senator-bedfellow.mit.edu soc.culture.jewish:1206497 soc.culture.jewish.moderated:153452 news.answers:266119 soc.answers:18820 Archive-name: judaism/reading-lists/conservative Soc-culture-jewish-archive-name: reading.conservative Posting-Frequency: Monthly Selected Sources for Additional Reading on Judaism Part V: Conservative Judaism [Last Change: $Date: 1995/10/19 15:21:00 $ $Revision: 1.2 $] [Last Post: Fri Feb 13 11:07:04 US/Pacific 2004] This message is intended to provide readers of soc.culture.jewish with a list of references to allow them to learn more about the current practices, past practices, beliefs, and history of the Conservative Movement with Judaism. One of the four major movements within Judaism, the Conservative Movement was founded in 1886, with the establishment of the Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS) by a group led by Rabbis Sabato Morais and Marcus Jastrow of Philadelphia and Henry Pereira Mendes of New York. This group was responding to what it felt were the rationalist, antihalakhic excesses of the Reform movement. For its first 15 years, the JTS was a colossal failure. However, around the turn of the century, the JTS was saved and grew into the flagship of a major Jewish denomination thanks to the efforts of three men: its first president, Cyrus Adler; financier Jacob Schiff; and the brilliant Rabbi Solomon Schecter. In the United States, Israel, the Commonwealth of Independent States, and other countries, the following organizations are involved with Conservative Judaism (Conservative Judaism is called Masorti outside of the United States): * Synagogue Organizations: + [6]Assembly of Masorti Synagogues. This is the UK analogue of the USCJ (United Synagogues of Conservative Judaism). [7]http://www.masorti.org.uk/ + [8]United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism (USCJ), formerly the United Synagogue of America. Its members are Conservative Synagogues. [9]http://www.uscj.org/ * Rabbinic/Cantorial Schools: + [10]Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS). This is the rabbinic school for Conservative Rabbis on the United States East Coast. The association of the rabbis is called the Rabbinical Assembly (RA). [11]http://www.jtsa.edu + [12]Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies ([13]http://www.uj.edu/Ziegler) at the [14]University of Judaism ([15]http://www.uj.edu/). The United States West Coast rabbinic school for Conservative Rabbis in Los Angeles, California. + [16]The Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies ([17]http://www.jtsa.edu/israel/bm/index.html). This is the Conservative seminary in Israel. It shares faculty with [18]The Conservative Yeshiva in Jerusalem ([19]http://www.uscj.org/israelcenter/yeshiva/us-yesh.htm), which is a school for laypeople Outside of the US and Israel, there are two other rabbinical seminaries and schools of advanced Jewish studies that maintain formal connections with the Conservative movement. They are: + The Seminario Rabinico Latinamericano. The Latin American Conservative seminary, it prepares Conservative rabbis, cantors and educators for South America and Latin America. It runs Ramah camps in Argentina and Chile and a kashrut certification system. (Jose Hernandez 1750, 1426 Buenos Aires, Argentina Tel: (54-1) 783-2009/783-6175/ 781-4057 Fax: (54-1) 781-4056). + Neotheologische Seminarion [Neolog Theological Seminary]. The Jewish Theological Seminary of Budapest. (27 Jozsef Krt. Budapest 1085, Hungary Phone (36-1) 134-2121) * Rabbinic Organizations: + Rabbinical Assembly. [20]http://www.rabassembly.org/ + Cantor's Assembly. [21]http://www.cantors.org/ There are many other organizations; a full list may be found on the JTSA web site at [22]http://www.jtsa.edu/affiliat/conserv.html Where Can I Get The Books * Many of these books are available through general bookstores or Judaica bookstores. A list of links to these may be found in the [23]sources section of the [24]General Reading List (if you are reading this at [25]www.scjfaq.org, you can simply click on the "Sources" button in the header navigation bar). * Books that are marked as "United Synagogue Bookservice" should be available through [26]http://www.uscj.org/mall/bookservice.htm [Amazon Associate] The S.C.J Reading List has established an affiliate relationship with Amazon.Com. ([27]http://www.amazon.com/). Now you can complete your Conservative Jewish library and support the continued development of the Reading Lists at the same time, for many books on Conservative Judaism are available through Amazon. For those reading this at [28]www.scjfaq.org/rl/jcu-intro.html, you can click the link to the left to browse Amazon's selections. Alternatively, if you enter Amazon using the URL [29]http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect-home?tag=socculturejewi sh, the reading lists will get credit for your entry. Additionally, when you see the Amazon graphic [30][If you were at www.scjfaq.org, the graphic would be here] (or "[Buy at Amazon: http:...]") on an entry in the reading list, this indicates that the specific book is available for purchase at Amazon. Click on the graphic/link to go to Amazon and purchase the book. Reproduction of this posting for commercial use is subject to restriction. See Part 1 (general) for more details. ------------------------------------------------------------ Subject: ORGANIZATION This reading list is organized as follows: * [8]Introduction to this Reading List * [9]Conservative Beliefs * [10]Conservative Practices * [11]Conservative History * [12]Conservative Liturgy * [13]Credits ------------------------------------------------------------ Subject: Conservative Beliefs [Ast85] Astor, Carl. ...Who Makes People Different 1985. United Synagogue Bookservice. [This sourcebook discusses traditional sources about the disabled (Biblical, Midrashic, Rabbinic, and Halakhic) and examines modern views, theological implications and current programs.] [Broxx] Brown, Steven. Reclaiming Our Legacy. United Synagogue Bookservice. [Encourages the study of Talmud Torah by showing similarity with and differences from secular study.] [Cytxx] Cytron, Barry and Schwartz, Earl. When Life Is In The Balance. United Synagogue Bookservice. [Designed to aid in the evaluation of alternatives in dealing with some of the most difficult decisions about living and dying. Issues such as abortion, suicide, and euthanasia are discussed with sensitivity in the context of Jewish tradition and the wisdom of other cultures.] [Dor96] Dorff, Elliot. Conservative Judaism: Our Ancestors to Our Descendants. Revised edition, 1996. USCJ, NY. [An authoritative sourcebook on the origins and philosophy of the Conservative Movement. Covers the development of Judaism from the time of the Torah to enlightenment, and discusses the theology and philosophy of the Jewish movements that developed in response to the modern age. Explains Conservative Judaism's philosophy on halakha, aggada, social issues and revelation.] [Dor96b] Dorff, Elliott. Knowing God: Jewish Journeys to the Unknowable. ISBN: 1568219644, Jason Aronson Publishers, 1996. Paperback. ISBN 1-568219-64-4. [Contemporary Jews find meaning in Judaism's family and communal orientation, its rituals, culture, and moral values. However many do not understand the Jewish concept of God, and their belief in God rests on childhood Hebrew school images of the Allmighty. In response, Rabbi Dorff probes what we as adults can know about God through human reason, human and Divine words, and human and Divine action. Without assuming a background in philosophy, he takes us through some of the major philosophical options and conundrums in using each of these sources of knowledge about God, and the images of God that result. This results in a vibrant Jewish faith, one that takes due regard for both the emotional and intellectual sides of our being.] [6][Buy at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1568219644/socculturejew ish/] [Dor98] Dorff, Elliot. Matters of Life and Death: Jewish Bio-Ethics. Jewish Publication Society, 1998. Hardcover. ISBN 0-827606-47-8. [Discusses modern medical ethical dilemmas from a Conservative Jewish point of view, which advocates adherence to traditional Judaism along with a modern understanding. In the book's first section, Dorff summarizes the beliefs underlying Jewish medical ethics. Dorff then addresses a number of issues,including: infertility, artificial insemination, genetic engineering, cloning, surrogate motherhood, and birth control. Also discusses living wills, hospice care, euthanasia, organ donation, autopsy and the distribution of health care.] [7][Buy at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0827606478/socculturejew ish/] [Dorxx] Dorff, Elliott. This Is My Beloved, This Is My Friend: A Rabbinic Letter on Intimate Relations. Rabbinical Assembly. [This is the official pastoral letter from the RA to the laity of the Conservative movement, dealing with all areas of human sexuality.] [Dor98] Dorff, Elliot N. (ed); Newman, Louis E. (ed.) Contemporary Jewish Theology: A Reader. Oxford Univ Press; 1998. Paperback. ISBN 0-195114-67-1. [Conservative] [8][Buy at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0195114671/socculturejew ish/] [Ela00] Elazar, Daniel Judah; Geffen, Rela Mintz. The Conservative Movement in Judaism: Dilemmas and Opportunities (Suny Series in American Jewish Society in the 1990s). State Univ of New York Pr; 2000. Hardcover. ISBN 0-791446-89-1. [9][Buy at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0791446891/socculturejew ish/] [Gil92] Gillman, Neil. Sacred Fragments: Recovering Theology for the Modern Jew. Jewish Publication Society. 1990. Paperback, 1992. 296 pp. ISBN 0-827604-03-3. [For those seeking answers to the most difficult questions about religion today: How do we know there is a God? How could God allow the Holocaust to happen? Why do we need ritual?] [10][Buy at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0827604033/socculturejew ish] [Gil97] Gillman, Neil. The Death of Death: Resurrection and Immortality in Jewish Thought Jewish Lights Publishing. Hardcover, 1997, 336 pages, ISBN 1-879045-61-3. Paperback, 2000, 336 pages, ISBN 1-580230-81-4. [Offers an original and compelling argument that Judaism not only presents us with rich ideas on this subject - but delivers a deathblow to death itself. Combining scholarship with historical, theological and liturgical insights, Gillman outlines the evolution of Jewish thought about bodily resurrection and spiritual immortality. Beginning with the near-silence of the Bible on the afterlife, he traces the development of these two doctrines through Jewish history. He also describes why today, somewhat surprisingly, more contemporary Jewish scholars - including Gillman - have reaffirmed a notion of resurrection.] Hardback: [11][Buy at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1879045613/socculturejew ish] ; Paperback: [12][Buy at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1580230814/socculturejew ish] [Gol91] Golinkin, Daniel. Halakhaha for Our Time: A Conservative Approach. United Synagogue Book Service; 1991, 1992. Paperback. ISBN 0-838131-13-1. [13][Buy at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0838131131/socculturejew ish/] [Gol92] Golinkin, David. An Index of Conservative Responsa and Practical Halakhic Studies, 1917-1990. New York NY: The Rabbinical Assembly. 1992. [Gor86] Gordis, Robert. Judaic Ethics for a Lawless World (Moreshet Series, Vol 12). Ktav Publishing House; 1986. Hardcover. ISBN 0-873340-34-5. [An approach to contemporary problems based on Jewish ethics. Deals with the principles of natural law, and the dynamic world view of Judaism.] [14][Buy at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0873340345/socculturejew ish/] [Gor78] Gordis, Robert; Gelb, Max (ed). Understanding Conservative Judaism. Ktav Publishing House; 1978, 1979. Hardcover. ISBN 0-870686-80-1. [15][Buy at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0870686801/socculturejew ish/] [Gut84] Gutin, Jules. Rejoice With Jerusalem. 1984 revised edition. United Synagogue Bookservice. [This sourcebook combines a historical survey of Jerusalem over the ages with an examination of Jerusalem's meaning to modern Jewry, especially as to Conservative Jews.] [Harxx] Harlow, Jules. The Bond Of Life (A Book For Mourners). RA. [A guide for the mourner, including the hows and whys of mourning rituals, inspirational reflections, traditional sources, and an essay on the psychology of grief. Contains the complete Morning, Afternoon, and Evening prayer services, in Hebrew and English, for the house of mourning.] [Har72] Harlow, Jules. Lessons from Our Living Past. Behrman House; 1972. Paperback. ISBN 0-874410-85-1. [16][Buy at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0874410851/socculturejew ish/] [Her97] Herberg, Will; Gillman, Neil (intro.). Judaism and Modern Man: An Interpretation of Jewish Religion (Jewish Lights Classic Reprint). Jewish Lights Pub; 1997. Paperback. Reprint edition. ISBN 1-879045-87-7. [17][Buy at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1879045877/socculturejew ish/] [Hes66] Heschel, Abraham. God in Search of Man: A Philosophy of Judaism. Harper Torchbook. 1966. Reprinted 1997, Noonday Press. 464 pp. ISBN 0-374513-31-7. [The companion volume to "Man is not Alone", this book combines scholarship with reverence as Heschel elucidates the nature of religious thought. Section one discusses ways to God's Presence, and the legacy of wonder that religion gives. Section two deals with the idea of Revelation and prophetic inspiration, and discusses revelation as a process as opposed to an event. Section three discusses a Jew's response to the Jewish Religion; there is a study and rejection of the idea that mere faith (without law) alone is enough, and a cautioning against of those rabbis that add too many hedges to the law. Discusses the need to correlate ritual observance with sprituality and love, and the importance of kavanah (intention) when performing mitzvot.] [18][Buy at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0374513317/socculturejew ish] [Hes97] Heschel, Abramham. Man Is Not Alone: A Philosophy of Religion Noonday Press, 1997. Paperback. 320 pages. ISBN 0-374513-28-7. [A profound work that reflects on how man can apprehend God and have an encounter with the ineffable, and the radical amazement that man experiences when experiencing the presence of the Divine. Themes include the problems of doubts and faith; What Judaism means by teaching that God is One; The essence of man and the problem of man's needs; The definition of religion in general, and of Judaism in specific, man's yearning for spirituality; Judaism as a pattern for life, and a study of piety.] [19][Buy at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0374513287/socculturejew ish] [Klexx] Klein, Isaac. A Time to Be Born, A Time To Die. UCSJ. [A compilation of Jewish attitudes and practices regarding death. Deals with such issues as illness, euthanasia, and organ transplants. Includes readings for the bereaved family.] [Klixx] Kling, Simcha. The People and Its Land United Synagogue Bookservice. [Discusses the attachment of the Jewish people to the land of Israel. The book includes the Biblical, Rabbinic, pre-modern, and modern periods. Includes a special section about Zionism and the Conservative Movement.] [Kli99] Kling, Simcha; Perkins, Carl M. Embracing Judaism. The Rabbinical Assembly; 1999. Paperback. 2nd Revised Edition. ISBN 0-916219-15-1. [20][Buy at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0916219151/socculturejew ish/] [Nad88] Nadell, Pamela S. Conservative Judaism in America. Greenwood Publishing Group; 1988. Hardcover. ISBN 0-313242-05-4. [21][Buy at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0313242054/socculturejew ish/] [SchS96] Schecter, Solomon. Studies in Judaism: First Series. Jewish Publication Society, Philadelphia PA. 1896 [SchS08] Schecter, Solomon. Studies in Judaism: Second Series. Jewish Publication Society, Philadelphia PA 1908. [SchS24] Schecter, Solomon. Studies in Judaism: Third Series. Jewish Publication Society, Philadelphia PA 1924. [SchS61] Schechter, Solomon; Finkelstein, Louis. Some Aspects of Rabbinic Theology. Schocken Books, New York. 1961. Jewish Lights Pub; 1999. Paperback. Reprint edition. ISBN 1-879045-24-9. [With a New Introduction by Neil Gillman, Including the Original Preface of 1909 and the Introduction by Louis Finkelstein] [22][Buy at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1879045249/socculturejew ish/] [Sch98] Schechter, Solomon. Aspects of Rabbinic Theology: Major Concepts of the Talmud. Hendrickson Publishers, Inc; 1998. Paperback. ISBN 1-565632-88-5. [23][Buy at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1565632885/socculturejew ish/] [Wax58] Waxman, Mordechai (ed.). Tradition and Change - The Development of Conservative Judaism. The Burning Bush Press, New York (copyright 1958, Rabbinical Assembly of America). Library of Congress Card No. 54-8409 (No ISBN) [Contains many of the classic conservative responsa, including riding of Shabbat and electricity is not fire.] [Wer00] Wertheimer, Jack (ed). Jews in the Center: Conservative Synagogues and Their Members. Rutgers Univ Press; 2000. Hardcover. ISBN 0-813528-21-6. [This book seeks to understand how synagogues function as congregations and to what extent they allow individual expression. By focusing on a mainstream population, this book sheds light on religiously active people who generally receive scant attention: those in the center, who neither retreat from society nor blur the boundaries between their religion and modern American culture.] [24][Buy at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0813528216/socculturejew ish/] [Zem99] Zemer, Moshe. Evolving Halakhah: A Progressive Approach to Traditional Jewish Law. Jewish Lights Pub; 1999. Hardcover. ISBN 1-580230-02-4. [25][Buy at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1580230024/socculturejew ish/] Responsa: [Gol96] Golinkin, David (ed.) The Responsa of Prof. Louis Ginzberg. JTSA, NY. ISBN 965-456-021-6. [A collection of one hundred responsa by Louis Ginzberg z"l, noted scholar and longtime JTS professor of Talmud. This volume contains previously published responsa, as well as many more unknown and unpublished responsa, dealing with a wide array of topics including euthanasia, burial practices, artificial insemination, conversion, the mehitza and the use of grape juice during Prohibition. Also included are Professor Ginzberg's forceful responses to anti-Semites such as Pranaitis, the "expert" witness at the Beiliss trial in Kiev in 1913. The book serves as a unique window into the history and development of Conservative halakha, and into American Jewish history from 1913 to 1953.] [Golxx] Golinkin, David (ed.) Responsa of the Va'ad Halakhah of the Rabbinical Assembly of Israel. Available direct from the Masorti movement. Published by the Masorti Movement, Jerusalem, Israel. [26]http://www.masorti.org/responsa/index.html. [A series of five paperback collections of official teshuvot from the law committee of the Masorti movement, which is authorized by the RA to have the same authoritiy as the CJLS. The full text of all responsa are presented in Hebrew, along with 2 to 4 page English summaries of each. (Volume 1 is in Hebrew only).] [RAA85] Rabbincal Assembly. Proceedings Of The Committee On Jewish Law And Standards - Volume 1: 1980-1985. RA Committee on Jewish Law and Standards. ISBN 0-916219-07-0. [Presents responsa in sixteen areas of Jewish Law, including Abortion, Brit Milah, Conversion, Intermarriage, Passover, Shabbat, and the Status of Women. Its 300 pages contain more than forty responsa prepared for and adopted by the Committee on Jewish Law and Standards.] [RAA97] Proceedings Of The Committee On Jewish Law And Standards - 1927-1970. 3 volume set. Rabbinical Assembly and the Institute for Applied Halakha, Jerusalem, 1997. [This set contains many studies and responsa (teshuvot) from the Conservative movement from 1927 to 1970. Most of the responsa and articles in this set were previously published in either the annual "Proceedings of the Rabbinical Assembly", the journal "Conservative Judaism", and similar venues, all of which unfortunately had an extremely limited distribution, and have not been readily available. With this publication these responsa are now readily available to all.] Other works to look at include Emet Ve-Emunah and books by Conservative authors such as Dorff, Gillman, Steinberg, and Wolpe, cited elsewhere in this list. ------------------------------------------------------------ Subject: Conservative Practices [Dorxx] Dorff, Elliott. Mitzvah Means Commandment. United Synagogue Bookservice. [A look into the question of "Why perform mitzvot?" This book traces the various views, from the Biblical to the philosophical. The book also includes a section on the Conservative Movement's viewpoints.] [Gor90] Gordis, Robert. The Dynamics of Judaism: A Study in Jewish Law. Indiana Univ Pr; 1990. Hardcover. ISBN 0-253326-02-8. [Outlines the basic traits of Judaism. Discusses the enduring features of Jewish law, including the primacy of ethical and moral concerns; discusses revelation as an active encounter between God and human; the creative role of the Mishna and Talmud; and how the lay community and minhag (custom) help shape Jewish law. Examines how the law changed and developed through the medieval period. Shows how the reaction to the Enlightenment produced the modern denominations and examines their view towards halakha. Particularly addresses the concerns of women in Jewish law, especially marriage, divorce, annulment, and women as rabbis.] [6][Buy at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0253326028/socculturejew ish/] [Gre88] Greenberg, Simon (ed). The Ordination of Women As Rabbis: Studies and Responsa (Moreshet Series: Studies in Jewish History, Literature, and Thought, Vol XIV). Jewish Theological Seminary of Amer; 1988. Hardcover. ISBN 0-873340-41-8. [Collects the responsa and halakhic studies from members of the Conservative leadership; The papers in this volume led to the movement's decision to ordain women as rabbis and cantors.] [7][Buy at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0873340418/socculturejew ish/] [Kle79] Klein, Isaac. A Guide to Jewish Religious Practice. Jewish Theological Seminary of Amer; 1979. Hardcover. ISBN 0-873340-04-3. [Published by the Conservative movement, but based upon previous law codes, including the Mishneh Torah, Shulkhan Arukh, and later responsa by Conservative and Orthodox authorities. It is more than a list of do's and don'ts: Each chapter discusses the philosophy, history and the reasons why these laws and customs came to be. This guide covers daily prayer, tallit and tzitzit, tefillin, weddings, births, adoption, divorce, bar and bat miztvahs, death and mourning, the High Holy Days, the Jewish festivals and fast days, Shabbat, keeping kosher, the laws of family purity, abortion and other topics.] [8][Buy at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0873340043/socculturejew ish/] [Sie77] Siegel, Seymour ed. Conservative Judaism and Jewish Law. Rabbinical Assembly, New York. 1977. Out of Print [RAA88] Rabbinical Assembly. Emet Ve-Emunah: Statement of Principles of Conservative Judaism. The JTS, Rabbinical Assembly, and the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism. 1988. [Rot86] Roth, Joel. The Halakhic Process: A Systemic Analysis. Jewish Theological Seminary of America, 1986. Out of Print. [Presents and analyzes the primary Talmudic and rabbinic sources relating to the legal and extra-legal factors that go into the process of halakhic decision-making, focusing on today's issues.] [Wol96a] Wolfson, Ron. The Shabbat Seder (Art of Jewish Living). Jewish Lights Pub; 1996. Paperback. ISBN 1-879045-90-7. [A concise step-by-step guide designed to teach people the meaning of this weekly celebration, as well as its practices. Activities and rituals are set out in a straightforward way, along with instructions on how to perform them. Each chapter corresponds to one of ten steps which together comprise the Shabbat dinner ritual, and focuses on the concepts, objects, and meanings behind the specific activity or ritual act. It is designed in an easy-to-read format for people with varying degrees of Hebrew skills. Conservative.] [9][Buy at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1879045907/socculturejew ish/] [Wol96b] Wolfson, Ron. The Passover Seder (The Art of Jewish Living). Jewish Lights Pub; 1996. Paperback. ISBN 1-879045-93-1. [Explains the concepts behind Passover ritual and ceremony in clear, easy-to-understand language, and guides you with step-by-step procedures for observance and preparing the home for the holiday. The Haggadah texts are in Hebrew, English, and transliteration. A detailed description of the procedures involved in performing rituals is included, along with a section of practical questions and answers. "Innovations" offers imaginative ideas and customs for Seder celebration.] [10][Buy at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1879045931/socculturejew ish/] [Wol96c] Wolfson, Ron. Hanukkah (The Art of Jewish Living). Jewish Lights Pub; 1996. Paperback. ISBN 1-879045-97-4. [Discusses the holiday's origins, reasons for the Hanukkah candles and customs, and provides everything from recipes to family activities. There are songs in English, Hebrew, and Yiddish (with clear transliterations), recipes for Hanukkah foods, information on the arts and crafts of Hanukkah, the calendar and its relationship to Christmas time, and games played at Hanukkah. Putting the holiday in a larger, timely context, "December Dilemmas" deals with ways in which a Jewish family can cope with Christmas.] [11][Buy at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1879045974/socculturejew ish/] [Wol96d] Wolfson, Ron. A Time to Mourn, A Time to Comfort. A volume in The Art of Jewish Living Series. Jewish Lights Pub; 1996. Paperback. 320 pages. ISBN 1-879045-96-6. [This volume is a guide to those who are or will be mourning the loss of a loved one, those who will be comforting those who are mourning, and also contains information on advance planning for your own death and such end-of-life issues as ethical wills, advance health care directives, and estate planning.] [12][Buy at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1879045966/socculturejew ish] ------------------------------------------------------------ Subject: Conservative History [Ben48] Bentwich, Norman. Solomon Schechter. Jewish Publication Society, Philadelphia PA. 1948. Out of Print. [Carxx] Cardin, Nina Beth; Silverman, David Wolf. The Seminary at 100: Reflections on the Jewish Theological Seminary and the Conservative Movement. United Synagogue Book Service; 1987. Hardcover. ISBN 0-916219-04-6. [A collection of papers by over fifty scholars, rabbis and lay leaders, who offer their insights and reflections on the Jewish Theological Seminary: its contributions and character, its mystique and its mission.] [6][Buy at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0916219046/socculturejew ish/] [Dav63] Davis, Moshe. The Emergence of Conservative Judaism: The Historical School in 19th Century America. Jewish Publication Society, Philadelphia PA. 1963. Out of Print [Dor77] Dorff, Eliot M. Conservative Judaism: Our Ancestors to Our Descendents. United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, New York. 1997. [An authoritative sourcebook on the origins and philosophy of the Conservative Movement. Objectively covers the development of Judaism from the time of the Torah to the enlightenment, and discusses the theology and philosophy of the Jewish movements that developed in response to the modern age: Conservative, Orthodox, Reform and Reconstructionist Judaism.] [Eis80] Eisenberg, Azriel. Fill a Blank Page: A Biography of Solomon Schechter. United Synagogue Book Service; 1980. Hardcover. ISBN 0-838107-30-3. [7][Buy at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0838107303/socculturejew ish/] [Gil96] Gillman, Neil. Conservative Judaism: The New Century. Behrman House; 1996. Paperback. ISBN 0-874415-47-0. [Through history, photographs, and personal recollection, this book recreates the history of the Conservative movement. Written from an insider's perspective, this book explores the history and ideology behind the development of the modern Jewish movements. It then discusses the key issues, that have forced the Movement to come to terms with its identity, such as: The struggle to create a modern form of traditional Jewish law, the demand to ordain women as rabbis, pressure to accept homosexual rabbis, and the recognition that much of its membership is largely unobservant. Also looks at the movement's relationship with the state of Israel.] [8][Buy at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0874415470/socculturejew ish/] [Kar64] Karp, Abraham J. A History of the United Synagoges of America: 1913-1963, United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, New York. 1964. Out of Print [Par64] Parzen, Herbert. Architects of Conservative Judaism Jonathan David, New York. 1964. Out of Print [Wax98] Waxman, Mordecai (ed). Tradition and Change: The Development of Conservative Judaism. United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, New York. 1998. [Includes statements by the founders and leading spokesmen of the Conservative movement. Includes a number of famous rabbinic responsa dealing with the use of electricity and automobiles on the Sabbath.] [Wer97] Wertheimer, Jack (ed). Tradition Renewed: A History of the Jewish Theological Seminary. JTS Publications; 1997. Hardcover. Volumes I and II. ISBN 0-873340-75-2. [Comprising new studies written by scholars from institutions of higher learning throughout the United States, Canada, and Israel, and richly illustrated, "Tradition Renewed" offers a dispassionate and analytical history of the Jewish Theological Seminary from its founding in 1886 to the conclusion of the administration of Gerson D. Cohen, a century later.] [9][Buy at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0873340752/socculturejew ish/] ------------------------------------------------------------ Subject: Conservative Liturgy [Cah98] Cahan, Leonard (ed.) Siddur Sim Shalom for Shabbat and Festivals. RA and USCJ, NY. 1998. ISBN 0916219135. [This new edition of Sim Shalom features gender-sensitive language, options to use the Imahot in the Amidah, an easier to follow layout, and increased use of transliteration. Contains services for Shabbat and festivals, but does not contain weekday services. Has a section on Shabbat and Holiday home rituals.] [Cha86] Chanover, Hyman. Book of Prayer for Junior Congregations: Sabbath and Feast. United Synagogue Book Service; 1986. Hardcover. ISBN 0-838101-74-7. [6][Buy at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0838101747/socculturejew ish/] [Gol78] Golinkin, Noah. Shalom Aleichem - Learn to read the Hebrew Prayerbook!.Hebrew Pub Co; 1978. Paperback. ISBN 0-884826-96-1. [7][Buy at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0884826961/socculturejew ish/] [Gol81] Golinkin, Noah. Ayn Keloheynu - Learn to comprehend the Hebrew Prayerbook in a new way. Sheingold Publishers, 1981, 1989. Paperback. ISBN 0-884001-36-9. [8][Buy at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0884001369/socculturejew ish/] [Ham95] Hammer, Reuven. Entering Jewish Prayer: A Guide to Personal Devotion and the Worship Service. Schocken Books; 1995. Paperback. Reprint edition. ISBN 0-805210-22-9. [More than a 'how-to' guide, this book deals with the basic issues in prayer, the historical compilation of the Siddur; the orchestration of the daily, Sabbath, and festival prayers; the themes of special prayers, such as the Blessing After Meals and the Kaddish; and the essential experience of making prayer a vital part of one's life. Also explains differences between the liturgy of each of the Jewish movements.] [9][Buy at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0805210229/socculturejew ish/] [Har65] Harlow, Jules Ed. Liqqutei Tefillah: The Rabbis Manual. Rabbinical Assembly, New York. 1965. Out of Print [Har78] Harlow, Jules (ed). Mahzor for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism; 1978. Hardcover. ISBN 0-874411-48-3. [The official Conservative machzor. The text is traditional, but references to the Temple and animal sacrifices have been modified in the same way as for "Siddur Sim Shalom". It has less Ashkenazic piyuttim than other machzorim, but adds some prayers and poetry from the Sephardic rite, as well as from some ancient machzorim.] [10][Buy at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0874411483/socculturejew ish/] [Har85] Harlow, Jules (ed). Siddur Sim Shalom: A Prayerbook for Shabbat, Festivals, and Weekdays. United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism; 1985. Hardcover. ISBN 0-916219-01-1. [Services for weekdays, Shabbat and Festivals, with additions for Israel Independence Day and Holocaust Memorial Day, as well as texts for Kiddush, zemirot, Blessings After Meals, Havdalah, and Shabbat and Holiday home rituals. Its introduction explains what changes exist, and the rationale behind them.] [11][Buy at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0916219011/socculturejew ish/] [RAA64] Rabbinical Assembly. (Sabbath Prayers) Seder Tefilot Yisra'el LeShabbat Uleshalosh Regalim. Rabbinical Assembly and United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism. 1964. [RAA62] Rabbinical Assembly. Weekday Prayer Book: Tefillot Liyemoth Hol. Rabbinical Assembly, New York. 1962. [RAA98] Rabbinical Assembly: Rank, Perry Raphael; Freeman, Gordon M. (eds). Moreh Derekh : The Rabbi's Manual of the Rabbinical Assembly. Rabbinical Assembly, 1998. ISBN 0-916219-10-0. [Contains all the traditional services for all aspects of events such as births, bat or bat mitzvah, conversion to Judaism, aliyot on special occasions, weddings, divorces, sickness, and death. Also contains many innovative rituals, including prayers for retirement, special birthdays, anniversarys, a pilgrimage or aliyah to Israel, entering college, and healing service. Also has sensitive sections on infertility, abortion and miscarriages.] [12][Buy at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0916219100/socculturejew ish/] [Rab82] Rabbinowicz, Rachel Anne (ed). Passover Haggadah: The Feast of Freedom. United Synagogue Book Service; 1982. Paperback. 2nd ed. ISBN 0-870687-82-4. [Also used by many Orthodox and Reform Jews because of its combination of learning and accessibility with a useful lay-out. The official Conservative haggadah. Has a new translation and a detailed commentary. Clear instructions and explanations take the reader step by step through all of the Seder. Encourages the active participation of everyone.] [13][Buy at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0870687824/socculturejew ish/] [FJMC] The Shabbat Morning Torah Service Video Tape. The Federation of Jewish Men's Clubs, Inc. This VHS tape, with accompanying User's Guide, Glossary, and Torah Blessings Card is a great teaching tool for people unfamiliar with the procedures of the Torah Service, such as people asked to participate at a Bar/Bat Mitzvah. ------------------------------------------------------------ Subject: How do I obtain copies of the Reading Lists? Answer: There are a number of different ways to obtain copies of the Reading Lists: * WWW. If you are reading this on Usenet, and would like to see an online, hyperlinked version, go visit [2]http://www.scjfaq.org/. This is the "web" version of the FAQ; the version posted to Usenet is generated from the web version. Note that the www.scjfaq.org version is a copy of the actual master version; if you want to access the master, visit [3]http://master.scjfaq.org/. Alternatively, if you would like to see the posted version through the web, visit [4]http://shamash.org/listarchives/scj-faq/. The FAQ is in the subdirectory "FAQ"; the reading lists are in the subdirectory "rl". * Email. Scjfaq.org also provides an autoretriever that allows one to obtain a copy of the reading lists by return Email. To use the autoretriever, you send a retrieval request to [5]archives@scjfaq.org with the request in the body of the message. A more reliable way to retrieve these files is through the [6]FAQ autoretriever ([7]http://www.mljewish.org/bin/autoresp.cgi). For the FAQ, the request has the form: send faq partname For the reading list, the request has the form: send rl partname "Partname" is replaced by the name of the part, as shown in the general index. The following is a short summary of the mapping of partnames for the Reading Lists: + [8]general: Introduction and General. Includes book sources, starting points for beginners, starting points for non-Jewish readers, General Judaism, General Jewish Thought, General Jewish History, Contemporary Judaism, Noachide Laws, Torah and Torah Commentary, Talmud and Talmudic Commentary, Mishnah, Midrash, Halachic Codes, Becoming An Observant Jew, Women and Judaism, and Science and Judaism. + [9]traditional: Traditional Liturgy, Practice, Lifestyle, Holidays. Includes Traditional Liturgy; Traditional Philosophy and Ethics; Prayer; Traditional Practice; The Household; Life, Death, and In-Between; and The Cycle Of Holidays. + [10]mysticism: Kabbalah, Mysticism, and Messianism. Includes Academic and Religious treatments of Kabbalah, Sprituality, and the Jewish notion of the Messiah. + [11]reform: Reform/Progressive Judaism + [12]conservative: Conservative Judaism + [13]reconstructionist: Reconstructionist Judaism + [14]humanistic: Humanistic Judaism (Society for Humanistic Judaism) + [15]chasidism: Chassidism. Includes general information on historical chassidism, as well as specific information on Lubavitch (Chabad), Satmar, Breslaw (Breslov), and other approaches. + [16]zionism: Zionism. Includes Zionism and The Development Of Israel, The Founders, Zionistic Movements, and Judaism in Israel. + [17]antisemitism: Antisemitism. Includes sections on Antisemitism, What Led to The Holocaust, Medieval Oppression, Antisemitism Today (Including Dealing with Hate Groups), Judaism and Christianity, and Judaism, Freemasonry and other rumors. + [18]intermarriage: Intermarriage. Includes sections on "So You're Considering Intermarriage?", The Traditional Viewpoint, Conversion, and Coping With Life As An Intermarried. + [19]childrens: Books for Jewish Children. Includes sections on Birth and Naming, Raising a Child, Family Guidebooks, Upsheren, Bar/Bat Mitzvah, Confirmation, Holiday Books for Children, Liturgy for Children, Bible and Torah for Children, Jewish History for Children, Jewish Theology for Children, Israel, Learning Hebrew, and Jewish Stories. The following is a short summary of the mapping to partnames for the FAQ: + [20]01-FAQ-intro: Section [21]1: Network and Newsgroup Information. + [22]02-Who-We-Are: Section [23]2: Who We Are + [24]03-Torah-Halacha: Sections [25]3, [26]4: Torah; Halachic Authority + [27]04-Observance: Sections [28]5, [29]6, [30]7, [31]8: Jewish Holidays; Jewish Dietary Law and Kashrut; Sabbath and Holiday Observance; Woman and Marriage + [32]05-Worship: Sections [33]9, [34]10, [35]11: Jewish Worship; Conversion, Intermarriage, and "Who is a Jew?"; Miscellaneous Practice Questions + [36]06-Jewish-Thought: Section [37]12: Jewish Thought + [38]07-Jews-As-Nation: Section [39]13: Jews as a Nation + [40]08-Israel: Section [41]14: Jews and Israel + [42]09-Antisemitism: Sections [43]15, [44]16, [45]17: Churban Europa (The Holocaust); Antisemitism and Rumors about Jews; Countering Missionaries + [46]10-Reform: Section [47]18: Reform/Progressive Judaism + [48]11-Miscellaneous: Sections [49]19, [50]20: Miscellaneous; References and Getting Connected + [51]12-Kids: Section [52]21: Jewish Childrearing Related Questions + [53]mail-order: Mail Order Judaica Alternatively, you may send a message to [54]mail-server@rtfm.mit.edu with the following line in the body of the message: send usenet/news.answers/judaism/(portionname) Where (portionname) is replaced by the appropriate subdirectory and filenames; for example, to get the first part of the reading list, one would say: send usenet/news.answers/judaism/reading-lists/general * Anonymous FTP: All portions of the FAQ and of the reading lists are archived on [55]rtfm.mit.edu and are available for anonymous FTP from the pub/usenet/news.answers/judaism/FAQ directory (URL [56]ftp://rtfm.mit.edu/pub/usenet/news.answers/judaism/FAQ/). Similarly, the parts of the reading lists are stored in the pub/usenet/news.answers/judaism/reading-lists directory (URL: [57]ftp://rtfm.mit.edu/pub/usenet/news.answers/judaism/reading-lis ts). Note that the archived versions of the FAQ and reading lists are the posted versions; that is, they are each one large ASCII file. ------------------------------------------------------------ Subject: Credits This list is based on a reading list I developed from research at the University of Judaism in January of 1993. Additional entries have been provided by Eric Simon as part of the July 2000 remodeling of the list. Contributions and/or corrections to this list have been made by David Grabiner, David A Guberman, Robert Kaiser, Rabbi Jay Lapidus, Art Kamlet, and Paul Wolf. Suggestions for additions or deletions are welcome, as are brief annotations for the entries. A special thank you... Special thanks for her patience and understanding go to my wife, Karen, who put up with me hiding at the computer for the two months it took to complete the July/August 2000 remodel of the entire soc.culture.jewish FAQ and Reading Lists. If you think the effort was worth it, drop her a note c/o [6]maintainer@scjfaq.org. ------------------------------------------------------------ -- Please mail additions or corrections to me at faigin@pacificnet.net. End of Judaism Reading List Part V (Conservative) Digest ************************** -------