The principle of keruv1 is central to the ideals and aspirations of Judaism. We frequently cite a... more The principle of keruv1 is central to the ideals and aspirations of Judaism. We frequently cite as one of our most important goals the need to bring those who are only tangentially involved in things Jewish closer to the center of Jewish life and to make Judaism more central to their lives. While the term keruv is most frequently invoked with regard to Jews, the same attitude might be of import with regard to non-Jews as well, provided that they indicate a desire to become part of the Jewish faith. The well known aggadah about Hillel and the proselytes clearly deals with a case in which the non-Jews approached the Jewish community seeking conversion (Shabbat 31a). The Jewish community did not proselytize. In our day, however, we confront a situation that requires active attempts to convert non-Jews to Judaism. The extraordinarily high rate of intermarriage among Jews (encompassing members of all movements, including ours) demands our attention. Having failed to prevent these marriag...
This paper was adopted as a Minority Opinion on April27, 1983 by a vote of 6 in favor, 9 opposed ... more This paper was adopted as a Minority Opinion on April27, 1983 by a vote of 6 in favor, 9 opposed and 5 abstentions. Members voting in favor: Rabbis Kassel Abelson, Ephraim L. Bennett, Wolfe Kelman, Mayer E. Rabinowitz, Joel Roth and Harry Z. Sky. Members voting in opposition: Rabbis 1sidoro Aizenberg, Jacob B. Agus, Morris Feldman, Edward M. Gershfield, David H. Lincoln, David Novak, Barry S. Rosen, Morris M. Shapiro and Israel N. Silverman. Members abstaining: Rabbis Ben Zion Bokser, David M. Feldman, Robert Gordis, Henry A. Sosland and Alan J. Yuter. Note: "The Text of the Ketubbah," a paper by Rabbi Morris M. Shapiro, was adopted as theM ajority Opinion of the Committee on April 27, 1983 by a vote of 13-6-1. "A Proposal for the Text of the Ketubbah," a paper by Rabbi Robert Gordis, was adopted as a Minority Opinion by a vote of 5 in favor, 10 opposed and 5 abstentions. These papers also appear in this volume.
A book like Israel: A Concise History of a Nation Reborn, by definition covers Israel’s history f... more A book like Israel: A Concise History of a Nation Reborn, by definition covers Israel’s history from a bird’s-eye view. Every event, issue, and personality discussed in these pages has been the subject of much investigation and writing. There are many wonderful books that, by focusing on subjects much more specific, are able to examine the issues the issues covered in this book in much greater detail. The following are my rather idiosyncratic recommendations for a few that will be of interest to the general reader interested in delving more deeply into some of the issues raised in this book. There are many other superb books, not listed here, equally worth reading.
The principle of keruv1 is central to the ideals and aspirations of Judaism. We frequently cite a... more The principle of keruv1 is central to the ideals and aspirations of Judaism. We frequently cite as one of our most important goals the need to bring those who are only tangentially involved in things Jewish closer to the center of Jewish life and to make Judaism more central to their lives. While the term keruv is most frequently invoked with regard to Jews, the same attitude might be of import with regard to non-Jews as well, provided that they indicate a desire to become part of the Jewish faith. The well known aggadah about Hillel and the proselytes clearly deals with a case in which the non-Jews approached the Jewish community seeking conversion (Shabbat 31a). The Jewish community did not proselytize. In our day, however, we confront a situation that requires active attempts to convert non-Jews to Judaism. The extraordinarily high rate of intermarriage among Jews (encompassing members of all movements, including ours) demands our attention. Having failed to prevent these marriag...
This paper was adopted as a Minority Opinion on April27, 1983 by a vote of 6 in favor, 9 opposed ... more This paper was adopted as a Minority Opinion on April27, 1983 by a vote of 6 in favor, 9 opposed and 5 abstentions. Members voting in favor: Rabbis Kassel Abelson, Ephraim L. Bennett, Wolfe Kelman, Mayer E. Rabinowitz, Joel Roth and Harry Z. Sky. Members voting in opposition: Rabbis 1sidoro Aizenberg, Jacob B. Agus, Morris Feldman, Edward M. Gershfield, David H. Lincoln, David Novak, Barry S. Rosen, Morris M. Shapiro and Israel N. Silverman. Members abstaining: Rabbis Ben Zion Bokser, David M. Feldman, Robert Gordis, Henry A. Sosland and Alan J. Yuter. Note: "The Text of the Ketubbah," a paper by Rabbi Morris M. Shapiro, was adopted as theM ajority Opinion of the Committee on April 27, 1983 by a vote of 13-6-1. "A Proposal for the Text of the Ketubbah," a paper by Rabbi Robert Gordis, was adopted as a Minority Opinion by a vote of 5 in favor, 10 opposed and 5 abstentions. These papers also appear in this volume.
A book like Israel: A Concise History of a Nation Reborn, by definition covers Israel’s history f... more A book like Israel: A Concise History of a Nation Reborn, by definition covers Israel’s history from a bird’s-eye view. Every event, issue, and personality discussed in these pages has been the subject of much investigation and writing. There are many wonderful books that, by focusing on subjects much more specific, are able to examine the issues the issues covered in this book in much greater detail. The following are my rather idiosyncratic recommendations for a few that will be of interest to the general reader interested in delving more deeply into some of the issues raised in this book. There are many other superb books, not listed here, equally worth reading.
Uploads
Papers by Daniel Gordis