Foreword, by Rabbi Julie Schonfeld Preface Introduction: The Roots of Conservative Judaism Conservative Judaism''s European Beginnings Taking Root in America Rabbi Solomon Schechter''s Concept of "Catholic Israel" Taking Off in America Rabbi Mordecai Kaplan''s Concept of "Judaism as a Civilization" Articulating Conservative Judaism''s Faith and Practice Definitions and Demographic Declines Reading This Book Suggestions for Further Reading Part 1. God 1. Emunah: Theology Emet Ve-Emunah on Theology Modern Conservative Theologies Rationalism Religious Naturalism Process Thought Mysticism Feminist Theology Suggestions for Further Reading 2. Tefillah: Prayer Emet Ve-Emunah on Prayer Introducing Conservative/Masorti Theories of Prayer Rabbi Mordecai Kaplan Rabbi Bradley Shavit Artson Rabbi Elliot N. Dorff Prayer through the Lens of Prayer Books Ma?zor Lev Shalem Offers a New Window into Conservative Prayer The Evolving Conservative Prayer Service The Next Frontier in Conservative Worship Suggestions for Further Reading Part 2. Torah 3. Talmud Torah: Study Emet Ve-Emunah on Jewish Study Dr. Arnold Eisen on Conservative Jewish Learning Suggestions for Further Reading 4.
Halakhah: Legal Theories 1913 Preamble to the Constitution of the United Synagogue of America Emet Ve-Emunah on Jewish Law (1988) Understanding Theories of Law Some Conservative/Masorti Theories of Jewish Law Rabbi Joel Roth on a Deductive Legal System Rabbi Neil Gillman on Communal Responses to Shared Myths Rabbi Elliot N. Dorff on an Organic System That Expresses Love and Addresses Morality Rabbi Harold Kushner on Jewish Law as an Opportunity for Holiness Rabbi Alana Suskin on Investing Jewish Law with Egalitarian/Feminist Principles Suggestions for Further Reading 5. P''sak Din: Determining Conservative Practice The Local Rabbi A Central Communal Institution Movement Organizations and Local Institutions Custom Emet Ve-Emunah on Authority for Jewish Practice Rabbi Gordon Tucker''s Rationale for Pluralism in Jewish Law Suggestions for Further Reading 6. Nashim: Women in Jewish Life Emet Ve-Emunah''s 1988 Stance The Report of the Commission on the Ordination of Women as Rabbis Aftermath of the Commission Report Responsa on Women''s Issues Rabbi Pamela Barmash''s Responsum on Women''s Equality Egalitarianism in Practice Worldwide Suggestions for Further Reading 7. ?ayyim u''Mavet: Rulings on Bioethics Responsum on Contraception Responsum on Procreation Responsa on Birth Surrogates Responsum on Abortion Responsum on Stem Cell Research and Cloning Responsa on End-of-Life Care Responsum on the Distribution of Health Care Suggestions for Further Reading 8. Masa u''Mattan: Legal Rulings on Business Ethics Responsum on Intellectual Property Responsum on Whistle-Blowing Responsum on Employers and Employees Suggestions for Further Reading 9. Bein Adam LaMakom: Rulings on Ritual Observance Responsum on Tattooing and Body Piercing Responsum on Forming a Minyan on the Internet Responsum on Playing Sports on Shabbat Responsa on the Dietary Laws (Kashrut) Magen Tzedek (Shield of Justice) Suggestions for Further Reading 10. Tikkun Olam: Moral Guidance on Social Issues Traditional Means of Inculcating Morality Emet Ve-Emunah on Building a Moral and Just World The Rabbinic Letter on the Poor Responsum on Capital Punishment Suggestions for Further Reading 11.
?ayyei Min u''Mishpa?ah: Moral Guidance on Sex and Family Life A Rabbinic Letter on Intimate Relations Responsum on Family Violence Addressing Interfaith Marriage Addressing Gays and Lesbians Responsa on Transgender Individuals Responsum and Documentation on Divorce Suggestions for Further Reading Part 3. Israel 12. Am Yisrael: Peoplehood Developing the Doctrine of the People Israel Emet Ve-Emunah on the People Israel Emet Ve-Emunah on Judaism''s Relations with Other Faiths Dr. Arnold Eisen on Why Our Covenant Matters Who Is a Jew? Suggestions for Further Reading 13. Tziyyonut: Zionism and the State of Israel Early Religious Responses to Zionism Conservative Movement Responses to a Jewish State Emet Ve-Emunah on the State of Israel and the Diaspora Conservative/Masorti Life in and for Israel Why Israel Matters to Conservative Jews Suggestions for Further Reading 14. Teshuvot Medinat Yisrael: Masorti Responsa in and for Israel Responsum on Ceding Land in a Peace Agreement Responsum on Extraditing a Jewish Criminal from Israel to Another Country Responsum on the Conscription of Women into the Israel Defense Forces Responsum on the Conscription of Yeshivah Students into the Israel Defense Forces Responsum on Riding to the Synagogue on Shabbat Suggestions for Further Reading Epilogue: The Ideal Conservative Jew Appendix: Institutions of the Conservative Movement Academic Centers of the Conservative Movement Professional Organizations of the Conservative Movement Lay Organizations of the Conservative Movement "Joint Commissions" of the Conservative Movement Source Acknowledgments Notes Bibliography Authors of Excerpted Texts Index.