Empowered Judaism

by Kaunfer, Elie

• ISBN13: 9781580234122
• ISBN10: 1580234127
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2010-03-19
• Publisher: Jewish Lights Pub

Summary

Why have thousands of young Jews, otherwise unengaged with formal Jewish life, started more than sixty prayer communities across the United States? What crucial lessons for all Jews can these grassroots communities provide? Rabbi Elie Kaunfer, one of the leaders of this phenomenon, offers refreshingly new analysis of age-old questions of how to build Jewish community by examining the independent minyan movement and its relevant lessons on prayer, community organizing, volunteer leadership and how they impact wider issues in American Judaism. Along with describing the growth of minyanim across the country, he examines the pros and cons of the rabbi/cantor model; the role of music, leadership, space, and youth in their new approach to prayer; and the lessons learned from the concept of immersive, intensive Jewish learning in an egalitarian context. He also offers insight from the growing field of Jewish social entrepreneurs. By exploring the successes and shortcomings of the independent minyan movement, Kaunfer outlines the Jewish values that must be invested in to push the American Jewish landscape to the next level.

Table of Contents

Foreword	p. ix
Introduction: My Journey to Empowered Judaism	p. 1
Kehilat Hadar: A Model of Empowered Judaism	p. 15
Independent Minyanim Nationwide: Significance and Impact	p. 61
The Diverse Landscape of Independent Minyanim: Voices from the Field	p. 85
Engaged Davening: How Empowered Jews Pray	p. 111
Yeshivat Hadar: Fostering a Generation of Empowered Jews	p. 129
Empowerment and Meaning: A New Frame for Jewish Life	p. 143
Pathways Forward: The Real Crisis in American Judaism	p. 157
Appendix: An Empowered Judaism Approach to Understanding Prayer	p. 163
Acknowledgments	p. 177
Notes	p. 183
Glossary	p. 185
Suggestions for Further Reading	p. 193
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