Contemporary Orthodox Judaism's Response to Modernity

by Freundel, Barry

• ISBN13: 9780881257779
• ISBN10: 088125777X
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2004-01-01
• Publisher: Ktav Pub Inc

Summary

Orthodox Judaism is an ideology that has a recognized niche in today's society, both secular and Jewish. However, it is often misunderstood in general or in its specifics by some of its adherents and certainly by those who do not live by its tenets. In Contemporary Orthodox Judaism's Response to Modernity, Rabbi Barry Freundel, in thirty-two relatively brief essays, summarizes Orthodox Jewish teaching on a variety of issues. These range from topics as central to the religious experience as prayer and Messiah, to those as contemporary as abortion and life on other planets. For the student, the seeker and even for those more knowledgeable this volume will provide much information, food for thought and source material to aid in understanding one of mankind's most ancient religious traditions and its continued vibrancy and relevance in the twenty-first century.

Author Biography

Barry Freundel is Assistant Professor of Rabbinics at Baltimore Hebrew University and Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University Law School, the University of Maryland at College Park and George Washington University.

Table of Contents

Introduction	vii
1. God	1	(8)
2. The Bible	9	(19)
3. Halakhah, the Oral Tradition, and Legal Debate	28	(12)
4. Prophecy	40	(7)
5. Humankind's Place in Creation	47	(7)
6. Theodicy: The Problem of Evil	54	(14)
7. Teshuvah	68	(7)
8. Gentiles	75	(7)
9. Israel	82	(16)
10. The Messiah	98	(12)
11. Dogmas, Beliefs, and Creeds	110	(11)
12. Shabbat and Kashrut	121	(10)
13. The Experience of Prayer	131	(6)
14. Some Additional Thoughts on Prayer	137	(11)
15. Tzedakah and Gemilut Hasadim	148	(8)
16. Mysticism	156	(8)
17. Miracles	164	(8)
18. Afterlife	172	(6)
19. Astrology	178	(9)
20. Authority vs. Autonomy	187	(3)
21. Ethics	190	(8)
22. Beginning of Life: The New Ethical Frontier	198	(13)
23. End of Life Issues: Transplantation, Definition of Death, Right to Die	211	(11)
24. Conversion-Who Is a Jew?	222	(11)
25. Citizenship and the Jew	233	(9)
26. Evolution and Life on Other Planets	242	(6)
27. Tobacco, Drugs, and Alcohol	248	(8)
28. Abortion	256	(9)
29. Women	265	(16)
30. Sex	281	(11)
31. The Holocaust	292	(9)
Sources	301	(33)
Subject Index	334