A Vision of Holiness: The Future of Reform Judaism by Richard N. Levy

From the Publisher

Where is Reform Judaism heading in the twentyfirst century? This was the question before the Central Conference of American Rabbis as it undertook to write a Statement of Principles, the fourth in a series of comprehensive statements that the Reform rabbinate has adopted throughout its history to help inspire the thought and practice of Reform Judaism. A Vision of Holiness is an explication of the Pittsburgh Principles’ vision, as seen through the lens of the rabbi who guided the process and shaped the document. It is a personal reflection of a communal vision, an attempt to explore the implications of the 1999 document. A Vision of Holiness will change all of its readers, Reform or not, to reflect on the nature of their religious lives and deepen their relationships with God, their absorption in Torah, and their critical commitment to the destiny of the Jewish people and the Jewish state. A Vision of Holiness illumines the manner in which this vibrant group of Jews envisions its purpose in the world and sets forth challenges for Reform Judaism’s ongoing engagement with mitzvot.

Publishers Weekly

Since 1885, when a group of Reform rabbis promulgated the radical Pittsburgh Platform, Reform Judaism has been moving steadily rightward toward traditional Jewish thinking and observance-a trend culminating in the new "statement of principles" the denomination adopted in 1999. This book includes the 1999 document as well as earlier declarations of a Reform creed, enabling the reader to see the remarkable shift in how Reform Jews define themselves. These changes have contributed to Reform Judaism being America's largest Jewish denomination today. Levy, who has served as a rabbi and is currently director of a Reform rabbinical school in California, analyzes and explains each of the principles that were adopted in the 1999 report, which he helped create. He organizes them into three categories of Reform belief and behavior with regard to God, Torah and the Jewish people. The material is clearly presented, and Levy displays a strong historical perspective, such as when he describes the transformation of Reform views from anti-Zionist to Zionist. Complicated theological issues are lucidly explicated, sometimes using helpful homespun illustrations. The book will appeal to Reform Jews but also to others interested in the development of religious creeds and their influence on American society. (Aug. 15) Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

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Table of Contents