front cover of Above All, We Are Jews
Above All, We Are Jews
A Biography of Alexander Schindler
Michael A. Meyer
Central Conference of American Rabbis, 2025
Rabbi Alexander Schindler (1925–2000) was an extraordinarily influential leader in the history of Reform Judaism. From 1973 to 1996, he served as president of the Union of
American Hebrew Congregations (today’s Union for Reform Judaism), where his charisma and vision raised the Reform Movement to unprecedented influence. Never
afraid to be controversial, he argued for recognizing patrilineal descent, institutionalized outreach to interfaith families and non-Jews, and championed LGBTQ rights and
racial equality. He was a tireless advocate for Israel while maintaining diaspora Jews’ right to speak out independently on the Jewish state. In this nuanced biography, historian
Michael A. Meyer draws on extensive archival research and interviews to paint a definitive portrait of Schindler’s life. A foreword by Jonathan D. Sarna situates Schindler
in American Jewish history, and Rabbi Rick Jacobs’s afterword reflects on his legacy.
[more]

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Alternatives to Assimilation
The Response of Reform Judaism to American Culture, 1840–1930
Alan Silverstein
Brandeis University Press, 1995
Explores the influence of American culture and history on the development of Reform Jewish institutions. Brandeis Series in American Jewish History, Culture, and Life.
[more]

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American Reform Judaism
An Introduction
Dana Evan Kaplan
Rutgers University Press, 2003

The only comprehensive and up-to-date look at Reform Judaism, this book analyzes the forces currently challenging the Reform movement, now the largest Jewish denomination in the United States.

To distinguish itself from Orthodox and Conservative Judaism, the Reform movement tries to be an egalitarian, open, and innovative version of the faith true to the spirit of the tradition but nonetheless fully compatible with modern secular life. Promoting itself in this way, Reform Judaism has been tremendously successful in recruiting a variety of people—intermarried families, feminists, gays and lesbians, and interracial families among others—who resist more traditional forms of worship.

As an unintended result of this success, the movement now struggles with an identity crisis brought on by its liberal theology, which teaches that each Jew is free to practice Judaism more or less as he or she pleases. In the absence of the authority that comes from a theology based on a commanding, all-powerful God, can Reform Judaism continue to thrive? Can it be broadly inclusive and still be uniquely and authentically Jewish?

Taking this question as his point of departure, Dana Evan Kaplan provides a broad overview of the American Reform movement and its history, theology, and politics.  He then takes a hard look at the challenges the movement faces as it attempts to reinvent itself in the new millennium.  In so doing, Kaplan gives the reader a sense of where Reform Judaism has come from, where it stands on the major issues, and where it may be going.

Addressing the issues that have confronted the movement—including the ordination of women, acceptance of homosexuality, the problem of assimilation, the question of rabbinic officiation at intermarriages, the struggle for acceptance in Israel, and Jewish education and others—Kaplan sheds light on the connection between Reform ideology and cultural realities. He unflinchingly, yet optimistically, assesses the movement’s future and cautions that stormy weather may be ahead. 

[more]

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Because My Soul Longs for You
Integrating Theology into Our Lives
Rabbi Edwin C. Goldberg and Rabbi Elaine S. Zecher
Central Conference of American Rabbis, 2021

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Beyond Breaking the Glass
A Spiritual Guide to Your Jewish Wedding, Revised Edition
Rabbi Nancy H. Wiener, Dmin
Central Conference of American Rabbis, 2012
This is the book for all of today’s couples. Explores the rich history of Jewish wedding customs and rituals throughout the centuries while providing contemporary interpretations and creative options.
[more]

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Birkon Artzi
Blessings and Meditations for Travelers to Israel
Rabbi Serge Lippe
Central Conference of American Rabbis, 2012
Collection of traditional, historical, and creative prayers, meditations, readings, and songs for the Jewish traveler to Israel
[more]

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Deepening the Dialogue
Jewish-Americans and Israelis Envisioning the Jewish-Democratic State
Rabbi Stanley M. Davids
Central Conference of American Rabbis, 2020
Using the vision embedded in Israel's Declaration of Independence as a template, this anthology presents a unique and comprehensive dialogue between North American Jews and Israelis about the present and future of the State of Israel. With each essay published in both Hebrew and English, in one volume, Deepening the Dialogue is the first of its kind, outlining cultural barriers as well as the immediate need to come together in conversation around the vision of a democratic solution for our nation state.
[more]

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Divrei Mishkan HaNefesh
A Guide to the CCAR Machzor
Rabbi Edwin Goldberg
Central Conference of American Rabbis, 2016

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The First Fifty Years
A Jubilee in Prose and Poetry Honoring Women Rabbis
Rabbi Sue Levi Elwell, Jessica Greenbaum, Rabbi Hara E. Person
Central Conference of American Rabbis, 2023
The ordination of Rabbi Sally J. Priesand in 1972 was a watershed moment in Jewish history. In The First Fifty Years, contributors from across the Jewish and gender
spectrums reflect on the meaning of this moment and the ensuing decades, both personally and for the Jewish community. In short pieces of new prose, authors—
many of them pioneering rabbis—share stories, insights, analysis, and celebrations of women in the rabbinate. These are intertwined with a wealth of poetry that
poignantly captures the spirit of this anniversary. The volume is a deep, heartfelt tribute to women rabbis and their indelible impact on all of us.
[more]

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The Fragile Dialogue
New Voices of Liberal Zionism
Rabbi Stanley M. Davids
Central Conference of American Rabbis, 2018

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Gates of Awe
Holy Day Prayers for Young Children
Rabbi Howard Bogot
Central Conference of American Rabbis, 1991
The second in a series of prayerbooks for early childhood use, Gates of Awe contains rich and enchanting illustrations combined with poetic text that enhances the sense of awe found during the Holy Days. The special qualities of Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur are skillfully introduced to young worshippers through the inspiration of prayer, the excitement of the Shofar and the lessons in the stories of Abraham and Torah.
[more]

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Gates of Forgiveness
Shaarei Selicha
Chaim Stern
Central Conference of American Rabbis, 1993
Shaarei Selicha contains an evening service adapted from Gates of Prayer, as well as extensive meditations and a complete new service for Selichot, the penitential service in preparation for the Rosh HaShanah and the Days of Awe.
[more]

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Gates of Prayer for Shabbat and Weekdays - English-opening, Gender-Inclusive
Chaim Stern
Central Conference of American Rabbis, 1994
Gates of Prayer for Shabbat and Weekdays contains services for Shabbat and weekdays, evening and morning, within the covers of a single, elegantly designed, hardbound volume.  The selection of three complete services for Erev Shabbat enables congregations to use this book regularly for most worship purposes.
[more]

front cover of Gates of Prayer for Shabbat and Weekdays-Hebrew-opening, Gender-Inclusive
Gates of Prayer for Shabbat and Weekdays-Hebrew-opening, Gender-Inclusive
Chaim Stern
Central Conference of American Rabbis, 1994
Gates of Prayer for Shabbat and Weekdays contains services for Shabbat and weekdays, evening and morning, within the covers of a single, elegantly designed, hardbound volume.  The selection of three complete services for Erev Shabbat enables congregations to use this book regularly for most worship purposes.
[more]

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Gates of Prayer for Weekdays and at a House of Mourning
Chaim Stern
Central Conference of American Rabbis, 1992
Includes services for the funeral home and the house of the bereaved, afternoon and evening services, special “At a House of Mourning” service, additional readings, meditations and Kaddish. 
[more]

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Gates of Prayer for Young People
Roy A. Walter
Central Conference of American Rabbis, 1997
Gates of Prayer for Young People fills the need for daily and Shabbat services in congregational worship and the religious school setting.  Building on its forerunners Gates of Wonder and Gates of Awe, this innovative volume includes evening and morning services for weekdays and Shabbat.  Enhanced by full-color art throughout, this text is contemporary, gender-inclusive and designed for young people between five and twelve years of age.
[more]

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Gates of Prayer WHM - Hebrew Open
Chaim Stern
Central Conference of American Rabbis, 1992

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Gates of Repentance - LP - Hebrew
Chaim Stern
Central Conference of American Rabbis, 1997
Gates of Repentance, containing services, readings, meditations and songs for Rosh HasShanah and Yom Kippur, features contemporary, gender-inclusive language throughout. Like its companion, Gates of Prayer, this volume combines the old with the new and supplies each congregation latitude in establishing its own patterns of worship.
[more]

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Gates of Repentance for Young People
Rabbi Judith Abrams
Central Conference of American Rabbis, 2002
Gates of Repentance for Young People is the Machzor designed for children's High Holy Day services; it completes the series begun with Gates of Wonder, Gates of Awe, and Gates of Prayer for Young People. Each service emphasizes the significant themes of the High Holy Days in engaging ways. The volume includes services for Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur for both early and late primary grades in contemporary, gender-inclusive language, along with new translations of the High Holy Day readings from the Torah and Haftarot and illustrations by award-winning artist Neil Waldman.
[more]

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Gates of Shabbat
Neil Waldman
Central Conference of American Rabbis, 1991
Gates of Shabbat is a comprehesive how-to guide containing detailed yet concise information about the Jewish Sabbath at home and in the synagogue. A full appreciation of Jewish custom, ritual and tradition enriches the book, while detailed discussion of the many choices facing contemporary Jews gives it broad appeal. Designed for ease of use, Gates of Shabbat assumes no prior knowledge on the part of its readers, and is an excellent reference for Jews and non-Jews alike.
[more]

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Gates of Shabbat - Shaarei Shabbat
A Guide for Observing Shabbat, Revised Edition
Rabbi Mark Dov Shapiro
Central Conference of American Rabbis, 2016

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Gates of the Seasons
Peter S. Knobel
Central Conference of American Rabbis, 1983
A survey of the sacred days of the Jewish yearly cycle providing detailed guidance on observing the Sabbath and the Jewish holidays, including Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Day) and Yom Ha-Atzma-ut (Israeli Independence Day). Gates of the Seasons provides historical background, essays, extensive notes, a bibliography, glossary and an index.
[more]

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Gates of Understanding
Shaarei Bina - Vol. II: Appreciating the Days of Awe
Rabbi Lawrence A. Hoffman
Central Conference of American Rabbis, 1977
A religious commentary to help High Holy Days worshipers unlock the message behind the liturgy. Covers the history and tradition of the prayers, music in the service, synagogue poetry, the role of God, sin and repentance and much more. Also includes comprehensive notes to Gates of Repentance and a thorough index.
[more]

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Gates of Understanding Volume 1 - PDF Electronic Version
A Companion Volume to Gates of Prayer
Chaim Stern
Central Conference of American Rabbis, 1977
A book about prayer, written to enrich Gates of Prayer, for which it gives sources of al the prayers, additional meditatios and songs. Explores the worship service, obstacles to prayer, the function of the prayer book, and other topics.
[more]

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Haneirot Halalu
These Lights Are Holy
Elyse D. Frishman
Central Conference of American Rabbis, 1989
The CCAR offers a complete compendium of liturgy and readings for home use at Chanuka. This simple and elegant retelling of the story builds nightly to an exciting conclusion. It includes poetic prayer readings, music selections, nightly blessing in Hebrew and English (with complete transliterations), instructions for the dreidel game and even a traditional recipe for latkes. Nine vibrant watercolors by the renowned artist Leonard Baskin infuse the story with warmth and rare beauty.
[more]

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Honoring Tradition, Embracing Modernity
A Reader for the Union for Reform Judaism's Introduction to Judaism Course
Rabbi Beth Lieberman
Central Conference of American Rabbis, 2017

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Isaac Harby of Charleston, 1788-1828
Jewish Reformer and Intellectual
Gary Phillip Zola
University of Alabama Press, 1994

This revealing biography of Isaac Harby sheds much light on the beginnings of Reform Judaism and the economic and cultural rise and fall of Charleston during this period.

[more]

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Kindler of Souls
Rabbi Henry Cohen of Texas
By Rabbi Henry Cohen II
University of Texas Press, 2007

In September 1930, the New York Times published a list of the clergy whom Rabbi Stephen Wise considered "the ten foremost religious leaders in this country." The list included nine Christians and Rabbi Henry Cohen of Galveston, Texas. Little-known today, Henry Cohen was a rabbi to be reckoned with, a man Woodrow Wilson called "the foremost citizen of Texas" who also impressed the likes of William Howard Taft and Clarence Darrow. Cohen's fleeting fame, however, was built not on powerful friendships but on a lifetime of service to needy Jews—as well as gentiles—in London, South Africa, Jamaica, and, for the last sixty-four years of his life, Galveston, Texas.

More than 10,000 Jews, mostly from Eastern Europe, arrived in Galveston in the early twentieth century. Rabbi Cohen greeted many of the new arrivals in Yiddish, then helped them find jobs through a network that extended throughout the Southwest and Midwest United States. The "Galveston Movement," along with Cohen's pioneering work reforming Texas prisons and fighting the Ku Klux Klan, made the rabbi a legend in his time. As this portrait shows, however, he was also a lovable mensch to his grandson. Rabbi Henry Cohen II reminisces about his grandfather's jokes while placing the legendary rabbi in historical context, creating the best picture yet of this important Texan, a man perhaps best summarized by Rabbi Wise in the New York Times as "a soul who touches and kindles souls."

[more]

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A Life of Meaning
Embracing Reform Judaism's Sacred Path
Rabbi Dana Evan Kaplan, PHD
Central Conference of American Rabbis, 2018

front cover of Lights in the Forest
Lights in the Forest
Rabbis Respond to Twelve Essential Jewish Questions
Rabbi Paul Citrin
Central Conference of American Rabbis, 2014

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Mishkan Ga'avah
Where Pride Dwells: A Celebration of Jewish Life and Ritual
Rabbi Denise L. Eger
Central Conference of American Rabbis, 2020
This groundbreaking collection of LGBTQ prayers, poems, liturgy, and rituals is both a spiritual resource and a celebratory affirmation of Jewish diversity. Giving voice to the private and public sectors of queer Jewish experience, Mishkan Ga'avah is also a commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary of both the Stonewall Riots and the first pride march, reflecting the longtime advocacy of the Reform Movement for full LGBTQ inclusion.
[more]

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Mishkan T'filah
A Reform Siddur, transliterated (Shabbat, Weekdays, Festivals): A Reform Siddur
Rabbi Elyse D. Frishman
Central Conference of American Rabbis, 2007
Including services for Shabbat, weekdays and festivals as well as other occasions of public worship, and texts for more than a hundred songs, Mishkan T’filah reflects the full diversity of our Movement. This new Siddur includes: • Broad selection of readings, including beloved passages from our Reform liturgical tradition and great poetic writings from throughout Jewish history • Faithful, elegant translations • Contemporary, gender-inclusive English • Theological and stylistic diversity • Extensive commentaries, source notes and usage guides • More than 100 contemporary and traditional song texts • Choice of transliterated and non-transliterated editions • Innovative design in two-page spreads (additional Shabbat services in linear style also included) • Two-color printing to enhance usability
[more]

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Mishkan T'filah for Gatherings
A Reform Siddur
Rabbi Sue Ann Wasserman
Central Conference of American Rabbis, 2009
A lightweight edition combining weekday and Shabbat services. Perfect for meetings, conferences, kallot, and retreats.
[more]

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Mishkan T'filah for the House of Mourning
A Reform Siddur
Rabbi Elaine Zecher
Central Conference of American Rabbis, 2010
An innovative approach to services in the house of mourning. Includes thoughtful readings and commentary from traditional and contemporary sources. Easy-to-transport paperback format.
[more]

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Mishkan T'filah for Travelers
A Reform Siddur
Rabbi Sue Ann Wasserman
Central Conference of American Rabbis, 2009
This compact, paperback version of Mishkan T'filah integrates weekday and Shabbat services into an easily transportable volume while still remaining faithful to the style and spirit of Mishkan T'filah. Also includes Festival liturgy.
[more]

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Mishkan T'filah
Gift Edition
Elyse D. Frishman
Central Conference of American Rabbis, 2007
Including services for Shabbat, weekdays and festivals as well as other occasions of public worship, and texts for more than a hundred songs, Mishkan T’filah reflects the full diversity of our Movement. This new Siddur includes: • Broad selection of readings, including beloved passages from our Reform liturgical tradition and great poetic writings from throughout Jewish history • Faithful, elegant translations • Contemporary, gender-inclusive English • Theological and stylistic diversity • Extensive commentaries, source notes and usage guides • More than 100 contemporary and traditional song texts • Choice of transliterated and non-transliterated editions • Innovative design in two-page spreads (additional Shabbat services in linear style also included) • Two-color printing to enhance usability
[more]

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Mishkan T'filah
Journal Edition: A Reform Siddur
Rabbi Joel Abraham
Central Conference of American Rabbis, 2010
Invite your students to create their own commentary, questions, poetry, and responses to the prayers in Mishkan T'filah. For b'nai mitzvah students, confirmation class, and youth groups. Some pages will have creative, challenging prompts to stimulate thoughts, and other pages will be entirely blank, allowing users space to explore and reflect. Created by Michelle Shapiro Abraham and Joel Abraham.
[more]

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Mishkan T'filah World Union Edition
Elyse D. Frishman
Central Conference of American Rabbis, 2010
Including services for Shabbat, weekdays and festivals as well as other occasions of public worship, and texts for more than a hundred songs, Mishkan T’filah reflects the full diversity of our Movement. This new Siddur includes: • Broad selection of readings, including beloved passages from our Reform liturgical tradition and great poetic writings from throughout Jewish history • Faithful, elegant translations • Contemporary, gender-inclusive English • Theological and stylistic diversity • Extensive commentaries, source notes and usage guides • More than 100 contemporary and traditional song texts • Choice of transliterated and non-transliterated editions • Innovative design in two-page spreads (additional Shabbat services in linear style also included) • Two-color printing to enhance usability
[more]

front cover of Moral Resistance and Spiritual Authority
Moral Resistance and Spiritual Authority
Our Jewish Obligation to Social Justice
Rabbi Seth M. Limmer, DHL
Central Conference of American Rabbis, 2019

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The Mussar Torah Commentary
A Spiritual Path to Living a Meaningful and Ethical Life
Rabbi Barry H. Block
Central Conference of American Rabbis, 2020

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Navigating the Journey
The Essential Guide to the Jewish Life Cycle
Rabbi Peter Knobel, PhD
Central Conference of American Rabbis, 2018

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Omer
A Counting
Rabbi Karyn D. Kedar
Central Conference of American Rabbis, 2014
The counting of the Omer begins with the escape from enslavement to the wandering path of freedom, leading to a mystical encounter with God, Sinai and Torah. This volume, beginning with its informative contextual introduction, provides a spiritual guide for a personal journey through the Omer toward meaningful and purposeful living. Beautiful and evocative readings for each day, matched with the daily Omer blessing, offer a transformative path from Passover to Shavuot.
[more]

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The Open Door
A Passover Haggadah
Rabbi Sue Levi Elwell
Central Conference of American Rabbis, 2002
The Open Door includes traditional and innovative blessings, extensive commentaries and supplemental readings, contemporary additions like Miriam's Cup, women's and men’s voices in gender inclusive language, more than 40 pages of traditional and newly commissioned music and magnificent full color art.
[more]

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A Place of Our Own
The Rise of Reform Jewish Camping
Edited by Michael M. Lorge and Gary P. Zola
University of Alabama Press, 2006
The history of educational summer camps in American Reform Judaism
 
The history of educational summer camps in American Reform Judaism. Reform Judaism is not the only religious community in America to make the summer camp experience a vital part of a faith community's effort to impart its values and beliefs to its adolescents, but perhaps no group relied more on summer camp as an adjunct to home and community for this purpose. Summer camp became an important part of Reform group identity, a bulwark against the attraction of assimilation into the greater society and mere nominal Judaism.
 
These essays, which commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the first Reform Jewish educational camp in the United States (Olin-Sang-Ruby Union Institute [OSRUI], in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin) cover a wide range of topics related to both the Reform Judaism movement and the development of the Reform Jewish camping system in the United States. Donald M. Splansky’s chapter on “Prayer at Reform Jewish Camps” documents changes in prayer services that took place both at OSRUI and in the Reform movement in general; Michael Zeldin’s “Making the Magic in Reform Jewish Summer Camps” describes the educational philosophies employed at many camps and analyzes their effectiveness; and Jonathan D. Sarna’s “The Crucial Decade in Jewish
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Prophetic Voices
Renewing and Reimagining Haftarah
Rabbi Barbara AB Symons
Central Conference of American Rabbis, 2023
The traditional haftarah cycle, read on Shabbat and holidays during the Torah service, contains a wealth of prophetic wisdom, yet today it is too often forgotten or ignored. Prophetic Voices gives new life to these ancient texts. A diverse group of contributors--including rabbis, cantors, scholars, educators, activists, and poets--provide short commentaries on each haftarah, demonstrating their profound relevance to the present. Moreover, the volume boldly invites us to rethink the haftarah canon. Going beyond the Prophets, it presents alternative readings from Jewish texts biblical to contemporary. New haftarot for each Shabbat and holiday are included, plus haftarot for the Jewish American calendar, from Yom HaShoah to Pride Month to Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The readings are enhanced by scholarly essays placing the Prophets in historical context and examining the role of prophecy in Reform Judaism. Prophetic Voices summons us to listen, study, think, and teach--as well as to sing, pray, and march.
[more]

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Rabbi Max Heller
Reformer, Zionist, Southerner, 1860-1929
Barbara S. Malone
University of Alabama Press, 1997
This biography of a pioneering Zionist and leader of American Reform Judaism adds significantly to our understanding of American and southern Jewish history.

Max Heller was a man of both passionate conviction and inner contradiction. He sought to be at the center of current affairs, not as a spokesperson of centrist opinion, but as an agitator or mediator, constantly struggling to find an acceptable path as he confronted the major issues of the day--racism and Jewish emancipation in eastern Europe, nationalism and nativism, immigration and assimilation. Heller's life experience provides a distinct vantage point from which to view the complexity of race relations in New Orleans and the South and the confluence of cultures that molded his development as a leader. A Bohemian immigrant and one of the first U.S.-trained rabbis, Max Heller served for 40 years as spiritual leader of a Reform Jewish congregation in New Orleans--at that time the largest city in the South. Far more than a congregational rabbi, Heller assumed an activist role in local affairs, Reform Judaism, and the Zionist movement, maintaining positions often unpopular with his neighbors, congregants, and colleagues. His deep concern for social justice led him to question two basic assumptions that characterized his larger social milieu--segregation and Jewish assimilation. 

Heller, a consummate Progressive with clear vision and ideas substantially ahead of their time, led his congregation, his community, Reform Jewish colleagues, and Zionist sympathizers in a difficult era.
 
 
 
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Rabbi's Manual
David Polish
Central Conference of American Rabbis, 1988
Written in contemporary, gender-inclusive language, the Rabbi's Manual contains traditional and innovative services and ceremonies for birth and infancy, adoption, public and private naming ceremonies, an 8th day covenant service for daughters, four wedding services and associated public prayers, a ritual release at divorce, services at death and memorials, prayers at a time of illness and Giyur (conversion) services and prayers.
[more]

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Reading Reform Responsa
Jewish Tradition, Reform Rabbis, and Today's Issues
Mark Washofsky
Central Conference of American Rabbis, 2024

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Reform Responsa for the Twenty-First Century, Volume 1
Sh'eilot Ut'shuvot
Rabbi Mark Washofsky
Central Conference of American Rabbis, 2010

front cover of Reform Responsa for the Twenty-First Century, Volume 2
Reform Responsa for the Twenty-First Century, Volume 2
Sh'eilot Ut'shuvot
Rabbi Mark Washofsky
Central Conference of American Rabbis, 2010

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Re-forming Judaism
Moments of Disruption in Jewish Thought
Rabbi Stanley M. Davids and Leah Hochman, PhD
Central Conference of American Rabbis, 2023
Throughout Jewish history, revolutionary events and subversive ideas have burst forth, repeatedly transforming Jewish experience. Re-forming Judaism seeks to explore
these ideas—and the individuals behind them—by delving into historical disruptions that led to lasting change in Jewish thought. A distinguished array of scholars take us
on a journey from the disruptive prophets of ancient times, through rational, mystical, and extremist medievalists, to the impact of Haskalah and early Reform thought in
modernity. Contemporary innovations such as changes in liturgy and music, feminism, and post-Holocaust theology are included, as are insights into Sephardic and North
African experiences. By showing how Judaism forms—then re-forms, and re-forms again—the contributors demonstrate that tensions between continuity and change
have always been part of Jewish life, helping us to both understand the past and contemplate the future.
[more]

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The Sacred Calling
Four Decades of Women in the Rabbinate
Rabbi Rebecca Einstein Schorr
Central Conference of American Rabbis, 2016

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The Sacred Encounter
Jewish Perspectives on Sexuality
Rabbi Lisa Grushcow, Dphil
Central Conference of American Rabbis, 2014

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The Sacred Table
Creating a Jewish Food Ethic
Rabbi Mary L. Zamore
Central Conference of American Rabbis, 2011
The Sacred Table: Creating a Jewish Food Ethic is an anthology of diverse essays on Jewish dietary practices. This volume presents the challenge of navigating through choices about eating, while seeking to create a rich dialogue about the intersection of Judaism and food. The definition of Kashrut, the historic Jewish approach to eating, is explored, broadened and in some cases, argued with, in these essays. Kashrut is viewed not only as a ritual practice, but also as a multifaceted Jewish relationship with food and its production, integrating values such as ethics, community, and spirituality into our dietary practice. The questions considered in The Sacred Table are broad reaching. Does Kashrut represent a facade of religiosity, hiding immorality and abuse, or is it, in its purest form, a summons to raise the ethical standards of food production? How does Kashrut enrich spiritual practice by teaching intentionality and gratitude? Can paying attention to our own eating practices raise our awareness of the hungry? Can Kashrut inspire us to eat healthfully? Can these laws draw us around the same table, thus creating community? In exploring the complexities of these questions, this book includes topics such as agricultural workers’ rights, animal rights, food production, the environment, personal health, the spirituality of eating and fasting, and the challenges of eating together. The Sacred Table celebrates the ideology of educated choice. The essays present a diverse range of voices, opinions, and options, highlighting the Jewish values that shape our food ethics. Whether for the individual, family, or community, this book supplies the basic how-tos of creating a meaningful Jewish food ethic and incorporating these choices into our personal and communal religious practices. These resources will be helpful if we are new to these ideas or if we are teaching or counseling others. Picture a beautiful buffet of choices from which you can shape your personal Kashrut. Read, educate yourself, build on those practices that you already follow, and eat well.
[more]

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Seven Days, Many Voices
Insights into the Biblical Story of Creation
Rabbi Benjamin David
Central Conference of American Rabbis, 2017

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Sharing the Journey Gift Edition
The Haggadah for the Contemporary Family
Alan S. Yoffie
Central Conference of American Rabbis, 2012
The inclusive text, commentary, and magnificent original artwork in this new Haggadah will make all family members and friends feel welcome at your seder. Young and old, beginners and experienced seder participants, will experience the joy of celebrating Passover together with clear step-by-step explanations, inspiring readings on the themes of justice and freedom for all, and opportunities for discussion. Songs to sing along with will be available for download also. An accompanying comprehensive leader's guide will be available as well. 
[more]

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Sharing the Journey
The Haggadah for the Contemporary Family
Alan S. Yoffie
Central Conference of American Rabbis, 2012
The inclusive text, commentary, and magnificent original artwork in this new Haggadah will make all family members and friends feel welcome at your seder. Young and old, beginners and experienced seder participants, will experience the joy of celebrating Passover together with clear step-by-step explanations, inspiring readings on the themes of justice and freedom for all, and opportunities for discussion. Songs to sing along with will be available for download also. An accompanying comprehensive leader's guide will be available as well. 
[more]

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Songs Ascending
The Book of Psalms, Complete Edition
Richard N. Levy
Central Conference of American Rabbis, 2017

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Songs Ascending
The Book of Psalms in a New Translation with Textual and Spiritual Commentary
Rabbi Richard N. Levy
Central Conference of American Rabbis, 2017

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Songs Ascending
The Book of Psalms, Volume Two: Psalms 73-150
Richard N. Levy
Central Conference of American Rabbis, 2017

front cover of Stepping Up to the Plate
Stepping Up to the Plate
Building a Liberal Pluralistic Israel
Rabbi Robert L. Samuels
Central Conference of American Rabbis, 2017

front cover of Sundays at Sinai
Sundays at Sinai
A Jewish Congregation in Chicago
Tobias Brinkmann
University of Chicago Press, 2012
First established 150 years ago, Chicago Sinai is one of America’s oldest Reform Jewish congregations. Its founders were upwardly mobile and civically committed men and women, founders and partners of banks and landmark businesses like Hart Schaffner & Marx, Sears & Roebuck, and the giant meatpacking firm Morris & Co. As explicitly modern Jews, Sinai’s members supported and led civic institutions and participated actively in Chicago politics. Perhaps most radically, their Sunday services, introduced in 1874 and still celebrated today, became a hallmark of the congregation.
In Sundays at Sinai, Tobias Brinkmann brings modern Jewish history, immigration, urban history, and religious history together to trace the roots of radical Reform Judaism from across the Atlantic to this rapidly growing American metropolis.  Brinkmann shines a light on the development of an urban reform congregation, illuminating Chicago Sinai’s practices and history, and its contribution to Christian-Jewish dialogue in the United States. Chronicling Chicago Sinai’s radical beginnings in antebellum Chicago to the present, Sundays at Sinai is the extraordinary story of a leading Jewish Reform congregation in one of America’s great cities.
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This Happy Land
The Jews of Colonial and Antebellum Charleston
James William Hagy
University of Alabama Press, 1993
This Happy Land charts the history of the Jewish community in Charleston, South Carolina, from the arrival of the first Jewish settlers in the 1690s until the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861. Charleston was the preeminent city of the South for many decades, and its Jewish community was the largest in North America from about the time of the American Revolution until around 1820. American Reform Judaism, one of the three major divisions of the faith, first appeared in Charleston in 1824 when the Reformed Society of Israelites was established. What happened among the Jews in Charleston thus affected the development of Judaism throughout America. 
            The Jews who lived in the city from the 17th century to 1861 are identified in Hagy’s comprehensive volume, which includes information on their places of origin, marriages, children, and deaths. From Hagy’s exhaustive research into published and archival sources, patterns emerged that allowed him to draw conclusions about the life of the people in the city and to develop both a social and religious history. Hagy shows that the Jews who lived in Charleston quickly adapted to Southern ways of life, including dueling and the ownership of slaves and plantations. Jewish residents gained full economic and political rights long before other communities in the western world, which led to their full participation in the town’s public, financial, intellectual, and social life. The also lived where they chose, followed the professions they wanted, and generally participated in the affairs of the city. Most viewed America as this “happy land” and Charleston as their “New Jerusalem.”
            This book breaks new ground in the history of Jewish communities by providing such analyses as the origins of residents, the roles that women played in business, the causes of mortality, the antebellum Jewish family, the common aspects of life, and relations between Jews and African-Americans. It also provides a thorough analysis of the Reformed Society of Israelites that originated at Beth Elohim synagogue, and which became the first reform movement in America. The volume concludes with an appendix containing a list of all the known Jewish residents of Charleston for this period with selected biographical information.
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front cover of This Joyous Soul
This Joyous Soul
A New Voice for Ancient Yearnings
Alden Solovy
Central Conference of American Rabbis, 2019

front cover of This Precious Life
This Precious Life
Encountering the Divine with Poetry and Prayer
Alden Solovy
Central Conference of American Rabbis, 2021
In This Precious Life, liturgist Alden Solovy presents prayers, poetry, and meditations inspired by encounters with God. The first part draws from divine moments in our sacred texts, mostly the Torah but also the Prophets and the Writings. Using a contemporary voice, Solovy imagines these holy moments as experienced by our biblical ancestors so we can reclaim them as our own. The second part focuses on sacred moments in our daily lives, connections with the Divine that occur simply because we are human beings created in God's image. Equally suited to individual reflection and group prayer, the book completes a trilogy with This Grateful Heart and This Joyous Soul.
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front cover of To Stand Aside or Stand Alone
To Stand Aside or Stand Alone
Southern Reform Rabbis and the Civil Rights Movement
P. Allen Krause, Edited by Mark K. Bauman with Stephen Krause
University of Alabama Press, 2016
A landmark collection of previously unpublished interviews with Reform rabbis concerning their roles in the civil rights movement.

In 1966, a young rabbinical student named P. Allen Krause conducted interviews with twelve Reform rabbis from southern congregations concerning their thoughts, principles, and activities as they related to the civil rights movement. Perhaps because he was a young seminary student or more likely because the interviewees were promised an embargo of twenty-five years before the interviews would be released to the public, the rabbis were extremely candid about their opinions on and their own involvement with what was still an incendiary subject. Now, in To Stand Aside or Stand Alone: Southern Reform Rabbis and the Civil Rights Movement, their stories help elucidate a pivotal moment in time.
 
After a distinguished rabbinical career, Krause wrote introductions to and annotated the interviews. When Krause succumbed to cancer in 2012, Mark K. Bauman edited the manuscripts further and wrote additional introductions with the assistance of Stephen Krause, the rabbi’s son. The result is a unique volume offering insights into these rabbis’ perceptions and roles in their own words and with more depth and nuance than hitherto available. This exploration into the lives of these teachers and civic leaders is supported by important contextual information on the local communities and other rabbis, with such background information forming the basis of a demographic profile of the Reform rabbis working in the South.
 
The twelve rabbis whom Krause interviewed served in Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Virginia, and the substance and scope of their discussions cover some of the most crucial periods in the civil rights movement. Although some have provided accounts that appeared elsewhere or have written about their experiences themselves, several new voices appear here, suggesting that more southern rabbis were active than previously thought. These men functioned within a harsh environment: rabbis’ homes, synagogues, and Jewish community centers were bombed; one rabbi, who had been beaten and threatened, carried a pistol to protect himself and his family. The views and actions of these men followed a spectrum from gradualism to activism; while several of the rabbis opposed the evils of the separate and unequal system, others made peace with it or found reasons to justify inaction. Additionally, their approaches differed from their activist colleagues in the North even more than from each other.
 
Within these pages, readers learn about the attitudes of the rabbis toward each other, toward their congregants, toward national Jewish organizations, and toward local leaders of black and white and Protestant and Catholic groups. Theirs are dramatic stories of frustration, cooperation, and conflict.
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We Shall Build Anew
Stephen S. Wise, the Jewish Institute of Religion, and the Reinvention of American Liberal Judaism
Shirley Idelson
University of Alabama Press, 2022
How Rabbi Stephen S. Wise changed the trajectory of American Reform Judaism over the course of the twentieth century and well into the twenty-first

In 1922, Rabbi Stephen S. Wise, a leader of the Zionist movement, established the Jewish Institute of Religion (JIR), a nondenominational rabbinical seminary in New York City. Having already founded the thriving Free Synagogue movement and the American Jewish Congress, he intended to revolutionize American liberal Judaism. Wise believed mainstream American Jewish institutions had become outdated, and he championed a progressive Jewish nationalism that would fight alongside America’s leading proponents of social and economic justice.

We Shall Build Anew tells the little-known story of how Wise changed the trajectory of American Judaism for the next century. Through JIR, he trained a new cadre of young rabbis who shared his outlook, charged them with invigorating and reshaping Jewish life, and launched them into positions of leadership across the country. While Wise earned the ire of many mainstream Jewish leaders through his disregard for denominational distinctions, JIR became home to faculty and students of widely divergent religious and political viewpoints.

We Shall Build Anew is the first book dedicated exclusively to the history of the Jewish Institute of Religion. The story of Wise’s vision for American liberal Judaism is now more important than ever. As American Jewry becomes increasingly polarized around debates concerning religious doctrine as well as Zionism and Israel, the JIR model offers hope that progressives and conservatives, Zionists and non-Zionists, and Jews representing the full spectrum of religious life cannot only coexist but also work together in the name of a vibrant Judaism and a just and peaceful world.
 
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