Modern responsa : an anthology of Jewish ethical and ritual decisions / Pamela Barmash.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Barmash, Pamela, 1966- author.

Series:

JPS anthologies of Jewish thought.

JPS anthologies of Jewish thought

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Responsa--1948-.

Responsa.

Jewish law.

Judaism--Customs and praxtices.

Judaism.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xxxi, 375 pages).

Place of Publication:

Lincoln : University of Nebraska Press ; Philadelphia : Jewish Publication Society, [2024]

Summary:

Modern Responsa, an original anthology of Jewish ethical and ritual decision-making by rabbinic authorities--men and women, across movements (Conservative, Orthodox, Reform), geographic locales, and ethnicities (Ashkenazic, Sefardic, Mizraḥi)--illuminates how Judaism's legal tradition is applied to real-life issues.

"An original anthology of modern responsa (Jewish ethical and ritual decision-making) by rabbinic authorities, men and women, across movements (Conservative, Orthodox, Reform), geographic locales, and ethnicities (Ashkenazic, Sefardic, Mizraḥi), Modern Responsa engages readers in understanding how rabbis expert in Jewish law apply principles, precedents, and rules from Judaism's legal tradition to real-life issues. Responsa on ten topics-personal and business ethics, ritual, personal status, women, LGBTQIA+ people, medical ethics, the COVID-19 pandemic, relationships with the other, the modern State of Israel, and Jewish life in the United States-showcase how the rabbinic decisors who wrote them handle modern quandaries for their communities. Pamela Barmash's translations open up most of these original Hebrew texts to English-speaking readers for the first time. Sometimes the decisors disagree-but other times they rule similarly, despite differing ideological commitments. Clear explanations of how the decisors build their arguments along with historical background, decisor biographies, implications, and a glossary enable general adult and teen readers as well as scholars to grasp the finer points of Jewish ethical and ritual decision-making. Ultimately, Modern Responsa illuminates the dynamic nature of Jewish law, the creativity of Jewish legal writings, and the multidimensionality of the Jewish experience in modernity. "-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Introduction: Understanding Responsa

How To Use This Book

Notes on Translation

1. Personal and Business Ethics

2. Ritual

3. Personal Status

4. Women

5. LGBTQIA+

6. Medical Ethics

7. The COVID-19 Pandemic

8. Relationships with the Other

9. The Modern State of Israel

10. Life in the United States.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

ISBN:

9780827619258

0827619251

9780827619241

0827619243