Book Description

Why be Jewish? A fascinating dialogue across denominations of the High Holy Days and their message of Jewish purpose beyond mere survival. Almost forty contributors from three continents—men and women, scholars and poets, rabbis and theologians, representing all Jewish denominations and perspectives—examine the tension between Israel as a particular People called by God, and that very calling as intended for a universalist end, furthering God's vision for all the world, not just for Jews alone. This balance of views arises naturally out of the prayers in the High Holy Day liturgy, coupled with insights from philosophy, literature, theology and ethics. This fifth volume in the Prayers of Awe series provides the relevant traditional prayers in the original Hebrew, alongside a new and annotated translation. It explores the question "Why be Jewish?" in a time when universalist commitment to our planet and its people has only grown in importance, even as particularist questions of Jewish continuity have become ever more urgent. Prayers of Awe: A multi-volume series designed to explore the High Holy Day liturgy and enrich the praying experience for everyone—whether experienced worshipers or guests who encounter Jewish prayer for the very first time. Contributors Rabbi Bradley Shavit Artson, DHL Rabbi Tony Bayfield, CBE, DD Rabbi Will Berkovitz Dr. Annette M. Boeckler Dr. Erica Brown Rabbi Lawrence A. Englander, CM, DHL, DD Rabbi Lisa Exler Rabbi Shoshana Boyd Gelfand Rabbi Laura Geller Rabbi Edwin Goldberg, DHL Rabbi Andrew Goldstein, PhD Dr. Joel M. Hoffman Rabbi Lawrence A. Hoffman, PhD Rabbi Walter Homolka, PhD, DHL Rabbi Elie Kaunfer, DHL Rabbi Reuven Kimelman, PhD Dr. Mark L. Kligman Rabbi Noa Kushner Rabbi Daniel Landes Rabbi Asher Lopatin Catherine Madsen Rabbi Jonathan Magonet, PhD Rabbi Dalia Marx, PhD Ruth Messinger Rabbi Charles H. Middleburgh, PhD Rabbi Jay Henry Moses Rabbi Rachel Nussbaum Rabbi Jack Riemer Rabbi Jeffrey K. Salkin, DMin Rabbi Marc Saperstein, PhD Rabbi Dennis C. Sasso, DMin Rabbi Sandy Eisenberg Sasso, DMin Rabbi Jonathan P. Slater, DMin Rabbi David A. Teutsch, PhD Rabbi Margaret Moers Wenig, DD Rabbi Daniel G. Zemel Dr. Wendy Zierler