A Jewish Understanding of the World

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Berghahn Books, Mar 1, 1998 - Social Science - 208 pages

In this second volume of Liberal Jewish sermons spanning the greater part of the second half ofthe twentieth century, the author again combines a radically progressive stance with Jewish commitment and seeks to understand contemporary history from a "prophetic" point of view. His comments cover a wide range of topics, including Jewish continuity, Progressive Judaism, Zionism and the State of Israel, world events, social issues, and Jewish-Christian relations. This volume, as well as the first one, offers fascinating reading for Jews and non-Jews alike.

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Contents

The Lessons of the Assassination of Yitzhak Rabin
93
THE WIDER WORLD
97
World Events War and Peace after Sputnik
99
The Space Age
100
A World without Walls
101
John F Kennedy
102
Farewell to Freedom
103
DDay and the Spirit of Judaism
105

The Chain of Tradition Setting an Example
24
Repairers of the Breach
25
Wells of Salvation
27
Dor Dor vDorshav
29
Ride on in the Cause of Truth
31
Spirit
34
Miriams Well
37
Progressive Judaism Swimming against the Stream
39
The Next Chapter
40
Form and Spirit in Jewish Worship
41
Towards a More Excellent Judaism
44
The Importance of Being Liberal
48
Enlightenment
52
Preaching the Text with Integrity
55
The Negations of Liberal Judaism
58
Counting the Commandments
60
Zionism and the State of Israel The Middle East Conflagration and the Loyalties of the British Jew
63
Winning the Peace
65
Miracles and Mandates
66
Rejoice with Trembling
68
Zionism Reconsidered
71
Towards Peace in the Middle East
75
Let Us Walk in the Light of the Eternal One
78
A Holy War?
81
And a Time for Peace
84
The End of a Nighbnare
87
The Shadow of Hebron
89
Comets and Blessings
108
Welcome Back to Freedom
111
Prophecy and Contemporary History
115
Reunification
118
Darkness and Light
120
By My Spirit says the God of Hosts
123
Liberty to All
127
Social Issues City of Righteousness
131
Towards a Pluralistic Society
135
Peace and Judaism
138
Fertility and Morality
141
AIDS
145
Organ Transplants
148
Rights and Duties
151
Food for Thought
155
Praying for Peace
157
Nationalism
161
Towards a Moral Highway Code
163
Seek Peace and Pursue It
167
Judaism and Christianity Towards a New Civilisation
169
Women Judaism and Paul
174
Two Nativities
178
Gods Servant
182
Towards a New Relationship with our Christian Neighbours
186
The Founder of Christianity
189
Children of the Covenant?
193
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About the author (1998)

John D. Rayner (1924-2005) graduated from Emmanuel College, Cambridge and Hebrew Union College Jewish Institute of Religion, Cincinnati. He was Emeritus Rabbi of the Liberal Jewish Synagogue, London, Hon. Life-President of the Union of Liberal and Progressive Synagogues, and Lecturer in Liturgy at Leo Baeck College, London.

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