Evolving Halakhah: A Progressive Approach to Traditional Jewish Law
In this provocative new edition of a work originally published in Hebrew, Zemer, founding director of the Freehof Institute of Progressive Halakhah in Tel Aviv, presents his view of Halakhah, or traditional Jewish law, as an evolving system founded on the core ethical values of Judaism rather than on a rigid reading of custom and tradition. By internalizing the Commandments, he takes a critical approach to Halakhah and calls for the individual conscience to explore the laws and traditions behind such issues as marriage and divorce, conversion, the role of gentiles in the land of Israel, Halakhah and the Infigada, "Halakhic" justification for murder, the status of women, the ultra-Orthodox, medicine, euthanasia, death, and burial. Sure to be controversial among traditional Jews, this book will help all Jews understand why they believeAor don't believe. Highly recommended for collections of Judaica.AMarcia Welsh, Guilford Free Lib., CTCopyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.--This text refers to theHardcoveredition.