Major Philosophers of Jewish Prayer in the 20th Century / Edition 2

by Jack J. Cohen

Overview

Major Philosophers of Jewish Prayer in the Twentieth Century addresses the troubling questions posed by the modern Jewish worshiper, including such obstacles to prayer as the inability to concentrate on the words and meanings of formal liturgy, the paucity of emotional involvement, the lack of theological conviction, the anthropomorphic and particularly the masculine emphasis of prayer nomenclature, and other matters. In assessing these difficultites, Cohen brings to the reader the writings on prayer of some seminal 20th century Jewish theologians. These include Herman Cohen, Franz Rosenzweig, Avraham Yitzhak, Hoakohen Kook, Mordecai M. Kaplan, R. Arele, Aaron Rote, Elie Munk, Abraham J. Heschel, Jakob J. Petuchowski, Eugene B. Borowitz, and Lawrence A. Hoffman.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780823219568
Publisher:	Fordham University Press
Publication date:	01/01/2000
Edition description:	2
Pages:	240
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Born in the United States, Jack J. Cohen is a Reconstructionis Rabbi living in Jerusalm, Israel.

Table of Contents

	Preface	ix
	Abbreviations	xv
1	Why This Confrontation? An Introduction	1
2	Two Worlds	18
3	The Mystic and the Rationalist	48
4	Halakhah and Modern Society	75
5	The Search for God	110
6	Prayer	138
7	Teshuvah	163
8	Values	181
9	Jewish Identity and Character	204
10	Chosenness and Responsibility	222
11	Exile and Redemption: The Role of Eretz Yisrael	247
12	Jewish Education	275
13	Judaism and Democracy	309
14	On Women	329
15	Judaism and Esthetics	344
16	An Excursion to the Future	359
	Glossary	371
	Index	375

Editorial Reviews

Arguing that for many people prayer is not a relevant activity, Cohen (Guide for an Age of Confusion) presents nine Jewish philosophers who sought an intellectual base for prayer. Their thinking includes rationalism, moral action, and prayers' function. The philosophers born earlier in the century are more aligned with the orthodox movement than those born later, who are here tied to more liberal movements. Still, Elie Munk's and Abraham Kook's philosophies are as unique as those of their liberal colleagues Eugene Borowitz and Lawrence Hoffman. One chapter discusses feminists' views of prayer, and the last chapter poses the question of prayer's relevance. Cohen shows that prayer is neither a recent concern nor a greater concern for one movement's philosophers than it is for another's. Rather, philosophers from each movement confront it as a part of their thinking. This thoughtful, general summary is concerned with stimulating readers to think about prayer. Readers interested in philosophy and theology, as well as those wishing to learn more about spirituality, will enjoy this book. Recommended for public and undergraduate libraries.--Naomi Hafter, Broward Cty. P.L., Ft. Lauderdale, FL Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.\

Library Journal

Cohen is a Reconstructionist rabbi who was born in America and is living in Jerusalem. Seeking to develop an intellectual basis for prayer, he explores the meaning of prayer and modern approaches to it, looking closely at the insights of such 20th-century Jewish theologians as Herman Cohen, Franz Rosenzweig, Avraham Y. Kook, among others, as well as a variety of feminist theologians. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews

A book of great interest for anyone interested in the meaning of prayer.

Jewish Book News

...makes a useful contribution to shedding light on questions about prayer with which humans have struggled from time immemorial.

Jerusalem Post