How can a Jewish approach to social justice
offer positive change for America?
“Ancient texts offer significant
wisdom about human nature, economic cycles, the causes of
inequality, and our obligations to each other. These insights
can inform our own approaches to current issues, challenge our
assumptions, and force us to consider alternative approaches.
The conversation between our texts and our lives can enrich our
experience of both.”
—from the Introduction
Confront the most pressing issues of
twenty-first-century America in this fascinating book, which
brings together classical Jewish sources, contemporary policy
debate and real-life stories.
Rabbi Jill Jacobs, a leading young voice
in the social justice arena, makes a powerful argument for
participation in the American public square from a deeply
Jewish perspective, while deepening our understanding of the
relationship between Judaism and such current social issues as:
- Poverty and the Poor
- Collection and Allocation of
Tzedakah
- Workers, Employers and Unions
- Housing the Homeless
- The Provision of Health Care
- Environmental Sustainability
- Crime, Punishment and
Rehabilitation
By creating a dialogue between traditional
texts and current realities, Jacobs presents a template for
engagement in public life from a Jewish perspective and
challenges us to renew our obligations to each other.
“[An] excellent examination of the Jewish response to contemporary issues of social Justice…. Explores problems of poverty, workers, housing, healthcare and the environment, highlighting the contribution of Jewish teachings to answering these social questions.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Learned, eloquent and impassioned,
Rabbi Jacobs is a welcome new voice in the effort to make
Jewish values relevant to today’s problems.”
—Rabbi
Harold Kushner, author, When Bad Things Happen to Good People
“A contemporary Guide for the
Perplexed…. Thoughtful and detailed … it
acknowledges different perspectives, engages the debate,
challenges our assumptions and pushes us to chart our own
Jewish way in the world.”
—Ruth W.
Messinger, president, American
Jewish World Service
“A powerful textual journey that
compels us to engage with the Jewish tradition’s mandate
for economic justice. Impressive scholarship, lively writing,
and provocative analysis … breathes new meaning into our
ancient texts in the very best tradition of our ever-living
Torah.”
—Rabbi
David Saperstein, director,
Religious Action
Center of Reform Judaism
“Groundbreaking and urgently needed
… skillfully demonstrates the role that religion can play
in American public discourse…. A timely and profoundly
insightful contribution to a growing literature on Jewish
social justice.”
—Rabbi
Sharon Brous, IKAR
“A landmark work…. A model for
how informed Jewish discourse on issues in the public square
ought to take place. Required reading for all persons
interested in what Judaism has to say on matters of social and
public import. I cannot recommend it highly enough.”
—Rabbi
David Ellenson, president, Hebrew
Union College–
Jewish Institute of Religion
Rabbi Jill Jacobs is rabbi-in-residence at Jewish Funds for Justice, a
national public foundation dedicated to mobilizing the
resources of American Jews to combat the root causes of
domestic social and economic injustice. She was named to Forward’s list
of fifty influential Jews and Jewish
Week’s list of
“thirty-six under thirty-six.” She received
rabbinic ordination and a MA in Talmud and Rabbinics from The
Jewish Theological Seminary, and holds a MS in Urban Affairs
from Hunter College.
Simon Greer is
president and CEO of Jewish Funds for Justice.
