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To Do the Right and the Good: A Jewish Approach to Modern Social Ethics
A National Jewish Book Award Winner Rabbi Dorff focuses on the social aspects of the Jewish tradition, while tackling such timely topics as poverty, war, intrafaith and interfaith relations, and forgiveness. In addition, he discusses Jewish social ethics as they both relate to and contrast with Christian and American belief systems in modern society. Dorff argues that Jewish sources, when properly placed within the framework of the realities of our own times, can provide important guidance for Jews on how to act in their daily lives.
- GenresJudaicaPhilosophy
432 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2002
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November 28, 2016
This book discusses modern ethical issues facing the world through the lens of classic Jewish texts. It doesn't shy away from controversial topics like when war is considered acceptable or whether the Jewish people can forgive humanity for the Holocaust. It also contains a comprehensive and lucid discussion of where the three main monotheistic religions (and modern secular democracy) are similar in their perceptions of ethics and where their world views make for very different perceptions of ethical issues.
As with any book of this type, it can only touch on the enormous landscape of potential ethical issues that face us all in a modern world. Nonetheless, it covers ethics on many topics of foundational importance such as the perception of individual and community, the goals of human existence and diversity and pluralism. I particularly liked the author's review of the different concepts of justice include the approach to poverty by each major religion.
In particular, the idea that we must pursue social justice because all of humanity was created in God's image made for a compelling theme in many of the arguments about justice and poverty. For example, Dorff says "we must seek the welfare of others as part of our respect for the divine image within them. These aspects of the Jewish concept of the individual, then, establish a strong ideological and motivational foundation for social action."
The book has it's dry moments - the arcane underpinnings of just war in ancient Jewish texts in particular - but otherwise it's a compelling and meaningful review of religion's approach to ethics which is beneficial to all readers not just those who are Jewish.
As with any book of this type, it can only touch on the enormous landscape of potential ethical issues that face us all in a modern world. Nonetheless, it covers ethics on many topics of foundational importance such as the perception of individual and community, the goals of human existence and diversity and pluralism. I particularly liked the author's review of the different concepts of justice include the approach to poverty by each major religion.
In particular, the idea that we must pursue social justice because all of humanity was created in God's image made for a compelling theme in many of the arguments about justice and poverty. For example, Dorff says "we must seek the welfare of others as part of our respect for the divine image within them. These aspects of the Jewish concept of the individual, then, establish a strong ideological and motivational foundation for social action."
The book has it's dry moments - the arcane underpinnings of just war in ancient Jewish texts in particular - but otherwise it's a compelling and meaningful review of religion's approach to ethics which is beneficial to all readers not just those who are Jewish.
Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review