Rebecca Alpert is the Chair of the Religion Department and an Associate Professor of Religion and Women's Studies at Temple University and was one of the first women to be ordained a rabbi. She has written widely on progressive religion and Judaism. In this thought-provoking book, Alpert explains that justice is the central value in the Torah and must be pursued in all arenas of contemporary life. In various chapters, she looks at progressive Judaism as it relates to sexuality, gender issues, race, war and peace, poverty, and the environment.
In a chapter on sexuality, the author claims that Judaism, in general, advocates a positive view of sex. She salutes the Song of Songs and its celebration of the joy of sex that is not linked to procreation or marriage. Alpert shares her own views on marriage equity and same sex marriages. In another chapter, she writes about her involvement in the development of Feminist Judaism and women's issues. One of the most interesting topics is Alpert's discussion of the peace movement in Israel in light of Psalm 44 where people are admonished to "seek peace and pursue it." She notes: "When justice-pursuing Jews pray, they usually include their fervent wishes for peace, evoked both in the Hebrew shalom and the Arabic salaam. Peace for Israel, peace for Ishmael, peace for all the world."
In her discussion of poverty, Alpert covers the eight rungs of charity suggested by Moses Maimonides, the ideal of communal responsibility, and the challenges of educating the Jewish community about this widespread phenomenon. In the closing chapter, she covers various programs and movements related to the environment.
This is a good overview of progressive Judaism with specific examples of how this perspective is lived on a daily basis.
