This fiftieth anniversary edition of W. Gunther Plaut’s classic volume on the beginnings of the Jewish Reform Movement is updated with a new introduction by Howard A. Berman. The Rise of Reform Judaism covers the first one hundred years of the movement; from the time of the eighteenth-century Jewish Enlightenment leader Moses Mendelssohn to the conclusion of the Augsburg synod in 1871.In these pages the founders who established liberal Judaism speak for themselves through their journals and pamphlets; books and sermons; petitions and resolutions; and public arguments and disputations. Each selection includes Plaut’s brief introduction and sketch of the reformer. Important topics within Judaism are addressed in these writings: philosophy and theology; religious practice; synagogue services; and personal life; as well as controversies on the permissibility of organ music; the introduction of the sermon; the nature of circumcision; the observance of the Sabbath; the rights of women; and the authenticity of the Bible.
#4378136 in Books Continuum Intl Pub Group (Sd) 1995-01Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.50 x 6.25 x 1.00l; #File Name: 0826406831208 pages
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Weak at places; interesting at othersBy Edward BosnarThis book is somewhat flawed in that the author dwells a little too much on the religious aspect of the wars in the former Yugoslavia. However; he is quite correct in pointing out the culpability of religious leaders among the Serbs; Croats; Bosnian Muslims and others in fomenting mutual intolerance. Another problem is that his conclusions about how to create a lasting solution to the conflicts (massive Western intervention; basically) seem a bit naive given the record of outside involvement (from the UN to NATO). The historical analysis is also a bit weak. More interesting are the author's insights and opinions of the various Yugoslav peoples; because he speaks from the point of view of an insider; i.e. as someone born and raised in Yugoslavia. Thus; readers can get something of an idea of how the various ex-Yugoslav peoples view each other's nationalisms - because Mojzes is equally critical of all nationalisms in the former Yugoslavia. This makes "Yugoslavian Inferno" an interesting supplement to the literature on the former Yugoslavia; despite its obvious flaws.1 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Extract from �Books on Bosnia�; London 1999By quintin hoareA well-intentioned but seriously flawed book for the general reader; by a Yugoslav American of unusual background (his parents were both Protestant ministers in Vojvodina). Tries to spread the blame for the war as widely as possible; ends by recommending Western military intervention; against all sides; in order to effect a partition of Bosnia.
