American Reform Judaism: An Introduction

Rabbi, professor and multi-published author Dana Evan Kaplan has taken on the feat of describing the myriad of facets that shape Reform Judaism in America, including its relatively short history, distinct and indistinct theology, worship evolution, Israeli endeavors, educational philosophies, mixed marriage outlooks, efforts to facilitate women's equality, acceptance of gays and lesbians, and future directions and issues. This well-crafted fabric of points is sewn together with the thread that Reform Judaism in America is inherently in a constant state of flux. What is more, he does all this in little more than 250 pages. Dana Kaplan's American Reform Judaism is very thought-provoking and, therefore, well worth reading.

I knew Rabbi Kaplan while we were teenage co-counselors at Camp Laurelwood in North Madison, CT many years ago. He was coming to grips with his Judaism at that point, reading books like "The Source," and I enjoyed debates/discussions on a range of topics related to religon and Judaica. Honestly, I initially read the book to be polite, but ended up enjoying it far more than most books I choose on my own. Dana's book is written in an easy-to-read style, with lots of interesting stories. It focuses on how the Reform movement shifted over the past 20 years or so to try to become more dynamic. Part of the analysis is based on the sociological works of Rodney Stark, a researcher from the University of Washington who specializes in the sociology of religion. Stark has argued that religious groups that are too flexible do not do well. You have to have a fairly high contrast with the general society in order to attract people to your religious group. In the book, Rabbi Kaplan suggests that there is something to the argument that the Reform movement should become a bit stricter. Not too strict, but a little bit stricter. In order to do that, we need a more coherent theology. Not everyone agrees with him -- Rabbi Eric Yoffie, the presidentt of the Union for Reform Judaism, argues in the afterword that it's more important to get people doing Jewish things and the theology will come later. The book covers all of the hot button issues of the last 15 years -- women's rights, gay marriage, intermarriage, the fight over the 1999 Pittsburgh platform, and so forth. It is not a how-to manual. It focuses on what Reform Judaism believes in and how the movement has gone about implementing its beliefs. It does not go point by point and say Reform Jews do this, Reform Jews do not do that, etc. It has gotten a fair amount of attention in scholarly and Jewish worlds. I understand that a few years ago, Judaism journal ran a whole symposium on the book. They had an Orthodox, Conservative, a Reform, a humanist, a Jewish renewal, and so forth each talk about the book. It was a very interesting symposium, which you can download on Rabbi Kaplan's webpage. The book had special meaning for me in another way. As I sense is the case with many reformed Jews, I am at a transition of sorts on my religion. Do I believe in G-d? Is Judaism dissipating into nothingness due to assimilation into the greater society? Is it better to be more flexible/open or less? Dana's book moved my thinking along. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the book, happy I took "the road less traveled" in reading it.

Dana Kaplan has written a phenomenal and unique book that opens up the world of American Reform Judaism. This book is the only one of its kind, and is great resource for Reform Jews and those who might be converting to and interested in learning about Judaism. We are all in debt to Professor Kaplan.

Informative and educational. the book covers the subject of Reform Judaism in America in richness of detail. a very relevant reading for anyone interested in learning about the accomplishments of the Jewish Civilization implanted in its most fertile soil ever. Rabbi Jacques Cukierkorn Kansas City, MO

described in the editorial reviews, which means it is a pretty good read for someone who is not very knowledgeable but is probably less useful for readers more familiar with Reform. One thing that I liked: Kaplan's willingness to note that some of the Reform movement's current problems are identical to those that Reform rabbis were complaining about as early as the 1880s; evidently, there is something about liberal religion that leads to a large but apathetic membership. One thing that I wish Kaplan had put in: more primary source material - perhaps in the form of an appendix with the text of the Reform platforms, etc. that Kaplan writes about.