Jewish Theology in Our Time : A New Generation Explores the Foundations and Future of Jewish Belief

At every critical juncture in Jewish history, Jews have understood a dynamic theology to be essential for a vital Jewish community. This important collection sets the next stage of Jewish theological thought, bringing together a cross section of powerful new voices from all movements in Judaism to inspire and stimulate discussion both now and in the years to come. Provocative and wide-ranging, these invigorating and challenging insights from a new generation¿s thought leaders create a coherent and inspiring picture of Jewish belief. Together, they explore the breadth and depth of contemporary Jewish theological thinking: ¿ Foundation of belief: How is it informed by sacred texts, and how does it inform life experience? ¿ Limits of Jewish belief: What can a Jew believe and still call it Jewish theology? Who or what determines an ¿authentic¿ or ¿coherent¿ Jewish theology? ¿ The role of the ¿non-Jew¿ in Jewish theology: Can one affirm a unique relationship between God and the Jewish people, yet validate the integrity of another theological system? ¿ Israel: To what degree has the creation of a modern State of Israel forced a re-orientation of Jewish theology? How has the ¿actualization¿ of this longstanding theological category changed Jewish theology as a whole? ¿ What¿s next: Does the contemporary Jewish condition insist on any other ¿new questions¿ when it comes to Jewish theology? Does the ¿new atheism¿ suggest a new challenge to belief?

Rabbi Elliot J. Cosgrove, PhD, is rabbi at Park Avenue Synagogue in Manhattan. He received his masters of Hebrew letters from American Jewish University, studied at the Schechter Institute of Judaic Studies in Jerusalem, and was ordained at The Jewish Theological Seminary. He received his doctorate in the history of Judaism from the University of Chicago Divinity School.
Rabbi David J. Wolpe is rabbi of Sinai Temple in Los Angeles, and author of Why Faith Matters, among other books.
Rabbi Carole B. Balin, PhD, is professor of Jewish history at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. She is currently working on an updated version of the 1984 edition of Liberal Judaism with Dr. Eugene B. Borowitz and Frances W. Schwartz.