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To Do the Right and the Good: A Jewish Approach to Modern Social Ethics » (New Edition)

Book cover image of To Do the Right and the Good: A Jewish Approach to Modern Social Ethics by Elliot N. Dorff

Authors: Elliot N. Dorff
ISBN-13: 9780827607743, ISBN-10: 0827607741
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Jewish Publication Society
Date Published: May 2004
Edition: New Edition

Author Biography: Elliot N. Dorff

Book Synopsis

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.

	Preface
	Acknowledgments
Ch. 1	Fundamental Beliefs That Guide Jewish Social Ethics	1
	The Central Stories of Jews, Christians, and Americans	3
	The Nature of the Individual	5
	The Nature of the Community	16
	The Goals of Human Existence	26
	Reprise: The Fundamental Concepts As Articulated in the Central Stories	32
Ch. 2	Pluralism within the Jewish Community	36
	Rabbinic Approaches to Diversity	37
	Modern Approaches to Diversity	44
	The Need for Unity with Diversity	60
Ch. 3	"A People Apart": A Jewish Theology of Jewish Relations to Other Peoples	61
	Jewish Identity Defined by the Jewish Covenant with God	61
	Idolaters and Monotheists	66
	Nationalism and Universalism in the Traditional Concept of the Covenant	68
	Historical, Epistemological, and Theological Groundwork for Jews' Relations to Other Religions	73
	Reciprocal Christian and Muslim Recognition of the Theological Validity of Judaism	84
	A Realistic but Open Model of the Covenant for Our Times	90
Ch. 4	The King's Torah: Judaism and National Policy	96
	The Historical Relationship of Jews to the State	96
	Arguments for Separation of Church and State	99
	Coherence and Continuity amid Freedom and Diversity	101
	Areas of Moral Disagreement	105
	Justifying This Approach Philosophically and Theologically	108
	Bringing Religion and Nation Closer Together	112
Ch. 5	Procedural Justice: Making a Fair Decision	114
	Procedural and Substantive Justice	114
	Aspiring to Be Holy: Beyond the Letter of the Law	117
	Arbitration and Mediation	118
	God's Justice	122
	Justice and Love	124
Ch. 6	Substantive Justice: A Jewish Approach to Poverty	126
	Jewish Value Concepts Relevant to Concern for the Poor	128
	Jewish Poverty Programs	138
	Translating from Then to Now	150
	Insights from the Tradition for Contemporary Thought and Action	155
	An Ongoing Challenge	159
Ch. 7	"A Time for War and a Time for Peace": The Ethics of War and International Intervention	161
	Political and Economic Intervention	164
	Obligatory and Discretionary Wars	165
	Defensive Wars	168
	Procedures for Waging War	171
	Preemptive Wars for Defense	172
	Military Intervention for Other Reasons	174
	Deterrents to Military Intervention	178
	From Theory to Practice	180
Ch. 8	Communal Forgiveness	184
	The Issue	184
	God's Forgiveness of Individual Jews and the People Israel	188
	Human Forgiveness of Individuals	188
	God's Forgiveness of Nations	191
	Human Versus Divine Forgiveness of Nations	193
	The Proper Parties for Forgiveness and Regret	194
	The Possibility of Forgiveness As Part of an Ontological Reality	196
	An Argument against Forgiveness Granted by Descendants	200
	Precedents for Reconciliation	202
	Whether to Forgive	203
	The Bottom Line	210
	Notes	213
App. A	The Right in Contrast to the Good	241
App. B	Comparative Ways for Identifying the Moral Course of Action	262
	Notes to App. A	283
	Notes to App. B	286
	Bibliography of Cited Modern Sources	288

Category Books

To Do the Right and the Good: A Jewish Approach to Modern Social Ethics » (New Edition)

Author Biography: Elliot N. Dorff

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