The Jewish Family Ethics Textbook demonstrates the unique perspectives that Judaism brings to urgent debates in society today. Each chapter presents a set of case studies that raise important questions for modern life, including: How can we use social media without hurting others? Should people become parents through cloning? Should doctors help us die? The textbook guides readers through close analysis of classical and modern Jewish texts, mining them for ideas that inform decision-making about hard choices. In keeping with the tradition of mahloket, the clash of opposing ideas, the author’s comments on the texts explain the multifarious voices that make up Jewish tradition, inviting readers to join the debate with their own insights. Scheindlin describes the implications the text studies hold for the case studies, while leaving room for teachers and students alike to develop their own readings of the material and draw their own conclusions.
Praise for The Jewish Family Ethics Textbook:
Rabbinics educators want to teach texts that offer meaningful, substantive insights into our students’ real-life concerns. But the search for the right texts and issues can be daunting and overwhelming. Neal Scheindlin’s book is a gold mine of exactly the kind of material we need. It distills decades of wisdom from a master teacher and a loving mentor who takes the time to understand his students’ experience of the world. The result is a rich trove of important Rabbinic texts brought to bear on challenges that teenagers, families, and schools grapple with every day. His work has already found its way into my own classroom, and not for the last time.
Rabbi Joshua Cahan teaches Rabbinics and Tefilah at the Leffell School in Westchester, NY. He received Rabbinic ordination and a Ph.D. in Rabbinic Literature from the Jewish Theological Seminary.
In this thoughtful and thorough work, Rabbi Scheindlin brings traditional Jewish texts directly into conversation with contemporary Jewish voices, managing to both honor the tradition and the values of our day. Rabbi Scheindlin does not shy away either from the aspects of the tradition that seem most remote from— or offensive to — our own social mores, or from the thorny real-life dilemmas of our experience in 21st century America. This guide speaks directly to our most difficult questions — complicated parent-child relationships, the quagmire of social media, the eroding standard of truth, sexual desire and practice, conception, birth, abortion, and death. This is an extraordinarily useful resource for all those who seek to teach the tradition — whether in a synagogue, school, or home — and all those who seek to live an ethical life rooted in Jewish tradition and responsive to contemporary life.
Rabbi Rachel Timoner is senior rabbi of Congregation Beth Elohim in Brooklyn, NY.
This is an essential study guide for parents, educators, young adults and teens seeking to clarify and deepen their understanding of and relationship to Jewish ethics. Educators will appreciate this well-curated collection of cases and texts as a valuable compass to navigate explorations with teens about challenging essential questions of our day. In an era when opinions are so often shaped by influencers and soundbites, this book provides substantive Judaic source material to ground student learning about ethical dilemmas in our tradition in our times.
Dr. Miriam Heller Stern is National Director, School of Education, Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion.