Righteous Indignation: A Jewish Call for Justice

Can the teachings of Judaism provide a sacred framework for repairing the world?

In this groundbreaking volume, leading rabbis, intellectuals, and activists explore the relationship between Judaism and social justice, drawing on ancient and modern sources of wisdom. The contributors argue that American Jewry must move beyond "mitzvah days" and other occasional service programs, and dedicate itself to systemic change in the United States, Israel, and throughout the world. These provocative essays concentrate on specific justice issues such as eradicating war, global warming, health care, gay rights and domestic violence, offering practical ways to transform theory into practice, and ideas into advocacy.

Rich and passionate, these expressions will inspire you to consider your obligations as a Jew, as an American and as a global citizen, while challenging you to take thoughtful and effective action in the world.

Contributors:

Martha Ackelsberg, PhD • Rabbi Rebecca Alpert, PhD • Diane Balser, PhD • Jeremy Benstein, PhD • Rabbi Phyllis Berman • Ellen Bernstein • Marla Brettschneider, PhD • Rabbi Sharon Brous • Aryeh Cohen, PhD • Stephen P. Cohen, PhD • Rabbi Elliot N. Dorff, PhD • Aaron Dorfman • Jacob Feinspan • Rabbi Marla Feldman • Sandra M. Fox, LCSW • Julia Greenberg • Mark Hanis • Rabbi Jill Jacobs • Rabbi Jane Kanarek, PhD • Rabbi Elliot Rose Kukla • Joshua Seth Ladon • Arieh Lebowitz • Rabbi Michael Lerner, PhD • Shaul Magid, PhD • Rabbi Natan Margalit, PhD • Ruth Messinger • Jay Michaelson • Rabbi Micha Odenheimer • Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner • Judith Plaskow, PhD • Judith Rosenbaum, PhD • April Rosenblum • Adam Rubin, PhD • Danya Ruttenberg • Rabbi David Saperstein • Joel Schalit • Rabbi Sidney Schwarz, PhD • Martin I. Seltman, MD • Dara Silverman • Daniel Sokatch • Shana Starobin • Naomi Tucker • Abigail Uhrman • Rabbi Arthur Waskow, PhD • Rabbi Melissa Weintraub

"A must-have book.... This anthology will probably play an important role in advancing the progressive agenda in ... American elections."
--Association of Jewish Libraries

"An essential and engaging source to read, study, refer to and strengthen our resolve. Let all who care about justice or Judaism enter here."
--Melanie Kaye/Kantrowitz, PhD, author, The Colors of Jews: Racial Politics and Radical Diasporism

"Unites the memory of yesterday with the promise of tomorrow. Addresses all of us, here and now."
--Rabbi Harold M. Schulweis, Valley Beth Shalom

"Rich and passionate, these expressions will inspire you to consider your obligations as a Jew, as an American and as a global citizen, while challenging you to take thoughtful and effective action in the world."
--Jewish Media Review

"A passion for justice infuses the articles, and the inspiration of Abraham Joshua Heschel shines through clearly.... Gives us hope for a reinvigorated Judaism in the twenty-first century, and a world that will come closer to redemption."
--Professor Susannah Heschel, author, Abraham Geiger and the Jewish Jesus

"Marvelous ... inspires us to do more to bring about the changes that our world so desperately needs."
--Rabbi J. Rolando Matalon, Congregation B'nai Jeshurun, New York City

"Particularly noteworthy in exploring the role of social action and community organizing as a means of expressing one's Jewishness and Judaism."
--Jewish Book World

"Varied and interesting ... represents the cutting edge of the Jewish prophetic tradition in our contemporary world. Read it and be inspired!"
--Rabbi Arthur Green

"More than meets its mark.... [A] wonderful buffet of ideas, replete not just with tradition, but with innovative interpretations suited to a twenty-first century approach toward social action and reform. A must-have."
--Publishers Weekly