The New Rabbi Book PDF, ePub eBook

Join our eBook service for unlimited books & audiobooks. Get a free 7 day subscription! ↓↓↓↓↓


Book Descriptions:
From award-winning journalist Stephen Fried comes a vividly intimate portrait of American Judaism today in which faith, family, and community are explored through the dramatic life of a landmark congregation as it seeks to replace its legendary retiring rabbi--and reinvent itself for the next generation.

The New Rabbi

The center of this compelling chronicle is Har Zion Temple on Philadelphia’s Main Line, which for the last seventy-five years has been one of the largest and most influential congregations in America. For thirty years Rabbi Gerald Wolpe has been its spiritual leader, a brilliant sermonizer of wide renown--but now he has announced his retirement. It is the start of a remarkable nationwide search process largely unknown to the lay world--and of much more. For at this dramatic moment Wolpe agrees to give extraordinary access to Fried, inviting him--and the reader--into the intense personal and professional life of the clergy and the complex behind-the-scenes life of a major Conservative congregation.

These riveting pages bring us a unique view of Judaism in practice: from Har Zion’s strong-willed leaders and influential families to the young bar and bat mitzvahs just beginning their Jewish lives; from the three-days-a-year synagogue goers to the hard core of devout attendees. We are touched by their times of joy and times of grief, intrigued by congregational politics, moved by the search for faith. We witness the conflicts between generations about issues of belief, observance, and the pressures of secular life. We meet Wolpe’s vigorous-minded ailing wife and his sons, one of whom has become a celebrity rabbi in Los Angeles. And we follow the author’s own moving search for meaning as he reconnects with the religion of his youth.

We also have a front-row seat at the usually clandestine process of choosing a new rabbi, as what was expected to be a simple one-year search for Rabbi Wolpe’s successor extends to two years and then three. Dozens of résumés are rejected, a parade of prospects come to interview, the chosen successor changes his mind at the last minute, and a confrontation erupts between the synagogue and the New York–based Conservative rabbis’ “union” that governs the process. As the time comes for Wolpe to depart, a venerated house of worship is being torn apart. And thrust onto the pulpit is Wolpe’s young assistant, Rabbi Jacob Herber, in his first job out of rabbinical school, facing the nearly impossible situation of taking over despite being technically ineligible for the position--and finding himself on trial with the congregation and at odds with his mentor.

Rich in anecdote and scenes of wonderful immediacy, this is a riveting book about the search for personal faith, about the tension between secular concerns and ancient tradition in affluent America, and about what Wolpe himself has called “the retail business of religion.” Stephen Fried brings all these elements to vivid life with the passion and energy of a superbly gifted storyteller.

The New Rabbi by Stephen Fried

From reader reviews:

Richard Glass:

Nowadays reading books be than want or need but also get a life style. This reading routine give you lot of advantages. The advantages you got of course the knowledge the particular information inside the book that improve your knowledge and information. The information you get based on what kind of reserve you read, if you want drive more knowledge just go with knowledge books but if you want truly feel happy read one along with theme for entertaining for example comic or novel. The actual The New Rabbi is kind of publication which is giving the reader unforeseen experience.

Betty Hood:

Reading can called brain hangout, why? Because if you are reading a book specially book entitled The New Rabbi your head will drift away trough every dimension, wandering in each and every aspect that maybe mysterious for but surely will become your mind friends. Imaging every single word written in a reserve then become one form conclusion and explanation which maybe you never get before. The The New Rabbi giving you one more experience more than blown away your brain but also giving you useful facts for your better life within this era. So now let us present to you the relaxing pattern here is your body and mind are going to be pleased when you are finished reading it, like winning a game. Do you want to try this extraordinary wasting spare time activity?

John Bennett:

Do you have something that that suits you such as book? The book lovers usually prefer to select book like comic, brief story and the biggest one is novel. Now, why not hoping The New Rabbi that give your enjoyment preference will be satisfied through reading this book. Reading habit all over the world can be said as the opportinity for people to know world far better then how they react towards the world. It can't be said constantly that reading habit only for the geeky particular person but for all of you who wants to be success person. So , for every you who want to start reading through as your good habit, you can pick The New Rabbi become your own personal starter.

Debra Weeks:

You can find this The New Rabbi by go to the bookstore or Mall. Merely viewing or reviewing it could to be your solve trouble if you get difficulties for ones knowledge. Kinds of this guide are various. Not only by written or printed but can you enjoy this book by means of e-book. In the modern era such as now, you just looking from your mobile phone and searching what their problem. Right now, choose your current ways to get more information about your e-book. It is most important to arrange you to ultimately make your knowledge are still upgrade. Let's try to choose proper ways for you.