Leon Morris Rabbi Leon A. Morris (originally published in CCAR, Summer, 2013) Prayer book reform was always one of the most significant and defining features of Reform Judaism in both Europe and America. While some reforms of the liturgy were driven by practical concerns, such as abbreviating the service or removing passages that were deemed to be inconsistent with … Read more
Rabbi Leon A. Morris Published in the summer of 2013 in CCAR Journal: The Reform Jewish Quarterly. See here for a PDF of the article. The notion of sacrificial offerings was an anathema in the shaping of a modern Jewish life. Since the earliest days of Reform Judaism, those most ancient forms of divine service were … Read more
Advice to Opposition: ‘Channel energy into Shabbat that reflects your values’ To read more click here.
A provocative lecture series on future directions of American Reform Judaism. Delivered on July 31, 2011 in Sag Harbor, NY by Rabbi Leon A. Morris. This second lecture, entitled “A Vision for the Future” was preceded by a lecture on July 25 entitled, “A Loving Critique.”
A provocative lecture series on future directions of American Reform Judaism. Delivered on July 24, 2011 in Sag Harbor, NY by Rabbi Leon A. Morris. This first lecture, entitled “A Loving Critique” was followed by a second lecture on July 31, 2011 entitled, “A Vision for the 21st Century.”
by Leon A. Morris, The Jewish Week A rabbi reflects on why American Jews need the minyan now more than ever. Depictions of American Jews on television are often a barometer for the way in which Jewish writers, and presumably Jewish viewers, understand their Jewish identity. The 1990s series “Northern Exposure” featured the character of … Read more
SAG HARBOR, N.Y. (JTA) — Change is afoot in American Reform Judaism. A new president of the Union for Reform Judaism has been selected. The movement has launched a series of nationwide public forums to discuss its future. Hundreds of Reform rabbis have endorsed a plan toward achieving greater efficiency in the movement’s institutions. Rethinking … Read more
by RABBI LEON A. MORRIS, From Jewish Theology in Our Time FORMULATING A THEOLOGY for the twenty-first century requires far more modesty than earlier theological writings seemed to acknowledge. In the medieval period, theologians spelled out the minute details of correct belief with a confidence built around sets of proofs for the existence of God, for … Read more
The Jewish Week, April 2010 Skirball project combines 14 short artistic videos for each section of the seder. Sharon Udasin, Staff Writer An older man sits in his living room armchair, relaxing in striped button-down pajamas while crunching loudly on a raw root vegetable. “Daddy, what are you eating?” asks his son, sitting on the … Read more
First published in The Jewish Week The British Supreme Court ruled last Wednesday that it is illegal for a state-sponsored Jewish school to base its admission policy on whether one’s mother is Jewish. The case involved a 12-year-old boy whose father was born Jewish and whose mother was converted to Judaism by a Progressive (one of … Read more