Platforms and prayer books: theological and liturgical perspectives on Reform Judaism, Review

Issued midway between the 1999 Statement of Principles for Reform Judaism and the projected 2005 release of a new prayer book, Kaplan's collection of 20 essays explores American Reform Judaism's responses to theological and social changes. As Kaplan (Univ. of Missouri-Kansas City) outlines in his introductory essay, the intent of the volume is also forward-looking--to provide resources for a community seeking to deepen its spiritual _expression. Thus, seven essays constitute a substantial exploration of the historical contexts of these platforms, four address liturgical issues, four compare these aspects of Reform Judaism to other movements and other religions, and the final five, titled "Autonomy and Authority in Texts," address challenges to Reform Jewish self-understanding. Like any such volume, some essays would have been better excluded, but the aggregate is impressive. Although this book's intended audience is Reform Jews and many essays present programmatic "insider" statements, the second half in particular contains several essays presenting ideas that deserve a wider audience. The volume as a whole documents important elements of Reform Jewish thought at the end of the 20th century, and as such should be read by students of this movement or of American religion more generally. Summing Up: Recommended. General readers; upper-division undergraduates and above.

--- R. Langer, Boston College

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