Walter Jacob

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Rabbi Walter Jacob is a leader in Reform Judaism (North American) and an expert in the reform movement's approach to Jewish law (halakhah). A protege of Solomon Freehof, Jacob served at Rodef Shalom in Pittsburgh as an assistant rabbi (1955) and as successor to Freehof as congregational rabbi (1967-1996). Jacob has degrees from Drury College and the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion.

Jacob promotes Reform Judaism in Germany, which awarded Jacob a knighthood medal. He also has been active with the Abraham Geiger College, a post-Holocaust rabbinic seminary in Germany.^[1]

He led the Central Conference of American Rabbis.

In addition to writing numerous Reform responsa, Jacob co-authored a series of works on progressive halakhah with Moshe Zemer.

[edit] See also

Jewish beliefs and practices in the reform movement

[edit] Bibliography

Walter Jacob. The Changing world of Reform Judaism: the Pittsburgh Platform in retrospect: papers presented on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Pittsburgh Platform, February, 1985 and The proceedings of 1885. Pittsburgh: Rodef Shalom Congregation, 1985. ISBN 0915138794.

______. “The Law of the Lord Is Perfect” Halakhah and Antinomism in Reform Judaism in CCAR Journal Summer 2004, pp. 72-84

Walter Jacob and Moshe Zemer. The environment in Jewish law : essays and responsa. Studies in progressive halakhah. New York: Berghahn Books, 2003. ISBN 1571814310.

______.Re-examining progressive Halakhah. Studies in progressive halakhah. New York: Berghahn Books, 2002. ISBN 1571814043.

______.Gender issues in Jewish law : essays and responsa. Studies in progressive halakhah. New York: Berghahn Books, 2001. ISBN 1571812393.

______.Crime and punishment in Jewish law : essays and responsa. Studies in progressive halakhah. [v. 6], New York: Berghahn Books, 1999. ISBN 1571811974.

Walter Jacob, Moshe Zemer and Freehof Institute of Progressive Halakhah. Marriage and its obstacles in Jewish law : essays and responsa. Studies in progressive halakhah. 8, Pittsburgh ; Tel Aviv; Pittsburgh: Freehof Institute of Progressive Halakhah; Rodef Shalom Press, 1999. ISBN 092969910.

______.Aging and the aged in Jewish law : essays and responsa. Studies in progressive halakhah. 7, Pittsburgh: Freehof Institute of Progressive Halakhah ; Rodef Shalom Press, 1998. ISBN 0929699084.

______.Israel and the Diaspora in Jewish law : essays and responsa. Studies in progressive halakhah. 6, Pittsburgh: Freehof Institute of Progressive Halakhah, Rodef Shalom Press, 1997. ISBN 0929699092.

______.Death and euthanasia in Jewish law : essays and responsa. Studies in progressive halakhah v. 4. Pittsburgh: Freehof Institute of Progressive Halakhah : Rodef Shalom Press, 1995. ISBN 0929699068 (pbk.).

______.The fetus and fertility : essays and responsa. Studies in progressive halakhah. 5, Pittsburgh: Freehof Institute of Progressive Halakhah : Rodef Shalom Press, 1995. ISBN 0929699076.

______. Conversion to Judaism in Jewish law : essays and responsa. Studies in progressive halakhah. 3, Tel Aviv; Pittsburgh: Freehof Institute of Progressive Halakhah; Rodef Shalom Press, 1994. ISBN 092969905X.

______. Progressive halakhah : essence and application. Studies in progressive halakhah. 1, Tel Aviv; Pittsburgh: Freehof Institute of Progressive Halakhah; Rodef Shalom Press, 1991. ISBN 0929699033.

Walter Jacob, Moshe Zemer, Freehof Institute of Progressive Halakhah and Central Conference of American Rabbis. Rabbinic-lay relations in Jewish law. Studies in progressive halakhah. 2, Tel Aviv; Pittsburgh: Freehof Institute of Progressive Halakhah; Rodef Shalom Press, 1993. ISBN 0929699041.