Finding Your Moral Compass places enduring Jewish values in a 21st century context, offering a thoughtful and enriching guide for those seeking ethical direction and spiritual grounding through and in Jewish tradition.
In this collection of 40 essays, Rabbi John L. Rosove explores foundational Jewish values and helps readers affirm their Jewish identity while drawing connections between Jewish teachings and universal moral principles.
Rosove combines classic scholarship, compassion, and personal experience in his reflections upon Judaism’s age-old moral and ethical traditions and Jewish identity as they have evolved over centuries and since the Holocaust and the establishment of the State of Israel.
As a thought-leader at the forefront of social justice and liberal Israel activism in North America, Rosove draws from his personal experiences to present moral clarity and an ethical compass for liberal Jews and all who are interested in contemporary Judaism. With accessible prose and heartfelt insight, this collection of essays invites liberal Jews – and anyone interested in finding moral clarity – to consider how Jewish wisdom can serve as a compass in navigating today’s world.
Introduction
1. Faith – Emunah
2. Menschlechkite
3. Civility – Derekh Eretz
4. Learning Torah – Limud Torah
5. Honoring Teachers and Mentors – Kavod leRav uleMorim
6. & 7. Healing Oneself & Repairing the World –
Tikun Nefesh & Tikun Olam
8. Humility – Anavah
9. Love – Ahavah
10. Truth – Emet
11. Peace – Shalom
12. Justice – Tzedek
13. Wisdom – Chochmah
14. Strength – Gevurah
15. Wealth – Osher
16. Honor – Kavod
17. Patience – Savlanut
18. Gratitude – Hakarat Todah
19. & 20. Compassion – Rachamim; Deeds of Loving-kindness – Gemilut Chassadim
21. Righteous Giving – Tzedakah
22. Welcoming the Stranger – Hachnasat HaGer
23. The Suffering of Animals – Tza’ar Ba’alei Chayim
24. Good and Evil – Tov veRa
25. Gossip – Leshon Hara
26. Courage – Ometz Lev
27. Forgiveness – Selichah
28. Repentance – Teshuvah
29. Sanctifying God’s Name – Kiddush HaShem
30. Choosing Life – Bacharta baChayim
31. Respect for the Elderly – Kavod laZekainim
32. Respect for Parents – Kavod Av vaEm
33. Sabbath Rest – Shabbat Menuchah
34. Protecting the Environment – Shemirat HaSevivah
35. Leadership – Manhigut
36. Freedom and Democracy – Chofesh uDemocratia
37. The Jewish People – Am Yisrael
38. Zionism and the State of Israel – Tziyonut uMedinat Yisrael
39. Memory – Zichronot
40. Hope – Tikvah
Acknowledgments
Notes
Author Biography
Height:216
Width:140
Spine:25
Weight:1.00