The Jewish Way in Love and Marriage
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Maurice Lamm in his book The Jewish Way in Love and Marriage is writing for a specific community to explain Jewish teachings on love and marriage and how they are based on traditions found in the Bible. These principles have been applied throughout Jewish history, and while this is certainly not the first book on these issues, it is a readable book produced for the contemporary Jewish community and in terms that link these doctrines to many of the larger social issues raised in society today. The book is written not for every Jewish community but for the American Jewish community of this period of time. Jewishness is always conceived in terms of a community setting, indicating how the individual may fit into that community, serve its needs, and gain strength from it at the same time. Judaism is a religion that needs explanation and a linkage with Jewish history as an introduction to the larger Jewish community, and this book addresses those needs. The specific roles of love and marriage help define a community, for they are closely related to the ability of a community to thrive, to perpetuate itself, and to pass traditions from one generation to the next. A close examination of the book shows the intentions of the author, his ability to realize those intentions, his methods of evidence, and the themes of community and service that are embodied by him in the book. Lamm makes clear his reasons for writing this book at the outset--he sees the Jewish people in America, alo
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just a marital problem, it shatters the fundamental unit of creation. In most cases of adultery, the religious court is instructed to issue a divorce even against their will. The couple may forgive a violation of their personal integrity, but they have no right to forgive the assault upon God's integrity and His participation in the marriage (Lamm 119).
The moral conscience of the community protects the integrity of God in such matters.
A Jew is one who accepts the faith of Judaism. There is also a cultural definition in that a Jew is one who considers himself a Jew or is so regarded by the community. Judaism in any case holds that mankind can most genuinely worship God by imitating those qualities considered godly, such as mercy, justice, and tolerance. There are three principal tenets in the Jewish prayer book: 1) the love of learning--Jews long ago had a system of compulsory education, and education is a responsibility of the Jewish community; 2) the worship of God--Jews are taught that God is to be worshiped out of love and not out of fear; and 3) good deeds--good deeds are those that come from the heart, and no one is exempt from obligations to his fellow human beings. Jews believe in the immortality of the soul, but
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Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1849
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page)
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