Personal Theology

Neil Gillman has been a part of the JTS community for over 50 years as a student, administrator and member of the faculty. His most enduring contribution as a scholar and a teacher has been a renewed focus on the importance of theological reflection in rabbinic education and Jewish education, both in the Conservative movement and Jewish life generally. This volume seeks to honor Professor Gillman’s contributions to Jewish scholarship and education by collecting essays by his colleagues and students that discuss the issues most central to his work, namely Jewish theology, Conservative Judaism and Jewish education.

Rabbi William Plevan, a graduate of the Jewish Theological Seminary, has served as the rabbi at Congregation Shaare Zedek since autumn 2009. His current research is on Martin Buber's philosophical anthropology.

Rabbi Dov Peretz Elkins, JewishMediaReview:
[Neil Gillman's] most enduring contribution as a scholar and a teacher has been a renewed focus on the importance of theological reflection in rabbinic education and Jewish education, both in the Conservative movement and Jewish life generally. This volume seeks to honor Professor Gillman’s contributions to Jewish scholarship and education by collecting essays by his colleagues and students that discuss the issues most central to his work, namely Jewish theology, Conservative Judaism and Jewish education."

Arnold M. Eisen, Chancellor, the Jewish Theological Seminary:
"Neil Gillman has long been one of the most influential theological voices in the Jewish world. His teaching has directly shaped the thinking of any dozens of Conservative rabbis, and his writings at once greatly learned and extremely accessible have helped many thousands of Jewish lay people to sort out where they stand on key issues of faith. We are all in his debt for reasons this volume in his honor makes abundantly and beautifully clear."

Elliot Dorff, Rector, American Jewish University:
"Gillman's innovative thinking about how to construe Jewish faith and how to justify it, his use of anthropology as well as philosophy in approaching questions of God and life after death, and his ability to combine complete intellectual openness and honesty with a commitment to Jewish tradition mark his work as truly important, indeed, a real gift to Jews and non-Jews alike. It is an honor to contribute to this volume in his honor."

Ismar Schorsch, Professor and Former Chancellor of the Jewish Theological Seminary:
“A worthy tribute of substance, esteem and affection to the master teacher and fearless theologian of our day, who has given a lifetime of service and thought to the welfare of the Seminary and the cause of Conservative Judaism."