Ira F. Stone
Encyclopedia
Rabbi Ira F. Stone is a leading figure in the contemporary renewal of the Musar movement, a Jewish ethical movement.
Stone was ordained as a rabbi at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America
in 1979, and proceeded to serve congregations in Seattle and Philadelphia while also teaching at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America
. He has been the spiritual leader at Temple Beth Zion-Beth Israel in Philadelphia since 1988. He also currently teaches at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College
and is the director of Mussar Leadership Programs (formerly known as the Philadelphia Mussar Institute).
He is a scholar of Emmanuel Levinas
and of the Musar movement. His book A Responsible Life: The Spiritual Path of Mussar (Aviv Press, 2006), draws on the thinking of Emmanuel Levinas in developing a contemporary vision of Musar. Unlike other non-Orthodox Musar teachers, he believes that Musar practice must involve a commitment to the observance of Jewish law. Stone has also proposed that a dedication to Musar should be central to the approach of Conservative Judaism
.
Among his other books are Reading Levinas/Reading Talmud (JPS, 1998), Seeking the Path of Life: Theological Meditations on the Nature of God, Life, Love and Death (Jewish Lights, 1993), Sketches for a Book of Psalms (Xlibris, 2000), and a commentary on Rabbi Moshe Hayyim Luzzatto
's Mesillat Yesharim
(Jewish Publication Society, 2010).
Stone was ordained as a rabbi at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America
Jewish Theological Seminary of America
The Jewish Theological Seminary of America is one of the academic and spiritual centers of Conservative Judaism, and a major center for academic scholarship in Jewish studies.JTS operates five schools: Albert A...
in 1979, and proceeded to serve congregations in Seattle and Philadelphia while also teaching at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America
Jewish Theological Seminary of America
The Jewish Theological Seminary of America is one of the academic and spiritual centers of Conservative Judaism, and a major center for academic scholarship in Jewish studies.JTS operates five schools: Albert A...
. He has been the spiritual leader at Temple Beth Zion-Beth Israel in Philadelphia since 1988. He also currently teaches at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College
Reconstructionist Rabbinical College
The Reconstructionist Rabbinical College , is located in Wyncote, Pennsylvania, about 10 miles north of central Philadelphia. RRC is the only seminary affiliated with Reconstructionist Judaism. It is accredited by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and...
and is the director of Mussar Leadership Programs (formerly known as the Philadelphia Mussar Institute).
He is a scholar of Emmanuel Levinas
Emmanuel Lévinas
Emmanuel Levinas was a Lithuanian-born French Jewish philosopher and Talmudic commentator.-Life:Emanuelis Levinas received a traditional Jewish education in Lithuania...
and of the Musar movement. His book A Responsible Life: The Spiritual Path of Mussar (Aviv Press, 2006), draws on the thinking of Emmanuel Levinas in developing a contemporary vision of Musar. Unlike other non-Orthodox Musar teachers, he believes that Musar practice must involve a commitment to the observance of Jewish law. Stone has also proposed that a dedication to Musar should be central to the approach of Conservative Judaism
Conservative Judaism
Conservative Judaism is a modern stream of Judaism that arose out of intellectual currents in Germany in the mid-19th century and took institutional form in the United States in the early 1900s.Conservative Judaism has its roots in the school of thought known as Positive-Historical Judaism,...
.
Among his other books are Reading Levinas/Reading Talmud (JPS, 1998), Seeking the Path of Life: Theological Meditations on the Nature of God, Life, Love and Death (Jewish Lights, 1993), Sketches for a Book of Psalms (Xlibris, 2000), and a commentary on Rabbi Moshe Hayyim Luzzatto
Moshe Chaim Luzzatto
Moshe Chaim Luzzatto , also known by the Hebrew acronym RaMCHaL , was a prominent Italian Jewish rabbi, kabbalist, and philosopher.-Padua:Born in Padua at night, he received classical Jewish and Italian educations, showing a...
's Mesillat Yesharim
Mesillat Yesharim
The Mesillat Yesharim is an ethical text composed by the influential Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto . It is quite different from Luzzato's other writings, which are more philosophical....
(Jewish Publication Society, 2010).