Walter Homolka – författare

Whom do Jews consider to be Jewish? Is one born a Jew? Does one have a choice? Marriage, religious conviction, feelings of guilt in the face of history have all been reasons for seeking membership of the Jewish community. What are the practical issues for someone wishing to convert to Judaism? International contributors describe in this volume the manifold theological, legal, sociological, and psychological aspects to the phenomenon of the new children of Abraham, and people who have confronted this issue in their own lives tell their stories.

In this volume of essays, eminent Jewish scholars from around the world present introductions to the different parts of the Bible for the wider public. The essays encompass a general introduction to the Torah in Jewish life, and include specific essays on each of the Five Books of Moses, as well as on the Haftarot, Neviim, and Ketuvim. The contributions provide an overview of the core content of each book as well as highlighting central themes and the reception and relevance of these themes in Jewish life and culture past and present. These essays, informed by and based on the profound academic research of their authors, together provide an invaluable bridge between high-level academic insight and the study of the Bible both in synagogues and in homes.

We are increasingly conscious of living in an era whose scale, dimensions and implications we do not fully comprehend. ‘Interactivity’, ‘virtual reality’ and ‘global communications’ are some of the most obvious dimensions of this new reality. Its implications include cross-media acquisitions and mergers by players like Murdoch, Viacom and Disney, and major questions about the future of the printed word and reading. This book does not attempt to offer a broad survey of the new digital age in all its aspects. Instead, it restricts its questions to cultural standards and the issue of quality in media. Culture First! argues that the proper study of culture is normative; and that the proper, and neglected, purpose of cultural studies should be the nurturing of normative argument and judgement. This purpose can be better pursued if we return to the distinction between our ‘best self’ and our ‘ordinary self’ when thinking about cultural questions; if we seek to articulate and think rigorously about aesthetic and ethical standards; and if we recognize the specific cultural values of the printed word and reading as an activity and that the printed word is more than just a medium.

There is no doubt about Baeck's contribution to Jewish theology in the twentieth century: it has been significant. Without ever departing completely from the ancient wellsprings of orthodoxy, he was a studious observer of the intellectual currents of his time and ambience; under theinfluence of liberal Jewish theology, he drew on and reworked those currents, weaving them into his own theological thought. A special aspect of Baeck's work is that he remained in critical confrontation with Christianity throughout his life, acting as a kind of builder of bridges between the two faiths." (From the Introduction.) It is on this aspect that the author focuses his study inwhich he examines Leo Baeck's critical evaluation of Martin Luther and Protestantism. At the same time Homolka shows how close the intellectual links between liberal Christian and liberal Jewish theology had become before the Holocaust: both sides attempted a new definition of the "essence" of their faiths and were searching for a new identity in an increasingly pluralistic and secular society.

In 1993, the World Parliament of Religions endorsed the "Declaration towards a Global Ethic" composed by Hans Küng. In it, representatives from all the world's religions agreed on principles for a global ethic and committed themselves to directives of non-violence, respect for life, solidarity, a just economic order, tolerance, and equal rights and partnership between men and women. But the declaration was just the first step. In HOW TO DO GOOD AND AVOID EVIL, Küng, probably the most famous living Roman Catholic theologian, and Rabbi Walter Homolka, head of Germany's rabbinical seminary and distinguished professor, draw on the Jewish tradition to show the riches that Judaism can offer people of all faiths and non-believers in achieving these directives. The authors make the case for binding values and basic moral attitudes, which can be found in Judaism's universal message of a better world where actions speak louder than words. Exploring Judaism's focus on ethical conduct over declarations of faith, the authors show that making ethical decisions is indispensable in an ever-changing world.

Explore how the principles of a global ethic can be found in Judaism and how they can provide the ethical norms for all religions to work together toward a more peaceful humankind.In 1993, the Parliament of the World's Religions endorsed the "Declaration toward a Global Ethic" composed by Hans Küng. In it, representatives from all the world's religions agreed on principles for a global ethic and committed themselves to directives of nonviolence, respect for life, solidarity, a just economic order, tolerance, and equal rights and partnership between men and women. But the declaration was just the first step.In this impressive volume, Hans Küng, probably the most famous living Roman Catholic theologian, and Rabbi Walter Homolka, head of Germany’s Abraham Geiger rabbinical seminary and distinguished professor, draw on the Jewish tradition to show the riches that Judaism can offer people of all faiths and nonbelievers in achieving these directives.Presenting key sacred texts and theological writings, the authors make the case for binding values and basic moral attitudes that can be found in Judaism’s universal message of a better world. Exploring Judaism’s focus on ethical conduct over declarations of faith, the authors show that making ethical decisions is indispensable in an ever-changing world.

This volume analyzes historical and recent developments in female religious leadership and the larger issues shaping the scholarly debate at the intersection of gender and religious studies. Jewish activism and scholarship have been crucial in linking theology and gender issues since the early twentieth century. Academic and vocational leadership and training have had significant, concrete impact on religious communal practices and formation across the US and Europe. At the same time, these models provide important avenues of constructive dialogue and comparative ecumenical and interfaith enterprises. This volume investigates those possibilities towards constructive, activist, holistic female ministerial leadership for religious faith communities.

It is a widespread idea that the roots of the Christian sermon can be found in the Jewish derasha. But the story of the interrelation of the two homiletical traditions, Jewish and Christian, from New Testament times to the present day is still untold. Can homiletical encounters be registered? Is there a common homiletical history - not only in the modern era, but also in rabbinic times and in the Middle Ages? Which current developments affect Jewish and Christian preaching today, in the 21st century? And, most important, what consequences may result from this mutual perception of Jewish and Christian homiletics for homiletical research and the practice of preaching?This book offers the papers of the first international conference (Bamberg, Germany, 6th to 8th March 2007) which brought together Jewish and Christian scholars to discuss Jewish and Christian homiletics in their historical development and relationship and to sketch out common homiletical projects.

Ernst Ludwig Ehrlich (1921–2007), der bekannte Judaist und Historiker, begann seine akademische Laufbahn 1940 an der Berliner Hochschule für die Wissenschaft des Judentums. Im Jahr 1943 gelang ihm die Flucht aus dem nationalsozialistischen Deutschland in die Schweiz. Als Wissenschaftler wirkte er an den Universitäten von Zürich, Basel, Bern, Frankfurt a.M. und Berlin.Schon früh setzte sich Ehrlich für einen Dialog zwischen Juden und Christen ein. Während des Zweiten Vatikanischen Konzils war Ernst Ludwig Ehrlich als Berater des Kardinal Augustin Bea an der Ausarbeitung der Erklärung Nostrae Aetate über die Beziehungen der Katholischen Kirche zu den nichtchristlichen Religionen beteiligt.Dieser Band vereint Texte von Ernst Ludwig Ehrlich zur Geschichte, Theologie und Ethik des Judentums und ehrt damit den Begründer der Reihe Studia Judaica. Sie verdeutlichen die Bandbreite seines wissenschaftlichen Interesses und sein lebenslanges Streben, Wissen über jüdische Religion und Kultur einem breiten Publikum zu vermitteln.

Both Judaism and Christianity have authorized clergy, charged with fulfilling a multitude of tasks in their respective communities. They teach, provide pastoral care, and preach. They lead worship, hold services and offer counseling regarding all aspects of life. They perform religious rites at the beginning and end of life as well as in-between. They make decisions regarding religious questions, serve as administrators, and possibly even mediate ‛between heaven and earth’. The concrete forms of realization and the functions of the office are not only defined through theological specification but are also subject to trends and influences. This in turn leads to constant change and adaptation.

Über den Ort und Stellenwert von Glaube und Religion in der Gesellschaft gibt es unterschiedliche Auffassungen. Was für die Religion gilt, gilt auch für die Stellung der Theologie im öffentlichen Raum. Für die meisten Universitätsgründungen aus dem Mittelalter war die Theologie die Keimzelle ihrer Existenz. Um die Theologie herum bildeten sich im Lauf der Zeit die anderen Wissenschaftsdisziplinen heraus. Schon im Kulturkampf unter Bismarck wurde diskutiert, ob wissenschaftliche Theologie einen Platz an staatlichen Universitäten habe. Jüngst hat der Wissenschaftsrat bekräftigt, dass der zentrale Ort der christlichen und der nicht-christlichen Theologien das staatliche Hochschulsystem sei. Das Bundesbildungsministerium hat deshalb für Islam und Judentum Wege gefunden, Theologie unter akademischen Bedingungen zu betreiben und ihnen damit eine Heimat an der deutschen Universität zu geben. Dieser Band beleuchtet die Fragen im Spannungsfeld von bekenntnisgebundener Theologie und universitärer Erkenntnisfreiheit. Namhafte Autoren unterschiedlicher Religionen, Konfessionen, Disziplinen sowie Politiker beschäftigen sich mit der Theologie im säkularen Umfeld, der Wechselwirkung von Staat und Theologie, den Möglichkeiten und Grenzen des Staatskirchenrechts sowie dem Aufbau muslimischer als auch vor allem der Institutionalisierung der Jüdischen Theologie an einer deutschen Hochschule.

This book instructively introduces the reader to the basics of Jewish law. It gives a detailed, cutting-edge analysis of contemporary public and private law in the State of Israel, as well as Israel’s legal culture, its system of government, and the roles of its democratic institutions: the executive, parliament, and judiciary. The book examines issues of Holocaust, law and religion, constitutionalization, and equality.

This book provides a concise introduction to the basics of Jewish law. It gives a detailed analysis of contemporary public and private law in the State of Israel, as well as Israel’s legal culture, its system of government, and the roles of its democratic institutions: the executive, parliament, and judiciary. The book examines issues of Holocaust, law and religion, constitutionalization, and equality. It is the ultimate book for anyone interested in Israeli Law and its politics. Authors Shimon Shetreet is the Greenblatt Professor of Public and International Law at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel. He is the President of the International Association of Judicial Independence and World Peace and heads the International Project of Judicial Independence. In 2008, the Mt. Scopus Standards of Judicial Independence were issued under his leadership. Between 1988 and 1996, Professor Shetreet served as a member of the Israeli Parliament, and was a cabinet minister under Yitzhak Rabin and Shimon Peres. He was senior deputy mayor of Jerusalem between 1999 and 2003. He was a Judge of the Standard Contract Court and served as a member of the Chief Justice Landau Commission on the Israeli Court System. The author and editor of many books on the judiciary, Professor Shetreet is a member of the Royal Academy of Science and Arts of Belgium. Rabbi Walter Homolka PhD (King’s College London, 1992), PhD (University of Wales Trinity St. David, 2015), DHL (Hebrew Union College, New York, 2009), is a full professor of Modern Jewish Thought and the executive director of the School of Jewish Theology at the University of Potsdam (Germany). The rector of the Abraham Geiger College (since 2003) is Chairman of the Leo Baeck Foundation and of the Ernst Ludwig Ehrlich Scholarship Foundation in Potsdam. In addition, he has served as the executive director of the Masorti Zacharias Frankel College since 2013.The author of "Jüdisches Eherecht" and other publications on Jewish Law holds several distinctions: among them the Knight Commander’s Cross of the Austrian Merit Order and the 1st Class Federal Merit Order of Germany. In 2004, President Jacques Chirac admitted Rabbi Homolka to the French Legion of Honor.

Historical Jesus research, Jewish or Christian, is marked by the search for origins and authenticity. The various Quests for the Historical Jesus contributed to a crisis of identity within Western Christianity. The result was a move “back to the Jewish roots!” For Jewish scholars it was a means to position Jewry within a dominantly Christian culture. As a consequence, Jews now feel more at ease to relate to Jesus as a Jew.For Walter Homolka the Christian challenge now is to formulate a new Christology: between a Christian exclusivism that denies the universality of God, and a pluralism that endangers the specificity of the Christian understanding of God and the uniqueness of religious traditions, including that of Christianity.