Spotlight on CLAL
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Rabbi Steve Greenberg Of CLAL Wins Prestigious Koret Book Award
Wrestling with God & Men: Homosexuality in the Jewish Tradition Honored for Philosophy and Thought
By Judy Epstein, Director of Public Affairs
Calling it a “courageous work of self-exploration,” and a “learned, accessible, and unflinchingly honest theological work,” the Koret Institute bestowed its prestigious Book Award for Philosophy and Thought on Rabbi Steve Greenberg, CLAL Senior Teaching Fellow, for his groundbreaking book, Wrestling with God & Men: Homosexuality in the Jewish Tradition (University of Wisconsin, 2004). The book explores homosexuality and Jewish tradition, challenging long held assumptions and text interpretations, while offering a very personal and truthful account of the author’s own ten-year struggle to reconcile his identities as a gay, Orthodox man.
Using traditional rabbinic texts and resources, Rabbi Greenberg presents biblical interpretations in a new and provocative light. Written from deeply inside the tradition, the book raises compelling questions and conversations on previously uncontested beliefs, opening up pioneering dialogue in Orthodox and other religious communities.
“I feel honored and humbled to receive this award,” said Rabbi Greenberg. “The book has had a significant impact on the Orthodox community. It has started conversations on an issue that heretofore was unheard of. Now synagogues and all kinds of institutions are exploring the questions not only in terms of the human element, but in terms of the dynamic quality of the tradition.” Rabbi Greenberg was recently featured in the landmark documentary, Trembling Before G-d, which examines homosexuality and the Orthodoxy.
The awards ceremony will be held on April 11. In addition to the Koret Book Award, Wrestling with God & Men has been selected as a finalist for the Lambda Literary Awards. Announcements will be made in June 2005.
In 1998, the Koret Jewish Book Awards were created to focus attention on the best of Jewish writing in biography, fiction, history, philosophy and children's literature. Since their inception, they have become the most prestigious awards in Jewish prose.
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