ISAACS, Ronald (Howard) 1947-

PERSONAL: Born September 10, 1947, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada; U.S. citizen; son of David (in sales) and Gertrude (a homemaker) Isaacs; married, June 20, 1971; wife's name Leora W.; children: Keren, Zachary. Ethnicity: "Jewish." Education: Jewish Theological Seminary of America, B.H.L., 1969, M.A., 1971, Rabbi, 1974; Columbia University, B.A., 1969, M.A., 1971, Ed.D., 1979. Hobbies and other interests: Sports memorabilia, music.

ADDRESSES: Office—Temple Sholom, 594 North Bridge St., Bridgewater, NJ 08807; fax: 908-707-9055. E-mail—isaccsrl@optonline.net.

CAREER: Voices Four (Hebrew liturgical folk-rock ensemble, cofounder and performer, 1969-73; Greenburgh Hebrew Center, Dobbs Ferry, NY, principal and youth director, 1973-75; Temple Sholom, Bridgewater, NJ, rabbi, 1975—, and codirector of Temple Sholom Hebrew High School. Rutgers University, visiting lecturer, 1976-82; Jewish Theological Seminary of America, adjunct lecturer, 2002. United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, Kadima rabbi for Northern New Jersey Region, 1982-92; Coalition for the Advancement of Jewish Education, board member, 1992-94; Northern New Jersey Rabbinical Assembly, vice president, 1995-96; Rabbinical Assembly of America, chair of publications committee, 2001. Lovin' Company (Hebrew liturgical folk-rock ensemble), founder and performer, 1980-82; WCTC-Radio, host of Jewish American Hour, 1990-94; recorded the albums Arbaah Kolote: The Voices Four, released by Monitor Recordings in 1969, and Our Rock and Our Redeemer, Monitor Recordings, 1971. Camp Ramah in the Poconos, head of music and coordinator of Ramah Family Camp and Shabbat Plus Adult Learning Program, summers, 1988-2001. United Way of Somerset Valley, board member, 1990-93; Human Relations Council of Bridgewater, board member, 1999—; Bridgewater Police Department, member of Committee of Chaplains, 2001—.

MEMBER: Faith in Action (board member, 1999—).

AWARDS, HONORS: D.H.L., Jewish Theological Seminary of America, 2001.

WRITINGS:

(With wife, Leora Isaacs) Jewish Expressions: My Holiday Activity Book, Ktav Publishing House (Jersey City, NJ), 1986.

The Jewish Instructional Games Book, New York Board of Jewish Education (New York, NY), 1986.

Shabbat Delight: A Celebration in Stories, Songs, and Games, Ktav Publishing House (Jersey City, NJ), 1987.

(With Leora Isaacs) Reflections: A Jewish Grandparents' Gift of Memories, Jason Aronson (Northvale, NJ), 1987.

The Jewish Family Game Book for the Sabbath and Festivals, Ktav Publishing House (Jersey City, NJ), 1989.

The Bride and Groom Handbook, Behrman House (West Orange, NJ), 1990.

(With Leora Isaacs) Gleanings: Four Shavuot Scripts, Leeron Publishers (Bridgewater, NJ), 1990.

(With Leora Isaacs) Loving Companions: Our Jewish Wedding Album, Jason Aronson (Northvale, NJ), 1991.

(With Kerry M. Olitzky) The Jewish Mourner's Handbook, Ktav Publishing House (Jersey City, NJ), 1992.

Rites of Passage: Guide to the Jewish Life Cycle, Ktav Publishing House (Jersey City, NJ), 1992.

(With Kerry M. Olitzky) The Discovery Haggada, Ktav Publishing House (Jersey City, NJ), 1992.

(With D. Pressman) Shma Kolaynu: A High Holy Day Youth Machzor, Ktav Publishing House (Jersey City, NJ), 1992.

(With Kerry M. Olitzky) A Glossary of Jewish Life, Jason Aronson (Northvale, NJ), 1992.

(With Kerry M. Olitzky) The How-to Handbook for Jewish Living, Ktav Publishing House (Jersey City, NJ), Volume 1, 1993, Volume 2, 1996.

Becoming Jewish: A Handbook for Conversion, Ktav Publishing House (Jersey City, NJ), 1993.

(With S. Arlen and R. Wagner) Chain of Life: A Curricular Guide, Coalition for the Advancement of Jewish Education (New York, NY), 1993.

The Jewish Information Source Book: A Dictionary and Almanac, Jason Aronson (Jersey City, NJ), 1993.

(With Leora Isaacs) Jewish Family Matters: A Leader's Guide, United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism (New York, NY), 1994.

(With D. Pressman) Siddur Shir Chadash for Youth and Family, Ktav Publishing House (Jersey City, NJ), 1994.

(With Kerry M. Olitzky) Doing Mitzvot: Mitzvah Projects for Bar/Bat Mitzvah, Ktav Publishing House (Jersey City, NJ), 1994.

(With Kerry M. Olitzky) Sacred Celebrations: A Jewish Holiday Handbook, Jason Aronson (Northvale, NJ), 1994.

(With Kerry M. Olitzky) Critical Documents of Jewish History: A Sourcebook, Jason Aronson (Northvale, NJ), 1995.

Lively Student Prayer Services: A Handbook of Teaching Strategies, Ktav Publishing House (Jersey City, NJ), 1995.

(With Kerry M. Olitzky) Sacred Moments: Tales of the Jewish Life Cycle, Jason Aronson (Northvale, NJ), 1995.

Derech Eretz: Pathways to an Ethical Life, United Synagogue Department of Youth (New York, NY), 1995.

Critical Jewish Issues: A Book for Teenagers, Ktav Publishing House (Jersey City, NJ), 1996.

The Jewish Book of Numbers, Jason Aronson (Northvale, NJ), 1996.

Words for the Soul: Jewish Wisdom for Life's Journey, Jason Aronson (Jersey City, NJ), 1996.

Mitzvot: A Sourcebook for the 613 Commandments, Jason Aronson (Northvale, NJ), 1996.

Madrich LeGabbai: A Gabbai's How-to Manual, Ktav Publishing House (Jersey City, NJ), 1996.

Close Encounters: Jewish Views of God, Jason Aronson (Northvale, NJ), 1996.

Sacred Seasons: A Sourcebook for the Jewish Holidays, Jason Aronson (Northvale, NJ), 1997.

Every Person's Guide to Jewish Prayer, Jason Aronson (Northvale, NJ), 1997.

Sidra Reflections: Guide to Sidrot and Haftarot, Ktav Publishing House (Jersey City, NJ), 1997, leader's guide, 1998.

(With Kerry M. Olitzky) Rediscovering Judaism: Bar and Bat Mitzvah for Adults; A Course of Study, Ktav Publishing House (Jersey City, NJ), 1997.

Jewish Bible Almanac, Jason Aronson (Northvale, NJ), 1997.

Miracles: A Jewish Perspective, Jason Aronson (Northvale, NJ), 1997.

Jewish Music: Its History, People, and Song, Jason Aronson (Northvale, NJ), 1997.

Divination, Magic, and Healing: The Book of Jewish Folklore, Jason Aronson (Northvale, NJ), 1998.

Ascending Jacob's Ladder: Jewish Views of Angels, Demons, and Evil Spirits, Jason Aronson (Northvale, NJ), 1998.

The Jewish Book of Etiquette, Jason Aronson (Northvale, NJ), 1998.

Judaism, Medicine, and Healing, Jason Aronson (Northvale, NJ), 1998.

(Editor) The Jewish Sourcebook on the Environment and Ecology, Jason Aronson (Northvale, NJ), 1998.

Messengers of God: A Jewish Prophets Who's Who, Jason Aronson (Northvale, NJ), 1998.

Every Person's Guide to Shabbat, Jason Aronson (Northvale, NJ), 1998.

Every Person's Guide to Shavuot, Jason Aronson (Northvale, NJ), 1998.

Every Person's Guide to Death and Dying in the Jewish Tradition, Jason Aronson (Northvale, NJ), 1999.

Exploring Jewish Ethics and Values, Ktav Publishing House (Jersey City, NJ), 1999.

Every Person's Guide to Jewish Philosophy and Philosophers, Jason Aronson (Northvale, NJ), 1999.

(With Kerry M. Olitzky) I Believe: The Thirteen Principles of Faith: A Confirmation Textbook, Ktav Publishing House (Jersey City, NJ), 1999.

Reaching for Sinai: How-to Handbook for Celebrating a Meaningful Bar/Bat Mitzvah, Ktav Publishing House (Jersey City, NJ), 1999.

Every Person's Guide to the High Holy Days, Jason Aronson (Northvale, NJ), 1999.

The Tabernacle, the Temple, and Its Royalty, Jason Aronson (Northvale, NJ), 1999.

Every Person's Guide to Holiness: The Jewish Perspective, Jason Aronson (Northvale, NJ), 1999.

Every Person's Guide to Jewish Blessings, Jason Aronson (Northvale, NJ), 1999.

Beginnings: Raising a Jewish Child, United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism (New York, NY), 2000.

The Bible: Where Do You Find It, and What Does it Say?, Jason Aronson (Northvale, NJ), 2000.

Every Person's Guide to Jewish Law, Jason Aronson (Northvale, NJ), 2000.

Animals in Jewish Thought and Tradition, Jason Aronson (Northvale, NJ), 2000.

Every Person's Guide to Jewish Sexuality, Jason Aronson (Northvale, NJ), 2000.

Every Person's Guide to the Book of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes: Biblical Wisdom for the Twenty-first Century, Jason Aronson (Northvale, NJ), 2000.

Every Person's Guide to Sukkot, Shemini Atzeret, and Simchat Torah, Jason Aronson (Northvale, NJ), 2000.

Every Person's Guide to Purim, Jason Aronson (Northvale, NJ), 2000.

Every Person's Guide to Hanukkah, Jason Aronson (Northvale, NJ), 2000.

Every Person's Guide to Passover, Jason Aronson (Northvale, NJ), 2000.

The Talmud: What Does it Say and Where Can You Find It?, Jason Aronson (Northvale, NJ), 2000.

Every Person's Guide to What's Kosher and What's Not, Jason Aronson (Northvale, NJ), 2000.

Ask the Rabbi: The Book of Answers to Jewish Kids' Questions, Jason Aronson (Northvale, NJ), 2000.

Every Person's Guide to Aggadah, Jason Aronson (Northvale, NJ), 2000.

Building the Faith: A Book of Inclusion for Dual-Faith Families, Federation of Jewish Men's Clubs (New York, NY), 2001.

Understanding the Hebrew Prophets, Ktav Publishing House (Jersey City, NJ), 2001.

Defending the Faith: Trials and Great Debates in Jewish History, Ktav Publishing House (Jersey City, NJ), 2001.

Entering the Biblical Text: Exploring Jewish Values in the Torah, Ktav Publishing House (Jersey City, NJ), 2000.

Can You Believe It: Amazing Jewish Facts and Curiosities, Jason Aronson (Northvale, NJ), 2001.

Ethics for Everyday Living: Jewish Wisdom for the Twenty-first Century, Jason Aronson (Northvale, NJ), 2001.

Every Person's Guide to the Book of Psalms, Jason Aronson (Northvale, NJ), 2001.

Exploring the Jewish Prophets, Ktav Publishing House (Jersey City, NJ), 2001.

(With Kerry M. Olitzky) The Third "How-to" Handbook for Jewish Living, Ktav Publishing House (Jersey City, NJ), 2002.

Let My People Go: An Instant Lesson on World Slavery, Torah Aura (Los Angeles, CA), 2002.

Legends of Biblical Heroes: A Sourcebook, Jason Aronson (Northvale, NJ), 2002.

A Taste of Text: An Introduction to the Talmud and Midrash, UAHC Press (New York, NY), 2003.

Ask the Rabbi: The Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How of Being Jewish, Jossey-Bass (San Francisco, CA), 2003.

Life's Little Book of Big Jewish Advice, Ktav Publishing House (Jersey City, NJ), 2004.

Gates of Heaven: A Handbook for Unveilings and Visiting the Cemetery, Ktav Publishing House (Jersey City, NJ), 2004.

Essential Judaism in a Nutshell, Ktav Publishing House (Jersey City, NJ), 2004.

Author of sourcebooks for Kadima Encampments, 1982-92. Creator of The Pocket Size Ungame: Spiritual Version, released by Ungame Co., 1983. Contributor to periodicals, including Kol Kadima, United Synagogue Jewish Living Now, Pedagogic Reporter, Jewish Education, and Impact. Member of editorial board, Shofar.

SIDELIGHTS: Ronald Isaacs once told CA: "I write as I prepare to teach my courses for our own Hebrew high school and adult education programs. I try to write for a couple of hours each day and generally choose a topic which I have always enjoyed teaching or reading about, but which I would like to research further."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

periodicals

Booklist, October 15, 2003, Ilene Cooper, review of Ask the Rabbi: The Who, What, Where, Why, and How of Being Jewish, p. 402.

Library Journal, January 1, 2001, Graham Christian, review of Every Person's Guide to Purim, p. 117.

Publishers Weekly, August 25, 2003, review of Ask the Rabbi, p. 57.