Levy, Richard N.

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Levy, Richard N.

PERSONAL:

Education: Harvard University, A.B, 1959; Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, M.A.H.L, 1964. Religion: Jewish.

ADDRESSES:

Office—Hebrew Union College—Jewish Institute of Religion, 3077 University Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90007-3796.

CAREER:

Rabbi. Ordained, 1964. Hillel Council, Los Angeles, CA, former executive director; Hebrew Union College, Los Angeles, currently director of School of Rabbinic Studies. Central Conference of American Rabbis, president for two years.

WRITINGS:

(With others) The Future of the Reform Synagogue, Union of American Hebrew Congregations (New York, NY), 1969.

(Editor, with Alfred Jospe) Bridges to a Holy Time: New Worship for the Sabbath and Minor Festivals, Ktav Publishing House (New York, NY), 1973.

(Editor and translator) On Wings of Awe = [Ma'ale Tefilot]: A Machzor for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, B'nai B'rith Hillel Foundations (Washington, DC), 1985.

(Editor and translator) On Wings of Freedom: The Hillel Haggadah for the Nights of Passover, B'nai B'rith Hillel Foundations/Ktav Publishing House (Hoboken, NJ), 1989.

(Editor and translator) On Wings of Light = [Siah Sarfe Kodesh]: The Hillel Siddur for Kabbalat Shabbat and Shabbat Evening, Hillel (Washington, DC)/Ktav Publishing House (Hoboken, NY), 2000.

A Vision of Holiness: The Future of Reform Judaism, URJ Press (New York, NY), 2005.

Contributor to periodicals, including Reform Judaism, CCAR Journal, and the Jewish Journal of Los Angeles.

SIDELIGHTS:

Rabbi Richard N. Levy was a coauthor of the "Pittsburgh Principles," a document created while he was serving a two-year term as president of the Central Conference of American Rabbis. Approved in 1999 at the conference's convention, this Statement of Principles for Reform Judaism marks the culmination of a trend that has been building since 1985, according to a Publishers Weekly critic in a review of Levy's A Vision of Holiness: The Future of Reform Judaism, in which Reform Judaism has been embracing traditional Jewish values more and more. In a "clearly presented" work that "displays a strong historical perspective," asserted the critic, Levy addresses the changing trends with regard to views concerning the Torah, God, and the Jewish people. A Library Bookwatch writer described A Vision of Holiness as a "painstakingly written" book that "is a profound examination of faith and practice." "Every Reform congregation ought to use this inspiring book," concluded a Tikkun reviewer.

In an interview for the Jewish Journal Online, Amy Klein noted that there have been other official statements issued by the leaders of Reform Judaism in the past, including the Pittsburgh Formation in 1885, the Columbus Platform in 1937, and Centenary Perspective in 1976. When asked why another statement of principles was considered necessary, Levy responded: "There was a sense that a great deal had happened in the Reform movement since the Centenary Perspective was issued in 1976. The movement has changed demographically … there were three or four women rabbis then, but by 1999 there were 300. Other major things had changed also: Mixed marriage had increased, as well as conversion, and there was a great explosion of desire for more serious learning. And the view of Israel had changed, too, since 1976. The movement had clearly become so much more observant … much more than the previous statement had indicated."

Klein also commented that, in the past, Reform Judaism was associated with those who did not believe that the Torah was the inspired word of God; indeed, many Reform Jews even doubted in the existence of the Divine. The new Statement of Principles reverses that trend to assert a belief in God and the Torah. Levy, in his interview, explained the position of Reform Jews more clearly to Klein: "Nineteenth century Reform Jews were horrified at the more mystical strain of Judaism. Today, many more Reform Jews do accept the reality of God or want to struggle with finding God in their lives, feeling that God is in their lives. I don't think anybody really rejects a belief in God. I think that anybody who sees connection in the world and is willing to say there's a source for those connections believes in God…. So I think people who say I don't believe in God haven't had the opportunity for sufficient conversation … dialogue, if you will."

When asked whether he believed that these revised principles would help Orthodox and Reform Jews accept their respective beliefs better, the rabbi replied: "Not so much acceptance as understanding. When this was promulgated, some Orthodox Jews were pleased to discover that Reform Jews believed in mitzvot. Other Orthodox Jews saw the new direction as an indication that Reform was useful, because it could start Jews on a path that the Orthodox could complete for them, rather than be antithetical."

Levy is also a translator and editor of the books On Wings of Awe: A Machzor for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur (Ktav), 1985; On Wings of Freedom: The Hillel Haggadah (Ktav and Hillel), 2000; On Wings of Light: A Shabbat Evening Prayerbook, (Ktav and Hillel), 2000; as well as coeditor of Bridges to a Holy Time: New Worship for the Sabbath and Minor Festivals.