Geoffrey Claussen | |
---|---|
Nationality | American |
Academic background | |
Alma mater | Carleton College, Jewish Theological Seminary |
Academic work | |
Institutions | Elon University |
Website | geoffreyclaussen.com |
Geoffrey Claussen is an American rabbi and scholar who serves as a professor of Religious Studies at Elon University. His scholarship focuses on Jewish ethics,theology,and the Musar movement. [1]
Claussen received his BA in Classical Languages from Carleton College. He was ordained as a rabbi and received his M.A. and Ph.D. from the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. [2]
Claussen joined the Elon faculty in August 2011 as an assistant professor of religious studies. In April 2012,he was named the Lori and Eric Sklut Emerging Scholar in Jewish Studies. He is also the founding director of Elon’s Jewish Studies program,which launched in fall 2012. [3]
Claussen served as president of the Society of Jewish Ethics from 2015–2017. [4]
In 2017,Claussen was one of the rabbis who signed a statement by Jewish Veg encouraging veganism for all Jews. [5] [6] Claussen has argued that teachings of the Musar movement may enrich Jewish vegan practices today. [7]
Claussen has been noted for his book Sharing the Burden:Rabbi Simhah Zissel Ziv and the Path of Musar. Christian B. Miller claimed that in his book,Claussen "succeeded in making the teachings of Simhah Zissel Ziv relevant today,both to contemporary Jewish ethics and,I would argue,to other traditions of both secular and religious thought about morality." [8] Claussen's work has also pointed to the significance of the 21st century revival of the Musar movement [9] and the value of a virtue-centered approach to moral reasoning. [10] His articles and book chapters include: [2]
The Musar movement is a Jewish ethical,educational and cultural movement that developed in 19th century Lithuania,particularly among Orthodox Lithuanian Jews. The Hebrew term Musar (מוּסַר),is adopted from the Book of Proverbs (1:2) describing moral conduct,instruction or discipline,educating oneself on how one should act in an appropriate manner. The term was used by the Musar movement to convey the teachings regarding ethical and spiritual paths. The Musar movement made significant contributions to Musar literature and Jewish ethics. The movement has been revived in the 21st century amongst Jews of all denominations,particularly in the United States.
Jewish ethics is the ethics of the Jewish religion or the Jewish people. A type of normative ethics,Jewish ethics may involve issues in Jewish law as well as non-legal issues,and may involve the convergence of Judaism and the Western philosophical tradition of ethics.
Yisrael ben Ze'ev Wolf Lipkin,also known as "Israel Salanter" or "Yisroel Salanter",was the father of the Musar movement in Orthodox Judaism and a famed Rosh yeshiva and Talmudist. The epithet Salanter was added to his name since most of his schooling took place in Salant,where he came under the influence of Rabbi Yosef Zundel of Salant. He was the father of mathematician Yom Tov Lipman Lipkin.
Eliyahu Eliezer Dessler was an Orthodox rabbi,Talmudic scholar,and Jewish philosopher of the 20th century. He is best known for being the mashgiach ruchani of the Ponevezh yeshiva in Israel and through collections of his writings published posthumously by his pupils.
Richard H. Schwartz is a professor emeritus of mathematics at the College of Staten Island;president emeritus of the Jewish Vegetarians of North America (JVNA);and co-founder and coordinator of the Society of Ethical and Religious Vegetarians (SERV). He is best known as a Jewish vegetarian activist and advocate for animal rights in the United States and Israel.
Jewish meditation includes practices of settling the mind,introspection,visualization,emotional insight,contemplation of divine names,or concentration on philosophical,ethical or mystical ideas. Meditation may accompany unstructured,personal Jewish prayer,may be part of structured Jewish services,or may be separate from prayer practices. Jewish mystics have viewed meditation as leading to devekut. Hebrew terms for meditation include hitbodedut or hitbonenut/hisbonenus ("contemplation").
Eliezer Gordon also known as Reb Laizer Telzer,served as the rabbi and rosh yeshiva of Telz,Lithuania.
Simcha Zissel Ziv Broida,also known as Simhah Zissel Ziv or the Alter of Kelm,was one of the foremost students of Yisrael Salanter and one of the early leaders of the Musar movement. He is best known as the founder and director of the Kelm Talmud Torah.
The Kelm Talmud Torah was a famous yeshiva in pre-holocaust Kelmė,Lithuania. Unlike other yeshivas,the Talmud Torah focused primarily on the study of Musar and self-improvement.
Jewish outreach is a term sometimes used to translate the Hebrew word kiruv or keruv. Normative Judaism forbids seeking converts to Judaism from other religions,although all denominations do accept those who follow through their conversion with a sincere commitment. Outreach efforts are instead directed at Jews who have "gone astray",or who have been born Jewish in a non-observant family.
Musar literature is didactic Jewish ethical literature which describes virtues and vices and the path towards character improvement. This literature gives the name to the Musar movement,in 19th century Lithuania,but this article considers such literature more broadly.
Reuven Dov Dessler (1863–1935) was a rabbinic leader of the Musar movement and the director of the Kelm Talmud Torah from 1918 until 1931.
Tza'ar ba'alei chayim,literally "suffering of living creatures",is a Jewish commandment which bans causing animals unnecessary suffering. This concept is not clearly enunciated in the written Torah,but was accepted by the Talmud as being a biblical mandate. It is linked in the Talmud from the biblical law requiring people to assist in unloading burdens from animals.
Jewish Veg is an international 501(c)(3) charitable organization whose mission is to encourage and help Jews to embrace plant-based diets as an expression of the Jewish values of compassion for animals,concern for health,and care for the environment. Jewish Veg was formerly called Jewish Vegetarians of North America (JVNA) and,prior to that,the Jewish Vegetarian Society of America.
Alan Morinis is a Canadian anthropologist,filmmaker,and writer who has been a leading figure in the contemporary revival of the Musar movement,a Jewish ethical movement.
Simcha is Hebrew for happiness or joy.
Shmuly Yanklowitz is an Orthodox rabbi,activist,and author. In March 2012 and March 2013,Newsweek and The Daily Beast listed Yanklowitz as one of the 50 most influential rabbis in America.
Jewish vegetarianism is a commitment to vegetarianism that is connected to Judaism,Jewish ethics or Jewish identity. Jewish vegetarians often cite Jewish principles regarding animal welfare,environmental ethics,moral character,and health as reasons for adopting a vegetarian or vegan diet.
Aryeh Cohen is an American rabbi and scholar who serves as a professor of Rabbinic Literature at American Jewish University. His scholarship focuses on the Talmud,Jewish ethics,and social justice.
Sandra Lawson is a rabbi and the first Director of Racial Diversity,Equity and Inclusion at Reconstructing Judaism. She previously served as Associate Chaplain for Jewish Life at Elon University. Lawson became the first openly gay,female,and black rabbi in the world in 2018. She is a veteran,vegan,sociologist,personal trainer,food activist,weightlifter,author and musician.