JSA2017-16: Rabbi Jeff Salkin, author, The JPS Bnai Mitzvah Torah Commentary

Published: July 14, 2017, noon

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Rabbi Jeffrey Salkin, author of the best-selling b\'nai mitzvah guide,\\xa0Putting God on the Guest List,\\xa0visits Rabbi Address on the\\xa0Jewish Sacred Aging Podcast to discuss his newest book,\\xa0The JPS B\'nai Mitzvah Torah Commentary, and trends in Bar and Bat Mitzvah practices across the Jewish spectrum.

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About the Guest

Rabbi Jeffrey K. Salkin joined Temple Solel of Hollywood, Fla. as Senior Rabbi on August 1, 2015.\\xa0 He has a unique reputation among his colleagues. They call him an \\u201cactivist for Jewish ideas.\\u201d He is recognized as one of the most thoughtful Jewish teachers of his generation. He describes his own life mission as: \\u201cI help people of all ages find spiritual meaning in Judaism.\\u201d

Rabbi Salkin is a noted author who has written nine critically acclaimed books, published by Jewish Lights Publishing and the Jewish Publication Society. Several of his books have won national awards. He first came to national attention with his book, Putting God on the Guest List: How To Reclaim the Spiritual Meaning of Your Child\\u2019s Bar or Bat Mitzvah. The editor of two Torah commentaries, he is currently working on The Bar/Bat Mitzvah Torah, a \\u201ckid-friendly\\u201d commentary on the Torah and haftarot, to be published by the Jewish Publication Society. He has also written on such topics as the spirituality of work, masculinity and Judaism, interfaith relations, Israel, and Jewish history. He has also written articles for scholarly journals and encyclopedias.

Rabbi Salkin is one of America\\u2019s most-quoted rabbis. His articles have appeared in the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, Readers Digest, and the Forward. His blog, \\u201cMartini Judaism; for those who want to be shaken and stirred\\u201d\\xa0 (jeffreysalkin.religionnews.com)\\xa0won the Wilbur Award for Best Religion Blog of the year. He has spoken in more than one hundred North American communities \\u2014 in synagogues, community centers, churches, and seminaries. He has served on the faculty of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, Molloy College, Columbus State University, and the Academy for Jewish Religion.

Rabbi Salkin has forged deep relations within the inter-religious world. He was one of the first rabbis to earn the Doctor of Ministry degree from Princeton Theological Seminary. He pioneered outreach to the Sikh community, and has created joint Jewish-Christian-Muslim study programs.

Rabbi Salkin has been an \\u201centrepreneur for Judaism\\u201d \\u2013 serving congregations; creating an adult study institute in Atlanta; producing religious television shows, and serving as the New Jersey director of the Anti-Defamation League.

Rabbi Salkin believes that his rabbinic mission can be summed up as follows: the\\xa0translate\\xa0Jewish texts and ideas into a modern idiom; To\\xa0transmit\\xa0these ideas and teachings, and to\\xa0transform\\xa0people\\u2019s lives, and the life of the entire Jewish community.

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