William E. Kaufman
Encyclopedia
William E. Kaufman is a Conservative
Jewish
rabbi
, theologian
and author. His 1991 book, The Case for God, was the first on Jewish process theology
.
in 1964. He received his Ph.D.
in philosophy from Boston University
in 1971. He received an honorary doctorate from the Jewish Theological Seminary in 1990.
. In 1967 he assumed the rabbinical post at Congregation Bnai Israel in Woonsocket, Rhode Island
, where he served until 1980. From 1980–82 he was Rabbi at Congregation Agudas Achim in San Antonio, Texas
. In 1982 he was installed as Rabbi at Temple Beth El in Fall River, Massachusetts
, where he served until his retirement in November 2005. Upon his retirement, he was named Rabbi Emeritus of Temple Beth El.
He is a member of the Rabbinical Assembly
, the international association of Conservative rabbis
.
He married Nathalie Levin in 1965. They have a son, Ari, and a daughter, Beth.
One of his projects has been to create a Jewish process theology
, viewing Jewish theology through the panentheistic
process philosophy of Alfred North Whitehead
.
Conservative Judaism
Conservative Judaism is a modern stream of Judaism that arose out of intellectual currents in Germany in the mid-19th century and took institutional form in the United States in the early 1900s.Conservative Judaism has its roots in the school of thought known as Positive-Historical Judaism,...
Jewish
Jews
The Jews , also known as the Jewish people, are a nation and ethnoreligious group originating in the Israelites or Hebrews of the Ancient Near East. The Jewish ethnicity, nationality, and religion are strongly interrelated, as Judaism is the traditional faith of the Jewish nation...
rabbi
Rabbi
In Judaism, a rabbi is a teacher of Torah. This title derives from the Hebrew word רבי , meaning "My Master" , which is the way a student would address a master of Torah...
, theologian
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
and author. His 1991 book, The Case for God, was the first on Jewish process theology
Process theology
Process theology is a school of thought influenced by the metaphysical process philosophy of Alfred North Whitehead and further developed by Charles Hartshorne . While there are process theologies that are similar, but unrelated to the work of Whitehead the term is generally applied to the...
.
Education
Kaufman graduated from the Jewish Theological SeminaryJewish Theological Seminary of America
The Jewish Theological Seminary of America is one of the academic and spiritual centers of Conservative Judaism, and a major center for academic scholarship in Jewish studies.JTS operates five schools: Albert A...
in 1964. He received his Ph.D.
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
in philosophy from Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
in 1971. He received an honorary doctorate from the Jewish Theological Seminary in 1990.
Rabbinic career
From 1964–1967 he was Assistant Rabbi at Congregation Kehillath Israel in Brookline, MassachusettsBrookline, Massachusetts
Brookline is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States, which borders on the cities of Boston and Newton. As of the 2010 census, the population of the town was 58,732.-Etymology:...
. In 1967 he assumed the rabbinical post at Congregation Bnai Israel in Woonsocket, Rhode Island
Woonsocket, Rhode Island
Woonsocket is a city in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 41,186 at the 2010 census, making it the sixth largest city in the state. Woonsocket lies directly south of the Massachusetts border....
, where he served until 1980. From 1980–82 he was Rabbi at Congregation Agudas Achim in San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
. In 1982 he was installed as Rabbi at Temple Beth El in Fall River, Massachusetts
Fall River, Massachusetts
Fall River is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, in the United States. It is located about south of Boston, southeast of Providence, Rhode Island, and west of New Bedford and south of Taunton. The city's population was 88,857 during the 2010 census, making it the tenth largest city in...
, where he served until his retirement in November 2005. Upon his retirement, he was named Rabbi Emeritus of Temple Beth El.
He is a member of the Rabbinical Assembly
Rabbinical Assembly
The Rabbinical Assembly is the international association of Conservative rabbis. The RA was founded in 1901 to shape the ideology, programs, and practices of the Conservative movement. It publishes prayerbooks and books of Jewish interest, and oversees the work of the Committee on Jewish Law and...
, the international association of Conservative rabbis
Conservative Judaism
Conservative Judaism is a modern stream of Judaism that arose out of intellectual currents in Germany in the mid-19th century and took institutional form in the United States in the early 1900s.Conservative Judaism has its roots in the school of thought known as Positive-Historical Judaism,...
.
He married Nathalie Levin in 1965. They have a son, Ari, and a daughter, Beth.
Works
He has published many articles in Judaism (quarterly journal), Conservative Judaism (quarterly journal), The Reconstructionist (quarterly journal), and The Jewish Spectator (newspaper.)One of his projects has been to create a Jewish process theology
Process theology
Process theology is a school of thought influenced by the metaphysical process philosophy of Alfred North Whitehead and further developed by Charles Hartshorne . While there are process theologies that are similar, but unrelated to the work of Whitehead the term is generally applied to the...
, viewing Jewish theology through the panentheistic
Panentheism
Panentheism is a belief system which posits that God exists, interpenetrates every part of nature and timelessly extends beyond it...
process philosophy of Alfred North Whitehead
Alfred North Whitehead
Alfred North Whitehead, OM FRS was an English mathematician who became a philosopher. He wrote on algebra, logic, foundations of mathematics, philosophy of science, physics, metaphysics, and education...
.