We Shall Build Anew: Stephen S. Wise, the Jewish Institute of Religion, and the Reinvention of American Liberal Judaism

Rabbi Stephen S. Wise founded the Jewish Institute of Religion (JIR) in 1922 to revolutionize American liberal Judaism and champion a progressive Jewish nationalism. He trained a new cadre of young rabbis who shared his outlook and launched them into positions of leadership across the country, despite earning the ire of many mainstream Jewish leaders. JIR became home to faculty and students of widely divergent religious and political viewpoints, offering hope for progressives and conservatives, Zionists and non-Zionists, and Jews representing the full spectrum of religious life to work together for a vibrant Judaism and a just and peaceful world.

Format: Hardback
Length: 280 pages
Publication date: 30 August 2022
Publisher: The University of Alabama Press

In 1922, Rabbi Stephen S. Wise, a prominent figure in the Zionist movement, established the Jewish Institute of Religion (JIR), a non-denominational rabbinical seminary in New York City. With a rich background in founding the Free Synagogue movement and the American Jewish Congress, Wise aimed to revolutionize American liberal Judaism. He believed that mainstream American Jewish institutions had become outdated and sought to champion a progressive Jewish nationalism that would align with the leading advocates of social and economic justice in America.

We Shall Build Anew delves into the untold story of how Wise's vision transformed American Judaism over the course of the twentieth century and continued to shape its trajectory well into the twenty-first century. Through JIR, he trained a new generation of young rabbis who shared his progressive ideals, empowering them to revitalize and reshape Jewish life across the nation. While Wise's disregard for denominational distinctions drew criticism from many mainstream Jewish leaders, JIR became a hub for faculty and students with diverse religious and political perspectives.

This book is the first dedicated to the history of the Jewish Institute of Religion, offering a valuable perspective on Wise's vision for American liberal Judaism. In a time when American Jewry faces polarization on religious doctrines, Zionism, and Israel, the JIR model provides hope that progressives, conservatives, Zionists, and non-Zionists, as well as Jews from diverse religious backgrounds, can coexist and collaborate in the pursuit of a vibrant Judaism and a just and peaceful world.

Rabbi Stephen S. Wise's legacy continues to inspire and shape the Jewish community, reminding us of the power of vision, leadership, and the pursuit of a shared Jewish destiny.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780817321314