(Irène Jacob) established the largest Biblical Botanical Garden in North America in 1986 and published in that field. He also wrote on interfaith issues. Jacob served as overseer of HUC-JIR, Vice-President of the World Union for Progressive Judaism (1990–94), and chairman of the Publications Committee of Hebrew Union College Press (1976–1999). As CCAR president, he emphasized a broader Reform interpretation of the halakhah. As the sixteenth generation of rabbis, he has continued the work of *Benno Jacob's biblical commentaries. He was made a Knight Commander of the Federal Republic of Germany in 1999 and received the Commander of the Equestrian Order of St. Gregory the Great from Pope John Paul II in 2004. Jacob has published 43 books and more than twelve hundred essays, sermons, and monographson a range of topics which include responsa, Jewish theology, biblical studies, interfaith dialogue, modern Jewish problems, and gardening together with his wife, Irene Jacob. Selected works Walter Jacob Christianity through Jewish Eyes New York, 1974, 1982, 287 pp. The Changing World of Reform Judaism – The Pittsburgh Platform in Retrospect. 1985 Liberal Judaism and Halakhah, A Symposium, 1988, and Irène Jacob, The Healing Past, Pharmaceuticals in the Biblical and Rabbinic World, 1993, and Irène Jacob, Gardens of North America and Hawaii – A Traveller's Guide, 1985, and Benno Jacob, The Second Book of the Bible – Exodus interpreted by B. Jacob, translated and introduced, 1992, with Moshe Zemer, Death and Euthanasia in Jewish Law, 1995, Fetus and Fertility in Jewish Law, 1995, Aging and the Aged in Jewish Law, 1998, IBN 0-929699-08-4 Israel and the Diaspora in Jewish Law, 1997, Crime and Punishment in Jewish Law, 1999, The Environment in Jewish Law, 2003, 1-57181-431-0 Poverty and Tzedakah in Jewish Law, 2006, War and Terrorism in Jewish Law, 2010, The Internet Revolution in Jewish Law, 2014, References 1. An American Rabbinate – A Festscrhrift for Walter Jacob (Peter S. Nobel and Mark N. Staitman, editors, 2000. Pittsburgh 2. Pursuing Peace Across the Alleghenies – The Rodef Shalom Congregation, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 1865–2005. Walter Jacob, Editor. 3. “Abraham Geiger College:” Willkommen” 4. Rodef Shalom Congregation – 150 Years of Living by Jewish Values. 2007, Pittsburgh PA. 1930 births Living people Jewish emigrants from Nazi Germany to the United States American Reform rabbis 21st-century American Jews