course, a fallacious impression. ... Judaism is not the religion of the Bible" (Judaism and the Christian Predicament, New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1967, p. 59). Similar to Heschel, Bokser affirms revelation and even the special status of Sinai, but revelation is always framed in humans by man. "Man receives a divine communication when the divine spirit rests on him, but man must give form to that communication; He must express it in words, in images and in symbols which will make his message intelligible to other men. Out of this need to give form to the truth that is revealed to him, the prophet places the stamp of his own individuality upon that truth." Bokser argued that Christian antisemitism had desensitized Germans to the heinous character of Nazi propaganda. However, in the post-war period Christian religious and lay leaders have insisted that Christians must play a role in correcting the problems of the social order. (Judaism and the Christian Predicament) Legal decisions Rabbi Bokser was active in the Rabbinical Assembly of America, and was a member of its Committee on Jewish Law and Standards. He served as chair of the committee from 1959–1960, 1963–1965, and 1980-1984. He is most famous for writing the minority report 1951 responsa against driving to synagogue on the Sabbath. In the same year he permitted a Cohen to marry a divorcee. His responsum against capital punishment is cited often. In 1981, he advocated holding bat mitzvah ceremonies for girls on Sabbath morning in the main sanctuary. His synagogue was still traditional to the point that he received a public outcry in the local press and letters to him. In 1983, he permitted holding funerals in a synagogue. Works Pharisaic Judaism in Transition (1935) The Legacy of Maimonides (1950) The Wisdom of the Talmud (1951) Judaism: Profile of a Faith (Knopf, 1963) Selihot Service (United Synagogue of America, 1964) Judaism and the Christian Predicament Siddur: The Prayer Book (????) Jews, Judaism, and the State of Israel (1973) Abraham Isaac Kook: The Lights of Penitence, Lights of Holiness: The Moral Principles, Essays, Letters and Poems, translation and introduction by Ben Zion Bokser, from the Classics of Western Spirituality., Paulist Press, Inc., New York / Mahwah, N.J. The Essential Writings of Abraham Isaac Kook (Ben Yehuda Press (reprint), 2006) Awards 1964: National Jewish Book Award in the Jewish Thought category for Judaism: Profile of a Faith References