Homiletics Bibliography

Those of you who read my blog will know that I am writing my rabbinic dissertation on the pedagogy of Homiletics in progressive seminaries. What follows is a partial bibliography. Those entries marked with (coll.) are collections of sermons, those with (ReMeth) relate to research methods and theory. Anything else, unless otherwise stated will be a book about preaching. Mostly this will be a straight up Bibliography. However, sometimes I will make a very short comment about a particular entry. I hope this is interest to every one and useful to those looking to learn about preaching either for first time or to improve their skills.
Most of these books, especially ones on 'how to preach et al', are from a Christian context and are really very Christian indeed. They are nevertheless full of good advice and ideas on how to give a sermon. But if like me you are coming at them from a Jewish perspective just be prepared for the fact the sermon works differently in liturgical contexts of Christianity and Judaism. (AF)

Berkowitz, Henry. 'The Rabbi as Preacher' in Intimate Glimpses of the Rabbi's Career.  Cincinnati: Hebrew Union College Press, 1921.

Berry, D., H., (ed., trans). Cicero Political Speeches. Oxford World's Classics. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2006.

Cohen, Louis et al. Research Methods in Education. 5th edition London: Routledge Falmer, 2003 (1st edition 2000).

Day, David.  A Preaching Workbook.  London: SPCK, 2004 (1st 1998).  This is an interesting book in general just because of what it can tell about the history of American Reform Judaism.

Hamilton, Donald L., Homiletical Handbook. Nashville: Broadman Press, 1992.

Heywood, David. Transforming Preaching: The Sermon as a Channel for God's Word. SPCK Library of Ministry: London, 2013.

Lord, Jennifer L. Finding Language and Imagery: Words for Holy Speech. Minneapolis:  Fortress Press, 2010.

Mason, Jennifer. Qualitative Researching.  London: SAGE, 2002. (ReMeth).

Moore, Henrietta L., (ed.)., Anthropological Theory Today. Cambridge: Polity Press, 1999.

Rayner, John D. An Understanding of Judaism. Providence and Oxford: Berghahn Books, 1997. (coll.)

Sangster, W., E.  The Craft of Sermon Construction.  London: Marshall Pickering, 1989 revised (1st 1954)

Schostak, John. Interviewing and Representation in Qualitative Research. Maidenhead: Open University press, 2006. (ReMeth).

Shulman, Sheila. Watching for the Morning Selected Sermons. Beit Klal Yisrael by Pronoun Press, 2007. (coll.)

Tanner, Mark. How to Preach a Good Sermon: A Practical Guide R38. Cambridge: Grove Books Limited, 2009. (This series is more Booklets than books but the ones I have read have been very useful nevertheless.)

Tashakkori, Abbas and Charles Teddlie. Combining Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches. Applied Social Research Methods Series Volume 46. London:  SAGE Publications,  1998.

Vibert, Simon. Excellence in Preaching: Learning from the best.  Nottingham: Inter-Varsity Press, 2011.

Waller, John. How to prepare and Preach a Sermon W182. Cambridge: Grove Books Limited, 2005. (This series is more Booklets than books but the ones I have read have been very useful nevertheless.)

Brussels and Back

I have returned from my, very brief, visit to the Liberal Jewish Community in Brussels.  I had a great time. The journey there was uneventful and even peaceful (even for a person who is not a big fan of travelling).  The Eurostar is so easy to use really beats flying.
The train services between Brussels Midi-and Leuven where I was staying were so easy to use, even though I don't speak French or Flemish and cheap.  But, is nevertheless clean, fast and efficient.  Leuven itself is a such a Beautiful town.  A University town much like Oxford or Cambridge medieval and very small.

I was being put up in a very pleasant hotel operated by Brian who is one of the mainstays of the community and teaches in the theology faculty.  As it happens this weekend was the communities last weekend in the current home so a rather special event.

I had a chance to meet with people and the next day I was reading some Torah (went well) and I gave a D'var Torah (also went well).

In the afternoon I had a chance to go around Leuven, which had markets and beautiful medieval buildings.  I brought some very very pleasant chocolates for Emily and I to share and a small snow globe for Emily as very little gift.

Generally I had a very pleasant time all though it was rather tiring.

Latter today I am going to meet up with Daisy and people for drinks in Kentish town.

A peaceful but productive

Today I wasn't feeling all that great so even though it was Purim I didn't go anywhere. I basically just stayed put and tidied my room which really really need it.  Its not perfect but its so much better than it was before I started.
I also worked on a sermon for Passover, its not perfect yet but I think that its going to be a good one. I also did a few odd jobs that need doing.
By the afternoon I was feeling rather better so I headed out to buy a wig and some groceries.  Its funny when the non-Jewish person in the shop wishes you Happy Purim when you buy a wig.
I then went and got the groceries before going and working in a coffee shop.  Sadly I doubled up on some groceries which Emily got.
I then had a skype chat with Mum and Dad.

Back Home but busy

I am briefly home in Newcastle-under-Lyme although this does not mean I am not working, I have brought a bunch of work to do with me.  I have been working very hard in order to try and clear some space but I am still very busy working on sermons, translations, keeping up to date with reading for class, trying to organise the rota for student services.  So much the same as normal really.  I am enjoying many of my courses.
Especially liturgy and Piyyutim classes.  But I am looking forward to the brake in classes we will get soon when there is a gap in classes for JCM I am not going this year so I will have a real break and a let up in pressure that will allow me to really get ahead with work.
As has been the case up until now academically things are going smoothly. More than smoothly really. I am also getting to grips with the more practical aspects of the course as well.
I should probably go and get on with readings, sermons and all the other things I have brought with me.

A Review of the year

I am slowly getting ready for Limmud, printing off hand outs and thinking about what I'll need while there, packing and the like.  I am also cleaning my room a) because it really need it I have been run off my feet these past few weeks and months and also because b) its what I nearly always do when there is stuff on my mind.
Don't worry nothing heavy or dramatic is happening just all the normal pressures of the life of a rabbinical student.  But it did feel like now was a good time for a 'review of the year post'. Albeit that the beginning of the year feels so very long ago that I can barely remember it.  I do remember that I was very tired and rather fed up. But looking back I learnt a lot JCM was also a good experience and something of a highlight and then there were the ending of the year; with Kol Bo and the rush to do essays.
Then I had the all too brief summer with visits up north and family time.  Then there was the start of this academic year which of course starts with the High Holy Days.  This went so well this time around and the community was really welcoming it and made me feel like everything had gone well.
After this came the long never-ending fall semester.
Things learnt: Lots more Hebrew and text ability. (I was really surprised and pleased that I could read Radak unseen.) This certainly would not have been the case even at the end of the second year, and I know it was not the case last year.
I also think that because of practice; and my extra classes with CM my skills as a sermon giver have come on enormously.
I have also been out a couple of times, which for me is a lot. And I hope it continues next year. So hears hoping next year will also be a year of growth and change (almost certainly yes) and hopefully less stressful and more relaxing.