Finding Your Moral Compass

John L. Rosove is Senior Rabbi Emeritus of Temple Israel of Hollywood in Los Angeles where he served from 1988 to 2019. An established author, he also received the International Humanitarian Award from the World Union for Progressive Judaism and commendation from State of Israel Bonds.

• Introduction 1. Faith – Emunah 2. Menschlechkite 3. Civility – Derekh Eretz 4. Learning Torah – Limud Torah 5. Honoring Teachers and Mentors – Kavod leRav uleMorim 6. & 7. Healing Oneself & Repairing the World – Tikun Nefesh & Tikun Olam 8. Humility – Anavah 9. Love – Ahavah 10. Truth – Emet 11. Peace – Shalom 12. Justice – Tzedek 13. Wisdom – Chochmah 14. Strength – Gevurah 15. Wealth – Osher 16. Honor – Kavod 17. Patience – Savlanut 18. Gratitude – Hakarat Todah 19. & 20. Compassion – Rachamim; Deeds of Loving-kindness – Gemilut Chassadim 21. Righteous Giving – Tzedakah 22. Welcoming the Stranger – Hachnasat HaGer23. The Suffering of Animals – Tza’ar Ba’alei Chayim 24. Good and Evil – Tov veRa 25. Gossip – Leshon Hara 26. Courage – Ometz Lev 27. Forgiveness – Selichah 28. Repentance – Teshuvah 29. Sanctifying God’s Name – Kiddush HaShem30. Choosing Life – Bacharta baChayim 31. Respect for the Elderly – Kavod laZekainim 32. Respect for Parents – Kavod Av vaEm 33. Sabbath Rest – Shabbat Menuchah 34. Protecting the Environment – Shemirat HaSevivah 35. Leadership – Manhigut 36. Freedom and Democracy – Chofesh uDemocratia 37. The Jewish People – Am Yisrael 38. Zionism and the State of Israel – Tziyonut uMedinat Yisrael 39. Memory – Zichronot 40. Hope – Tikvah Acknowledgments Notes Author Biography

“Rabbi Rosove's writing about Jewish values is both timely and profound. In an era when many of us feel adrift in a sea of immorality, he offers a lifeline—bringing Jewish teachings to life through personal experience, sacred texts, and contemporary commentary. Deeply rooted in Jewish tradition, his book is wise and thought-provoking, yet accessible. Each chapter ends with questions for discussion, making it ideal for a class, the family dinner table, or small group discussion.”- Rabbi Andrea London, Rabbi Emerita, Beth Emet The Free Synagogue “In a time of moral confusion, angst and even despair, John L. Rosove’s latest book brings a wealth of knowledge and insight about Jewish values and history. Rosove’s deft mix of personal anecdotes with secular history and Jewish texts helps illuminate what it means to be Jewish – and to be human. Whatever your level of religiosity, there is a treasure trove of valuable insights about both the specific dilemmas that we face in our daily lives (should we give money to beggars on the street?) and the profound questions about what we owe our fellow human beings. Rosove’s chapter on Diaspora Jews’ relationship with Israel – reframing our paradigm from ‘crisis Zionism’ to ‘aspirational Zionism’ – is among the most valuable and profound contributions on this fraught subject. Finding Your Moral Compass should be an essential part of any Jew’s home library.”- Jennifer Rubin, Founder and Editor-in-Chief, The Contrarian “Finding Your Moral Compass vividly portrays key Jewish values and illustrates them with contemporary and classical anecdotes and apt quotations. In this book Rabbi Rosove invites the reader to ask how these values apply to contemporary issues and personal conduct. In addition, he invites a dialogue about how committed liberal Jews can best engage with their relationship with Israel and Israelis in all their complexity. This wonderful explication of how a Jew should live will uplift and challenge all who read it.”- Rabbi David A. Teutsch, Louis and Myra Wiener Professor Emeritus of Contemporary Jewish Civilization, Reconstructionist Rabbinical College “Finding Your Moral Compass is a treasury of wisdom. Drawing on decades of personal and professional experience, along with deep reading of Jewish and non-Jewish sources, Rosove presents thoughtful musings on forty Jewish principles that he considers the most valuable for shaping a meaningful life. The book offers inspiration for Jews and non-Jews alike and will be a useful resource for teachers of adults and teenagers.”- Rabbi Dvora E. Weisberg, Rabbi Aaron D. Panken Professor of Rabbinics, Hebrew Union College “Finding Your Moral Compass is indeed a valuable text about the moral values of the twenty-first century, but it represents so much more. Through this work, John Rosove introduces us to his rabbinate while sharing with us his personal ethical framework as well as providing readers with insights concerning the richness and relevance of Jewish sources and texts. As part of this learning experience, Rabbi Rosove challenges us with his thoughtful and essential questions, offering each of us a pathway to explore our own religious and ethical understandings.”- Steven F. Windmueller, Professor Emeritus of Jewish Communal Studies, Hebrew Union College "After years of losing much of my faith in moral clarity and hope itself, Rabbi Rosove has the antidote. These essays suggest an elegant formula for a new generation of Jewish leaders, based on a foundational belief in Jewish decency and justice which can transform how we strengthen the Jewish people, as well as how we view our position in our country and in the world."- Mayim Bialik, Actor, Neuroscientist, and Writer “A must read! Rabbi Rosove brilliantly and eloquently distills a lifetime of Jewish learning into forty concise chapters on key Jewish values. Most distinctively, each chapter addresses real life situations, and concludes with additional thoughts from great thinkers, as well as suggestions for further reflection and discussion. Anyone who wants to learn about the central teachings of Judaism in an easy-to-read and relatable format – this is the book! And the additional bonus: By absorbing its teachings, you will lead a more decent and meaningful life.”- Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch, Senior Rabbi, Stephen Wise Free Synagogue “In a world where what matters most is bitterly contested, utterly ignored, or in mortal danger of being lost completely, here are forty Jewish values to live by – a beautifully composed and easily accessible discussion of 3,000 years of Jewish wisdom. A combination of mind and heart, by a widely admired rabbi who shares what he has learned from a lifetime of Jewish leadership.”- Rabbi Lawrence Hoffman, Barbara and Stephen Friedman Professor Emeritus of Liturgy, Worship and Ritual, Hebrew Union College