Neil Gillman

Neil Gillman (September 11, 1933 – November 24, 2017) was a Canadian-American rabbi and philosopher affiliated with Conservative Judaism. He was a professor of Jewish philosophy at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America for 46 years and served as dean of its rabbinical school for a decade. Gillman's theological work significantly shaped Conservative Judaism's evolving approach to belief and law. He introduced the concept of 'second naïveté,' encouraging adult Jews to embrace a childlike awe in God, and emphasized existential engagement over literalism. He portrayed God as relational and open to human influence. Gillman was an advocate for inclusivity, supporting the ordination of women rabbis, openly queer clergy, and equal marriage rights for same-sex couples. He served on the Commission on the Philosophy of Conservative Judaism, which produced the movement's first official statement of principles, *Emet Ve'Emunah*. His notable books include *Sacred Fragments: Recovering Theology for the Modern Jew*, *The Death of Death: Resurrection and Immortality in Jewish Thought*, and *The Way Into: Encountering God in Judaism*.