An Introduction to Modern Jewish Thinkers From Spinoza to Soloveitchik

by Levenson, Alan T.

• ISBN13: 9780742546066
• ISBN10: 0742546063
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2006-02-13
• Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

Summary

Highlighting well-known Jewish thinkers from a very wide spectrum of opinion the author addresses a range of issues including: What makes a thinker Jewish? What makes modern Jewish thought modern? How have secular Jews integrated Jewish traditional thought with agnosticism? What do Orthodox thinkers have to teach non-Orthodox Jews and vice versa?

Author Biography

Alan T. Levenson teaches Jewish history and thought at Siegal College.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	ix
Introduction	xi
PART I: MODERN JUDAISM: ATTACK AND DEFENSE	1	(66)
1 Baruch Spinoza's Critique of Traditional Religion	5	(20)
Spinoza's Life and Times (1632-1677)	5	(5)
Questions for Spinoza, Theological-Political Treatise, Chapters 12-13	10	(1)
Studies by and about Spinoza	11	(1)
From Theological-Political Treatise	12	(13)
2 Moses Mendelssohn's Defense of Judaism: Between Reason and Revelation	25	(16)
Mendelssohn's Life and Times (1729-1786)	25	(7)
Questions for Mendelssohn, Jerusalem, 103-10	32	(1)
Studies by and about Mendelssohn	33	(1)
From Jerusalem	33	(8)
3 Samson Raphael Hirsch's Defense of Judaism: The Reconciliation of Modernity and the Mitzvot	41	(12)
Hirsch's Life and Times (1808-1888)	41	(6)
Questions for Hirsch, The Nineteen Letters on Judaism, Letter 16	47	(1)
Studies by and about Hirsch	48	(1)
From The Nineteen Letters on. Judaism	49	(4)
4 Abraham Geiger's Defense of Judaism: Continuity and Change	53	(14)
Geiger's Life and Times (1810-1874)	53	(5)
Questions for Geiger, Judaism and Its History	58	(1)
Studies by and about Geiger	59	(1)
From Abraham Geiger and Liberal Judaism: The Challenge of the Nineteenth Century	60	(7)
PART II: RECOVERING TRADITION FOR THE INDIVIDUAL AND THE COMMUNITY	67	(156)
5 Martin Buber: Restoring the Jewish Individual	73	(16)
Buber's Life and Times (1878-1965)	73	(7)
Questions for Buber, "People Today and the Jewish Bible"	80	(1)
Studies by and about Buber	81	(1)
From "People Today and the Jewish Bible"	82	(7)
6 Franz Rosenzweig: From Alienated Existentialist to Ba'al Teshuvah	89	(14)
Rosenzweig's Life and Times (1886-1929)	89	(5)
Questions for Rosenzweig, The Star of Redemption, 413-17	94	(1)
Studies by and about Rosenzweig	95	(1)
From The Star of Redemption	96	(7)
7 Theodor Herzl: A Jewish Modernist from Western Europe	103	(14)
Herzl's Life and Times (1860-1904)	103	(7)
Questions for Herzl, The Jewish State	110	(1)
Studies by and about Herzl	111	(1)
From The Jewish State	111	(6)
8 Ahad Ha'am (Asher Zvi Ginzberg): A Jewish Modernist from Eastern Europe	117	(16)
Ahad Ha'am's Life and Times (1856-1927)	117	(6)
Questions for Ahad Ha'am, "Flesh and Spirit," 146-58 (from Leon Simon, Selected Essays of Ahad Ha'am)	123	(1)
Studies by and about Ahad Ha'am	124	(1)
From "Flesh and Spirit"	124	(9)
9 Mordecai Kaplan: A Secularist (Re)Constructs Religion	133	(26)
Kaplan's Life and Times (1881-1983)	133	(6)
Questions for Kaplan, "Functional Method of Interpretation," (from Judaism as a Civilization, 385-405)	139	(1)
Studies by and about Kaplan	140	(1)
From Judaism as a Civilization	141	(18)
PART III: RECOVERING KEDUSHAH (THE SACRED)IN A PROFANE AGE	159	(64)
10 Israel Salanter: Restoring "Fear of Heaven" to Human Behavior	165	(18)
Salanter's Life and Times (1810-1883)	165	(5)
Questions for Salanter, "Epistle of Musar"	170	(1)
Studies by and about Salanter	171	(1)
From "Epistle of Musar"	171	(12)
11 Abraham Isaac Kook: Mysticism and Nationalism	183	(14)
Kook's Life and Times (1865-1935)	183	(7)
Questions for Kook, Lights for Rebirth (from Hertzberg, The Zionist Idea, 419-30)	190	(1)
Studies by and about Kook	190	(1)
From Lights for Rebirth	191	(6)
12 Joseph Soloveitchik: Halachah and Existentialism	197	(12)
Soloveitchik's Life and Times (1903-1993)	197	(5)
Questions for Soloveitchik, The Lonely Man of Faith	202	(1)
Studies by and about Soloveitchik	202	(1)
From The Lonely Man of Faith	203	(6)
13 Abraham Joshua Heschel: Universal Hasidism	209	(14)
Heschel's Life and Times (1907-1972)	209	(7)
Questions for Heschel, "Depth Theology," (from The Insecurity of Freedom)	216	(1)
Studies by and about Heschel	216	(1)
From "Depth Theology"	217	(6)
Conclusion: Mending the World/Mending Israel	223	(8)
Index	231	(6)
About the Author	237