Judaism Books

Book SynopsisThis book is a first attempt to examine the thought of key contemporary Jewish thinkers on the meaning of tradition in the context of two models. The classic model assumes that tradition reflects lack of dynamism and reflectiveness, and the present’s unqualified submission to the past. This view, however, is an image that the modernist ethos has ascribed to the tradition so as to remove it from modern existence. In the alternative model, a living tradition emerges as open and dynamic, developing through an ongoing dialogue between present and past. The Jewish philosophers discussed in this work—Joseph B. Soloveitchik, Yeshayahu Leibowitz, David Hartman, and Eliezer Goldman—ascribe compelling canonic status to the tradition, and the analysis of their thought discloses the tension between these two models. The book carefully traces the course they have plotted along the various interpretations of tradition through their approach to Scripture and to Halakhah.Table of ContentsEditorial Foreword Introduction Returning to Tradition: Paradox or Challenge The Tense Encounter with Modernity Soloveitchik: Jewish Thought Confronts Modernity Compartmentalization: From Ernst Simon to Yeshayahu Leibowitz The Harmonic Encounter with Modernity Religious Commitment in a Secularized World: Eliezer Goldman David Hartman: Renewing the Covenant Between Old and New: Judaism as Interpretation? Scripture in the Thought of Leibowitz and Soloveitchik Halakhah in the Thought of Leibowitz and Soloveitchik Eliezer Goldman: Judaism as Interpretation Epilogue “My Name’s my Donors’ Name” Notes Bibliography About the Author Index

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Book SynopsisIn response to the grim realities of the present world Jewish thought has not tended to retreat into eschatological fantasy, but rather to project utopian visions precisely on to the present moment, envisioning redemptions that are concrete, immanent, and necessarily political in nature. In difficult times and through shifting historical contexts, the messianic hope in the Jewish tradition has functioned as a political vision: the dream of a peaceful kingdom, of a country to return to, or of a leader who will administer justice among the nations. Against this background, it is unsurprising that Jewish messianism in modern times has been transposed, and lives on in secular political movements and ideologies. The purpose of this book is to contribute to the deeper understanding of the relationship between Jewish thought, utopia, and revolution, by taking a fresh look at its historical and religious roots. We approach the issue from several perspectives, with differences of opinion presented both in regard to what Jewish tradition is, and how to regard utopia and revolution. These notions are multifaceted, comprising aspects such as political messianism, religious renewal, Zionism, and different forms of Marxist and Anarchistic movements.Trade Review”During an age when we never lack catastrophes but are becoming more and more short of imagination and courage for utopia and revolution, when the idea of universalism sounds most unpopular in a world obsessed with clash of identities, these authors bravely revisit and redefine the notions of utopia, revolution and universalism, through examining Jewish thought, which irreplaceably inspired and informed the thinking and praxis of revolutions in the 20th century, and exploring their universal significance and new potentialities … This collection of insightful essays provides richly diverse perspectives - theological, political, philosophical, and aesthetic - but conveys the same strong message: one always has the right to hope for a better future.” - Dr. Hai Wang, Lecturer in Comparative Literature, Renmin UniversityTable of ContentsElena Namli, Jayne Svenungsson, and Alana M. Vincent: Introduction Victor Jeleniewski Seidler: Tikkun Olam—“Repairing the World”: Embodying Redemption and Utopia Catherine Chalier: Jewish Hope Versus Revolutionary Hope Mattias Martinson: Adorno, Revolution, and Negative Utopia Michael Löwy: Utopia and Revolution: The Romantic Socialism of Gustav Landauer and Martin Buber Jayne Svenungsson: A Secular Utopia: Remarks on the Löwith-Blumenberg Debate Carl Cederberg: Thinking Revolution With and Beyond Levinas Alana M. Vincent: Topos and Utopia: The Place of Art in the Revolution Oleg Budnitskii: Berlin Debates: The Jews and the Russian Revolution Elena Namli: Jewish Rationalism, Ethics, and Revolution: Hermann Cohen in Nevel Alexandra Polyan: Reflections of Revolutionary Movements in American Yiddish Poetry: The Case of Proletpen Jon Wittrock: Nihilism and the Resurrection of Political Space: Hannah Arendt’s Utopia? Björn Thorsteinsson: Left (in) Time: Hegel, Benjamin, and Derrida Facing the Status Quo Works Cited About the Contributors Index

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