Description
Book SynopsisWho Are the Jews—And Who Can We Become? tackles perhaps the most urgent question facing the Jewish people today: Given unprecedented denominational tribalism, how can we Jews speak of ourselves in collective terms?
Trade Review"Hartman adroitly argues that 'as long as the story we tell ourselves about ourselves embraces and strengthens the complexity of our identities . . . we provide ourselves with the tools to expand our moral aperture,' and invites essential debates about Judaism's past, present, and future. This impresses."—
Publishers Weekly“This inspired work gives us a language for understanding today’s core Jewish issues, both in Israel and the Diaspora. I look forward to gathering my community around it for a spirited discussion of its insights.”—Rabbi Edward Feinstein, senior rabbi, Valley Beth Shalom, in Encino, California
“While not shying away from criticism or complexity, Hartman gives us a glimpse of the world as it could be: one steered by collective Jewish meaning, moral rigor, and courageous commitment to each other.”—Rabbi Angela Warnick Buchdahl, senior rabbi, Central Synagogue, in New York City
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Who Are the Jews—And Who Can We Become? belongs on the short shelf of indispensable books on contemporary Judaism.”—Yossi Klein Halevi, author of
Letters to My Palestinian NeighborTable of ContentsAcknowledgements
Introduction
Part 1. What’s Our Story?
1. The Genesis Covenant and the First Jews
2. Exodus Judaism and the Covenant of Commandments
3. Conversion and the Rabbinic Synthesis of Genesis and Exodus
4. Good Jews and Bad Jews and the Art of Boundaries
5. Maimonides, Champion of Exodus
6. Emancipation from the Genesis Covenant
7. Zionism and the Resurrection of Genesis
8. The North American Homeland between Europe and Zion(ism)
Part 2. A Zionism for the Twenty-First Century
9. Foundations for a Twenty-First Century Liberal Jewish Story
10. Recalibrating the Religion-State Status Quo
11. Israel’s Relationship with World Jewry
12. Unpacking a Not-So-“Basic” Law
13. Yearning Again for Peace
Part 3. A Diaspora Future
14. At Home
15. Intermarriage and the Meaning of Jewishness
16. The Eroding North America-Israel Relationship
17. The Future of Liberal Zionism in North America
18. The Choice to Belong
Notes
Bibliography
Index
