This study takes a fresh look at the influential French philosopher, arguing that Jaques Derrida cannot be fully understood without considering the Jewish dimension of his thought, and offering a re-appraisal of his work.

A fresh look at the influential French philosopher which argues that Derrida cannot be fully understood without considering the Jewish dimension of his thought and offers a dramatic reappraisal of his work.

Until now, no critical work has touched on the Jewish dimension in Jacques Derrida's philosophical oeuvre. Ofrat notes that early Derridean works contained few, if any, references to Jewish writers, concepts, or issues. At first glance, Judaism itself, along with all other structures found in traditional Western metaphysics, would appear to have no place in Derrida's thought, but Ofrat argues that "Derrida cannot be thoroughly understood without elucidating the Jewish current running through his philosophy, right down to the scar of his circumcision". A French-Algerian Jew, Derrida broke free of the Jewish consciousness and culture of his childhood -- but taught that leaving something is a precondition for recognizing its significance. Ofrat suggests that Derrida's philosophy grew from these early influences and the fragments of his Jewish identity, and he offers a comprehensive reading of Derridean writings and strong grounding in Jewish tradition. By approaching Derrida's philosophical, poetic, and artistic themes through a Jewish lens, Ofrat gives a sophisticated, subtle, entirely fresh reading of one of the most influential thinkers of the twentieth century.