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The classic questions Maimonides contemplated in Guide for the
Perplexed are addressed here in modern language.
Rethinking the great literary prophets whose ministry ran from the
eighth to the sixth centuries BCE—Amos, Hosea, First Isaiah,
Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Second Isaiah, and Job—Thinking about the
Prophets examines their often-shocking teachings in light of their
times, their influence on later Western and Jewish thinkers, and
their enduring lessons for all of us. As a noted scholar of Jewish
philosophy, Kenneth Seeskin teases out philosophical, ethical, and
theological questions in the writings, such as the nature of moral
reasoning, the divine persona, divine providence, the suffering of
the innocent, the power of repentance, and what it means to believe
in a monotheistic conception of God. Seeskin demonstrates that
great ideas are not limited by time or place, but rather once put
forth, take on a life of their own. Thus he interweaves the
medieval and modern philosophers Maimonides, Kant, Cohen, Buber,
Levinas, Heschel, and Soloveitchik, all of whom read the prophets
and had important things to say as a result. We come to see the
prophets perhaps in equal measure as divinely authorized
whistle-blowers and profound thinkers of the human condition.
Readers of all levels will find this volume an accessible and
provoking introduction to the enduring significance of biblical
prophecy. Â
The Bible is an enduring source of inspiration for the human heart
and mind, and readers of Thinking about the Torah will be rewarded
with an enhanced understanding of this great work's deeper
meanings. Drawing on Western philosophy and particularly Jewish
philosophy, Kenneth Seeskin delves into ten core biblical verses
and the powerful ideas that emerge from them. He speaks to readers
on every page and invites conversation about topics central to
human existence: how finite beings can relate to the infinite, what
love is, the role of ethics in religion, and the meaning of
holiness. Seeskin raises questions we all ask and responds to them
with curiosity and compassion, weaving into his own perceptive
commentary insights from great Jewish thinkers such as Maimonides,
Spinoza, Buber, Rosenzweig, and Levinas, as well as Plato,
Aristotle, Augustine, Luther, Kant, and Kierkegaard. The Bible is
concerned with how we think as well as how we follow the
commandments, rituals, and customs. Seeskin inspires us to read the
Torah with an open mind and think about the lessons it teaches us.
The Cambridge Guide to Jewish History, Religion, and Culture is a
comprehensive and engaging overview of Jewish life, from its
origins in the ancient Near East to its impact on contemporary
popular culture. The twenty-one essays, arranged historically and
thematically, and written specially for this volume by leading
scholars, examine the development of Judaism and the evolution of
Jewish history and culture over many centuries and in a range of
locales. They emphasize the ongoing diversity and creativity of the
Jewish experience. Unlike previous anthologies, which concentrate
on elite groups and expressions of a male-oriented rabbinic
culture, this volume also includes the range of experiences of
ordinary people and looks at the lives and achievements of women in
every place and era. The many illustrations, maps, timeline, and
glossary of important terms enhance this book's accessibility to
students and general readers.
One aim of this series is to dispel the intimidation readers feel
when faced with the work of difficult and challenging thinkers.
Moses ben Maimon, also known as Maimonides (1138-1204), represents
the high point of Jewish rationalism in the middle ages. He played
a pivotal role in the transition of philosophy from the Islamic
East to the Christian West. His greatest philosophical work, The
Guide of the Perplexed, had a decisive impact on all subsequent
Jewish thought and is still the subject of intense scholarly
debate. An enigmatic figure, Maimonides continues to defy simple
attempts at classification. The twelve essays in this volume offer
a lucid and comprehensive treatment of his life and thought. They
cover the sources on which Maimonides drew, his contributions to
philosophy, theology, jurisprudence, and Bible commentary, as well
as his esoteric writing style and influence on later thinkers.
Belief in the coming of a Messiah poses a genuine dilemma. From a
Jewish perspective, the historical record is overwhelmingly against
it. If, despite all the tragedies that have befallen the Jewish
people, no legitimate Messiah has come forward, has the belief not
been shown to be groundless? Yet for all the problems associated
with messianism, the historical record also shows it is an idea
with enormous staying power. The prayer book mentions it on page
after page. The great Jewish philosophers all wrote about it.
Secular thinkers in the twentieth century returned to it and
reformulated it. And victims of the Holocaust invoked it in the
last few minutes of their life. This book examines the staying
power of messianism and formulates it in a way that retains its
redemptive force without succumbing to mythology.
The Cambridge Guide to Jewish History, Religion, and Culture is a
comprehensive and engaging overview of Jewish life, from its
origins in the ancient Near East to its impact on contemporary
popular culture. The twenty-one essays, arranged historically and
thematically, and written specially for this volume by leading
scholars, examine the development of Judaism and the evolution of
Jewish history and culture over many centuries and in a range of
locales. They emphasize the ongoing diversity and creativity of the
Jewish experience. Unlike previous anthologies, which concentrate
on elite groups and expressions of a male-oriented rabbinic
culture, this volume also includes the range of experiences of
ordinary people and looks at the lives and achievements of women in
every place and era. The many illustrations, maps, timeline, and
glossary of important terms enhance this book s accessibility to
students and general readers.
Autonomy in Jewish Philosophy examines an important theme in Jewish
thought from the Book of Genesis to the present day. Although it is
customary to view Judaism as a legalistic faith leaving little room
for free thought or individual expression, Kenneth Seeskin argues
that this view is wrong. Where some see the essence of the religion
as strict obedience to divine commands, Seeskin claims that God
does not just command but forms a partnership with humans requiring
the consent of both parties. Looking at classic texts from
Biblical, Rabbinic, and philosophical literature, Seeskin shows
that Judaism has always respected freedom of conscience and
assigned an important role to the power of human reason. The book
considers both existing arguments and presents its own ideas about
the role of autonomy in Judaism. Clear and concise, it offers a
refreshing alternative to the mysticism and dogmatism prevalent in
much of the literature.
Although Maimonides' discussion of creation is one of his greatest
contributions - he himself claims that belief in creation is second
in importance only to belief in God - there is still considerable
debate on what that contribution was. Kenneth Seeskin takes a close
look at the problems Maimonides faced and the sources from which he
drew. He argues that Maimonides meant exactly what he said: the
world was created by a free act of God so that the existence of
everything other than God is contingent. In religious terms,
existence is a gift. In order to reach this conclusion, Seeskin
examines Maimonides' view of God, miracles, the limits of human
knowledge, and the claims of astronomy to be a science. Clearly
written and closely argued, Maimonides on the Origin of the World
takes up questions of perennial interest.
One aim of this series is to dispel the intimidation readers feel
when faced with the work of difficult and challenging thinkers.
Moses ben Maimon, also known as Maimonides (1138-1204), represents
the high point of Jewish rationalism in the middle ages. He played
a pivotal role in the transition of philosophy from the Islamic
East to the Christian West. His greatest philosophical work, The
Guide of the Perplexed, had a decisive impact on all subsequent
Jewish thought and is still the subject of intense scholarly
debate. An enigmatic figure, Maimonides continues to defy simple
attempts at classification. The twelve essays in this volume offer
a lucid and comprehensive treatment of his life and thought. They
cover the sources on which Maimonides drew, his contributions to
philosophy, theology, jurisprudence, and Bible commentary, as well
as his esoteric writing style and influence on later thinkers.
Although Maimonides' discussion of creation is one of his greatest
contributions - he himself claims that belief in creation is second
in importance only to belief in God - there is still considerable
debate on what that contribution was. Kenneth Seeskin takes a close
look at the problems Maimonides faced and the sources from which he
drew. He argues that Maimonides meant exactly what he said: the
world was created by a free act of God so that the existence of
everything other than God is contingent. In religious terms,
existence is a gift. In order to reach this conclusion, Seeskin
examines Maimonides' view of God, miracles, the limits of human
knowledge, and the claims of astronomy to be a science. Clearly
written and closely argued, Maimonides on the Origin of the World
takes up questions of perennial interest.
Although it is customary to view Judaism as a legalistic faith leaving little room for free thought or individual expression, Kenneth Seeskin argues that this view is wrong. Looking at classic texts from Biblical, Rabbinic, and philosophical literature, Seeskin shows that Judaism has always respected freedom of conscience and assigned an important role to the power of human reason. Clear and concise, this book offers a refreshing alternative to the mysticism and dogmatism prevalent in much of the recent literature.
Monotheism is usually considered Judaism's greatest contribution to world culture, but it is far from clear what monotheism is. This work examines the notion that monotheism is not so much a claim about the number of God as a claim about the nature of God. Seeskin argues that the idea of a God who is separate from his creation and unique is not just an abstraction but a suitable basis for worship. He examines this conclusion in the contexts of prayer, creation, sabbath observance, repentance, religious freedom, and love of God. Maimonides plays a central role in the argument both because of his importance to Jewish self-understanding and because he deals with the question of how philosophic ideas are embodied in religious ritual.
Hermann Cohen's Religion of Reason, Out of the Sources of Judaism
(first pub. 1919) is widely taken to be the greatest work in Jewish
philosophy and religious thought since Maimonides' Guide to the
Perplexed. It is at once a Jewish book and a philosophical one:
Jewish because it takes its material from the literary tradition
that extends from the Bible to the rabbis to the great medieval
philosophers; philosophical, because it studies that material in
order to construct a worldview that is rational in the broadest
sense of the term. This edition is designed for classroom use. It
reprints a 1972 introduction by Leo Strauss and includes an essay
on the work by Steven Schwarzschild. A new introduction by Kenneth
R. Seeskin situates Cohen's masterwork in the history of modern
philosophical and religious thought.
Belief in the coming of a Messiah poses a genuine dilemma. From a
Jewish perspective, the historical record is overwhelmingly against
it. If, despite all the tragedies that have befallen the Jewish
people, no legitimate Messiah has come forward, has the belief not
been shown to be groundless? Yet for all the problems associated
with messianism, the historical record also shows it is an idea
with enormous staying power. The prayer book mentions it on page
after page. The great Jewish philosophers all wrote about it.
Secular thinkers in the twentieth century returned to it and
reformulated it. And victims of the Holocaust invoked it in the
last few minutes of their life. This book examines the staying
power of messianism and formulates it in a way that retains its
redemptive force without succumbing to mythology.
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