In the Footsteps of the Kuzari In the Footsteps of the Kuzari is an exciting work that guides readers through
Judaism’s views on the most pressing philosophical issues of the day. Combining
a keen sensitivity to the religious dilemmas of our day with the intellectual rigor
of the university, this book serves as an introduction to Jewish philosophy, and
unapologetically argues that Judaism presents a coherent and sophisticated
religious worldview that is as relevant today as it has been for millennia. Building on the
classic work of Jewish thought, The Kuzari, noted Orthodox thinker Prof. Shalom
Rosenberg takes readers through the Jewish views that have been voiced throughout the
ages and shows how they can be transformed into a compelling worldview in this postmodern
age. Intellectually stimulating and philosophically creative, this important work
made large waves when published in Hebrew and is now being offered to the Englishreading
public. Take a tour through Jewish philosophy over the ages, from the Talmud
to Maimonides to Rav Kook and beyond, and learn where the next stage of Jewish
thought will take us. The book addresses such pressing issues as:
An Introduction to Jewish Philosophy
ISBN 978-1-933143-18-7, 326 pages, hardcover, $24.95
Buy it now
By Shalom Rosenberg
Prof. Rosenberg has for decades been one of the leading intellectual forces in Israeli Modern Orthodoxy. In the Footsteps of the Kuzari will be an important resource for teachers and students of Jewish thought, as well as for English-speaking Jews in search of a rich, sophisticated, and coherent Jewish voice. Readers of Prof. Rosenberg’s work will discover his rare ability to use medieval texts to address contemporary issues, without sacrificing an awareness that these same texts are not themselves contemporary.
This book was published in conjunction with ATID, Academy for Torah Initiatives and Directions. See below for more information about this innovative institution.
| Praise for the Book |
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ATID is proud to be able to bring Shalom Rosenberg's In the Footsteps of the Kuzari to an English-speaking audience as part of our effort to produce quality, thought-provoking material for Jewish educators and the general public. The work is invaluable for articulating the message of classical Jewish thought in a compelling, mature, and contemporary way. Teachers, in particular, will find a clear and sophisticated approach to Judaism that they can share and explore with their students. —Rabbi Chaim Brovender, President, ATID Foundation Finally, English readers now have an opportunity, long denied to them, to learn from the works of Prof. Shalom Rosenberg, one of our generation's most respected and distinguished teachers of Jewish philosophy. Using the immortal Kuzari of R. Yehuda Halevi as both text and pretext, he introduces the reader to the most beloved of all the giants of medieval Jewish thought. Rosenberg has a phenomenal gift for explaining otherwise recondite ideas. As a gifted pedagogue, he leads the reader through the exciting highways and byways of Jewish thought without either condescension or oversimplification. His Introduction alone is a masterpiece. I would make it required reading for all who wish to understand Jewish philosophy and, as well, the intellectual background of Modern Orthodoxy and its leitmotif, Torah Umadda without polemics or institutional hubris. He is not only a prominent philosopher, not only a superb educator who eschews both dogmatism and relativism but, above all, a man of wisdom combined with humility. Rosenberg not only instructs his readers; he also charms them with his good sense. This is not a work of history or formal philosophy remote from modern man and his sensibilities. Rosenberg always bears in mind the contemporary reader, his language, concepts, and background, and succeeds in bridging the gap of many centuries, This, his first major work to be published in English, is Prof. Rosenberg's gift to both students and laymen — all who would understand Jewish thought by reading a master teacher expound a major Jewish work that has persisted in its importance for the last one thousand years. —Rabbi Dr. Norman Lamm, Chancellor, Yeshiva University |
Excerpts
Prof. Shalom Rosenberg (Google him) is
a leading contemporary
Orthodox thinker who
specializes in using modern
philosophy to elucidate and
develop Jewish thought. Dr.
Rosenberg is Professor Emeritus in the
Departments of Jewish Thought and of
Philosophy at The Hebrew University of
Jerusalem. His numerous articles and books
have focused on the relationship between
modern philosophy and Jewish thought in
issues related to revelation and tradition, and
the relationship between religion and ethics in
Judaism. Prof. Rosenberg works extensively in
the educational field and has contributed widely
to the development of Jewish thought as an
integral and important part of Israeli and Jewish
culture. His most important books in this field
are Not in Heaven (Hebrew) on revelation and
Jewish law, Torah and Science (Hebrew) on
religion and science, and In the Footsteps of the
Kuzari, of which the current book is an English
translation. ATID is an independent institution
fostering new and significant thought,
strategies, and policies for the crucial
issues facing Jewish education. ATID’s longrange
programs include the ATID Fellows, a
training fellowship for young Orthodox Jewish
educators and future educational leadership, as
well as professional and institutional
development projects with lead-schools in Israel
and the Diaspora, and a research and publishing
division. ATID is the parent body of
WebYeshiva.org – the world’s first fully
interactive online yeshiva.
Inside the Book
Table of Contents
Introduction
Acknowledgments
Prologue
Section 1: The Search for God in the Modern World
Section 2: Religion on Defense
Section 3: Jews and Gentiles
Section 4: Thinking Religion Through
Section 5: Lessons in Science
Section 6: The Human Tradition
Subject Index
Name Index
Chapter 6: Belief in God and the Dialogue with Philosophy (PDF)
About the Author
About ATID
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