By Ruth R. Wisse
Taking in every little thing from the dominion of David to the Oslo Accords, Ruth Wisse deals a thorough new method to take into consideration the Jewish courting to strength. conventional Jews believed that upholding the covenant with God constituted a treaty with the main strong strength within the universe; this later reworked itself right into a trust that, unburdened via an army, Jews may perhaps pursue their non secular challenge on a basically ethical undeniable. Wisse, an eminent professor of comparative literature at Harvard, demonstrates how Jewish political weak spot either elevated Jewish vulnerability to scapegoating and violence, and unwittingly goaded power-seeking countries to forged Jews as perpetual targets.
Although she sees desire within the nation of Israel, Wisse questions the way in which the suggestions of the Diaspora proceed to force the Jewish nation, echoing Abba Eban's remark that Israel used to be the single state to win a struggle after which sue for peace. after which she attracts a persuasive parallel to the U.S. this present day, because it struggles to determine how a liberal democracy can face off opposed to enemies who view Western morality as weak spot. This deeply provocative ebook is bound to stir debate either inside and out the Jewish global. Wisse's narrative bargains a compelling argument that's wealthy with heritage and bristling with modern urgency.
From the Hardcover edition.
Read or Download Jews and Power (Jewish Encounters Series) PDF
Best judaism books
The Book of "Genesis": A Biography (Lives of Great Religious Books)
In the course of its 2,500-year existence, the ebook of Genesis has been the keystone to nearly each vital declare approximately truth, humanity, and God in Judaism and Christianity. And it maintains to play a valuable position in debates approximately technological know-how, politics, and human rights. With readability and talent, acclaimed biblical pupil Ronald Hendel offers a wide ranging background of this iconic e-book, exploring its effect on Western faith, philosophy, technological know-how, politics, literature, and extra.
Why We Remain Jews: The Path To Faith
Dr. Tsesis describes the trail he traversed from spiritual lack of information to powerful trust within the Jewish faith. Tsesis assigns a unique position to the facts of his end that faith and science—especially in gentle of contemporary discoveries—are now not antagonists, and are, in truth, in entire concord, supplementing and never except for one another.
Rabbinic Authority, Volume 1: The Vision and the Reality
Introducing English-speaking readers to the parameters and scope of rabbinic authority regularly, and the workings of the establishment of the beit din—the Jewish court docket of law—in specific, this publication provides 10 rulings in instances of Jewish civil legislation that the writer passed down as a member of a beit din panel.
Making Men: The Male Coming-of-Age Theme in the Hebrew Bible
Making males identifies and elaborates on a subject within the Hebrew Bible that has mostly long gone neglected by means of scholars-the transition of a male adolescent from boyhood to manhood. Wilson locates 5 examples of the male coming-of-age subject within the Hebrew Bible. The protagonists of those tales comprise the well known biblical heroes Moses, Samuel, David, and Solomon.
- The Tales of Rabbi Nachman
- The Jewish Bible: A Material History (Samuel and Althea Stroum Lectures in Jewish Studies)
- Rabbis and Classical Rhetoric: Sophistic Education and Oratory in the Talmud and Midrash
- What Did the Biblical Writers Know and When Did They Know It?: What Archeology Can Tell Us About the Reality of Ancient Israel
- Inventing God's Law: How the Covenant Code of the Bible Used and Revised the Laws of Hammurabi
- When the State Winks: The Performance of Jewish Conversion in Israel (Religion, Culture, and Public Life)
Additional info for Jews and Power (Jewish Encounters Series)
Sample text