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Can someone be considered Jewish if he or she never goes to synagogue, doesn't keep kosher, and for whom the only connection to his or her ancestral past is attending an annual Passover seder?

In Religion or Ethnicity? fifteen leading scholars trace the evolution of Jewish identity. The book examines Judaism from the Greco-Roman age, through medieval times, modern western and eastern Europe, to today. Jewish identity has been defined as an ethnicity, a nation, a culture, and even a race. Religion or Ethnicity? questions what it means to be Jewish. The contributors show how the Jewish people have evolved over time in different ethnic, religious, and political movements. In his closing essay, Gitelman questions the viability of secular Jewishness outside Israel but suggests that the continued interest in exploring the relationship between Judaism's secular and religious forms will keep the heritage alive for generations to come. ... Read more

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This detailed examination of the "Torah" (the first five books of the Bible) lays particular emphasis on the role and character of the Torah's transcendent God, as its central protagonist. Viewing both the 'Torah' and its God as purely human creations, humanist Jordan Jay Hillman seeks in no way to devalue this hugely influential book. His aim instead is to reinterpret it as a still vital text that used theistic means appropriate to its time to inspire people toward their worthiest human purposes. It is thus for its 'timeless themes' rather than its 'dated particularities' (including its model of a transcendent God) that we should honour the 'Torah' in our time as both the wellspring of Judaic culture and a major influence on Christian and Islamic ethics and morals. From his humanist perspective and his background as a lawyer and professor of law at North-western University (now emeritus), Hillman offers many insights into the narrative and wide-ranging legal code of "Genesis", "Exodus", "Leviticus", "Numbers", and "Deuteronomy"- including their many contradictions and anomalies.His analysis draws on a broad scholarly consensus regarding the 'Documentary Theory', as it bears on the identities and periods of the Torah's human sources. This thorough explication of an often misunderstood ancient text will help humanists, and many theists alike, to appreciate the rich moral, ethical, and cultural heritage of the 'Torah' and its enduring relevance to our time. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

The Deepest Truth
In many ways, this is Yitzhak Buxbaum's finest book -- the purest, the holiest. He's done scholarly work before this, deep research -- his Jewish Spiritual Practices is monumental, the Light and Fire of the Baal Shem Tov and The Life and Times of Hillel gave us a trove of information that was simply unavailable -- but really, if someone wants to know, "What was Buxbaum's torah? -- what was his deepest truth?" An Open Heart is the book I'd send them to.

Modern Mysticism and Modern Judaism
All through my second (or third) reading of this book, I kept thinking how valuable it would be to keep returning to it, slowly absorbing everything it has to offer. In a short and very accessible and inspiring style, Buxbaum helps the reader who wants to establish a regular practice of seeing the Divine moment to moment in one's life, through relationship with others as well as with oneself.This is a wonderful contribution to the literature of modern mysticism and modern Judaism.

A book to go back to
I have never found such a rich synthesis of loving God and loving one's fellow, and the teachings this little book brings together - so much, taught so clearly and concisely - will, I am sure, continue to nourish me;a book to go back to.

Finding the reason for human existence.
A pomegranate of a book where each seed of truth plants itself within your heart as living awareness: person to person, moment to moment. Again and again I have read, reread, absorbed, mulled, contemplated and meditatedupon the fruits contained within the covers of this book.Buxbaum revealsand explains insights "found at the beginning of the Torah and at itsvery heart." An Open Heart: The Mystic Path of Loving People holdssignificant teachings for every human being.This is a very important bookto have and to share with others. ... Read more

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In Modern Jewish Identity: A Rationalistic Motivation forRemaining Jewish, Rudi and Ester Reisel take us on a fascinatingjourney through the biblical, philosophical, spiritual and ideologicaluniqueness of the Jewish people, their history and thought, andJudaism's ability to meet the social and scientific challenges inevery generation. The Reisels use the biblical text and comments fromtraditional Jewish sources, including diverse sources such asA.B. Yehoshua, A.J. Heschel, Einstein, Prof. Y. Leibowitz, RabbiJ.B. Soloveitchik, Spinosa, and others to paint a pattern of unity andprogress within Judaism and its effect on humanity as a whole.

The Reisels argue for unity within Judaism based on stressing commondenominators, mutual respect, pluralism, and democratic tolerance -which they contend is the basis of the bible's humanistic andprophetic message.

For a twist, the authors also examine the origins of the dichotomybetween science and religion. In addition, they demonstrate thecurious connection between modern scientific understandings of energyand forces and the "Higher Power" of the bible. ... Read more

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WHAT IS A JEW? WHO IS A JEW?
Rudi and Ester Reisel believe that the Bible and Jewish philosophy can provide the essential unity that so many Jews long for. The questions thathave plagued Jews since the emancipation ("Haskalah") are"what is a Jew?" and "who is a Jew." Or perhaps abetter question...why be Jewish at all? In this respect, the Reiselsprovide more answers for the latter question based on their grasp of Jewishhistory. If someone is looking for rational and non-traditional reasons tosustain their Jewish identity, then this book is a good attempt. ... Read more

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The Future Jew argues a startling thesis: The Jewish people have not yet responded decisively to the Holocaust. They have failed to recognize the event as a radical turning point in their history. This book declares that the extermination of six million innocents could only have happened in a world devoid of divinity.
The future Jew is no dry academic treatise. A passionate response to history's most heinous crime, it is a highly accessible, compulsively readable work. Building its case through documentary evidence, ingeniously employing the tools of literature, it graphically recalls the Holocaust—and prescribes a bold response.
Michael Carin demonstrates that events have imposed a new mission on the Jews. It is time for them to set aside their antique devotions, and reshape Judaism as ordained by intellectual honesty. In the past they gave the world monotheism. In the future they must lead in establishing global secularism—a world liberated from the irrational, chronic, bloody antagonisms born of religious superstition.
At center stage in this book is the powerful and poetic Holocaust Haggadah. As it tells the story of Nazi genocide, it infers that Judaism is not immune to evolution. The Holocaust Haggadah shows that new customs of secular observance can arise, and that theists do not have a monopoly on ritual.
Carin's potent call to abolish theistic faith, in the name of the six million, will touch a waiting nerve in the Jewish psyche. Indeed, the universality of The Future Jew's theme will excite debate across all denominational lines. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Will the Future Jew be secular?
The Future Jew is premised on the Holocaust being as important a turning point in Judaism as was the exodus from Egypt. But in examining the Holocaust, many Jews will turn away from God and become more secular. Yet, author Michael Carin believes that these secular Jews will remain Jews, and he gives the example of the secular Humanistic Judaism movement.

The book is basically divided into three parts: stories about the Holocaust and individual victims, Carin's discussion of secularism, and an interview with a hypothetical future Rabbi of the secular movement. The ideas presented by Carin are very interesting and he writes in a conversational manner which is very easy to follow.

One of the strong points of the book is that it reinforces the notion that someone can feel Jewish, be Jewish yet secular at the same time, that is Judaism is a national identity, not a religious one. Two websites might be valuable to help put this book into context, Carin's own site http://www.thefuturejew.com/ and the Society for Humanistic Judaism at http://www.shj.org/.

Abolishing God to redeem the six million
The book very vividly portrays the Holocaust, and juxtaposes the question: How can Jews go on believing in God after such an event?"The Future Jew" is extremely valuable for the very cogent manner in which it puts that question, but it is even MORE valuable for the document that lives and breathes at its center, namely the chapter entitled "Holocaust Haggadah."The Holocaust Haggadah tells the story of the extermination of the six million, and does so in the context of a Holocaust "seder."Marvellously written!

A Humanist Prescription
Carin has taken a brave step in making an argument against divinity to a people steeped in a religious tradition. "The Future Jew" is a thought-provoking prescription for Jews to adhere to their humanist traditions while living increasingly secular lives. The core of Carin's argument is that the Holocaust has yet to be fully integrated into the observance of the Jewish faith and his response to this is to propose a manner in which Jews might live in the future. The center piece of the book is the moving Holocaust Haggadah, and Carin's preamble and postscript to this work shows a thoughtful approach, in the best humanist traditions. Carin can at times sound more the reporter than the advocate, but his genuine belief in a secular and humanist approach comes through sincerely. There are moments of beautiful prose, exercised with intelligent restraint. Highly reccomended. ... Read more

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EXODUS TO HUMANISM: Jewish Identity without Religion

is aboutHow Humanism can help bring peace in the Middle East. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

It made me think!
After reading this book I asked myself:
What would happen when more and more people will realize that there is no God, no Heaven or Hell, no immortal soul and no divine revelation?
I hope that also the Jewish Identity, like the English, the German and the American identities will survive, because like the
English, the Germans and the Americans also the Jews have their own country again.

Traumatic but true
David Ibry, an Israeli born Jew, exhorts all Jews to face the traumatic fact that all religions including the Jewish Religion, are obsolete and that a Jewish Identity based solely on an obsolete religion will sooner or later become obsolete.
The author maintains that a really secular Israeli model, retaining the great Jewish history and traditions, but without depending on religious belief for its nationhood, would help to save the Jewish Identity in the Diaspora.

The dangers of religion
Yes,people are naturally inclined to antagonise those perceived
as different. Religions offer the opportunity to validate antagonsims and confrontations through messages which cannot be doubted because they are revealed from an infallible source.
Without religion people will still confront one another, but their antagonisms will becomeopen to human reasoning and compromise.

A Starting Point
I think the most important aspect of this book, aside from the fact thatit is well written and unpretentious is that it starts the dialogue-- theinner dialogue one has with one's self and the one between one Jew andanother.Ibry astutely avoids providing pat, specious answers, insteadthrowing open the discussion to fellow Jews and admitting that it is, infact, a brave new world.Recognizing that old traditions and sentimentsare hard to leave behind, he reminds us that the Jews invented Judaism, notthe other way around.

The questions and opinions explored in this book,while specifically addressing the Jewish dilemma in the Twentieth andTwenty-first centuries, should also have appeal to anyone who feelsconstrained by the implausibility--if not outright absurdity--of a deity asdescribed in ANY western religious scripture.

If you're looking for aplace to begin your transitional journey from theism to rational thought,done with wit, intelligence and emotion, this is the place to start.

Can Jews rely onreligion for their identity?
This book aims at providing an answer to this question. Included with the author's observations and experiences are arguments and explanations from26 Jewish contributors who have either rejected Judaism or have neverbelieved in it, including Prof. Sir Isaiah Berlin, Prof. Sir Herman Bondi,Prof. Albert Ellis, Prof. Adolf Grunbaum,Rose Hacker, Prof. George Klein,Dr. Henri Morgentaler, Prof. Jean-Claude Pecker, Prof. Ernest Poser, Prof.Howard Radest, Claire Rayner, Prof.Evry Schatzman, Helen Suzman, and ArnoldWesker. The author is concerned about the survival of the Jewish identitywhen Jews will realize that the religion of Judaism is obsolete and has theguts to face the problem head on.I found it of great help because itopened my mind to the realities of our day. ... Read more

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The Dalit Buddhist movement in India began with support ofSri Lankan Buddhist monks. It received an impetus with B.R. Ambedkar's call for conversion of Dalits to Buddhism inthe context of a caste based society that considered themto be at the lower end of the hierarchy. ... Read more

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Selections from the Proceedings of Colloquium 99 ... Read more

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Edited by Renee Kogel and Bonnie Cousens. Essays on addressing the needs of this crucial demographic for Jewish survival focus on the topics of who is the unaffiliated Jew, why be Jewish, and perspectives on the Twenty-first century. Contributors published here include Yehuda Bauer (Holocaust scholar), Egon Mayer (director, Jewish Outreach Institute), Jenna Joselit (professor and author), Yaakov Malkin, and Sherwin T. Wine. ... Read more

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Written by Leon Levenson, this book is a collection of plays written for children during his years as a Sunday school teacher at Machar: the Washington DC congregation for Secular Humanistic Judaism. Topics range from Bible stories through the Maccabees. ... Read more