Judaism''s Great Debates: Timeless Controversies from Abraham to Herzl
ISBN: 9780827609327
Platform/Publisher: JSTOR / University of Nebraska Press
Digital rights: Users: unlimited; Printing: chapter; Download: chapter
Subjects: Judaism -- History; Religious disputations; Judaism -- Doctrines;

Schwartz, a congregational rabbi, author (Jewish Heroes, Jewish Values), and director of the Jewish Publication Society, describes 10 instances of sharp differences of opinion to support his contention that disputation is an integral aspect of Jewish history. He considers controversies drawn from biblical Judaism, rabbinic Judaism, and modern Judaism. A brief analysis of each includes the actual words of the debaters, with his own amendments when necessary to ensure clarity. He begins with Abraham's debate with God about the number of innocent people needed to avert the total destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Schwartz calls this "Judaism's first great debate," arguing that it has relevance for continuing arguments about the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. From Rabbinic Judaism he draws the debates between Ben Zakkai and the Zealots; Hillel and Shammai; the Vilna Gaon and the Baal Shem Tov. He concludes with three illustrations from modern Judaism: Spinoza and the Amsterdam rabbis; religious evolution; Herzl and Wise. While Schwartz ably defends his thesis about the significance of Jewish debates, he notably fails to consider any of today's vigorous arguments that stir contemporary Jews. (July) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Rabbi Barry L. Schwartz is the director of The Jewish Publication Society in Philadelphia and the spiritual leader of Congregation Adas Emuno in Leonia, New Jersey. He is the author of the acclaimed textbook Jewish Heroes, Jewish Values and several other works. Judaism's Great Debates is also availablenbsp;in a student edition by Behrman House, Inc.

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