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cover image
The Essence of Judaism
Rating :
rating
Author(s) :
Leo Baeck
Pages :
287
Pub Date :
1948
Edition(s) at Erowid :
---(---)
Publisher :
Schocken Books
ISBN :
0805200061
BACK COVER #
This classic of Jewish religious thought began as a critical essay vigorously challenging Adolf Harnack's "Essence of Christianity." It grew into a comprehensive examiniation of Jewish religion and an invaluable key to understanding the background of Christianity and Islam. since its first publication in 1922 it has gone through many editions and revisions until today it stands as a standard work in introspective religious literature.

Jewish tradition permits conflicting schools of thought to exist side by side, as well as a many-sided interplay of ceremonial law, philosophy, theology and mysticism. It has never been greatly concerned with formulating dogmas. It is therefore a major achievement to have succeeded in defining its essential ideas and doctrines. Baeck's presentation is based upon biblical, talmudic, and later rabbinical sources. It preserves the variety and fullness of these classical originals; it avoids dogmatism; yet to Judaism, with all its diversity, it has given a definitive formulation.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR(S) / EDITOR(S) #
Leo Baeck was one of the noblest minds of this century. As leader of the Jewish Community of Germany during the Hitler period he chose to remain and share the fate of his people. After the war he emerged from Theresienstadt concentration camp a living witness to the dignity of Judaism and man.