Halakhic Mind [Hardcover]

Joseph B. Soloveitchik (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 28, 1986

An essay on Jewish tradition and modern thought.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 135 pages
• Publisher: Free Press (July 28, 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0029300401
• ISBN-13: 978-0029300404
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,849,875 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Difficult and valuable, June 14, 2007

By 

Shlomo Katz - See all my reviews

This review is from: Halakhic Mind (Paperback)

This is an extremely difficult book, but very rewarding. It is hard to read without an extensive knowledge of both modern philosophy and the physical sciences (especially modern physics).

Rabbi Soloveitchik discusses the rationalist systems of metaphysics which were once popular, noting that philosophy and theology (in the wake of modern science) have move past them to more "holistic" ways of viewing the world. He then argues that the opposite extreme - non-rational "spiritualism" - is not an appropriate basis for religion either.

In the end, he proposes a rational approach to theology, which however has its source in the halacha rather than in external metaphysical speculation. Physicists perform experiments and think critically to determine the characteristics of the natural world which surrounds them. Similarly, religious Jews occupy a world of halachic literature, which can be mined for philosophical as well as ritual/technical meaning.

The best practical example of this approach is probably Rabbi Soloveitchik's book "On Repentance", which uses this method systematically. To take one example from there (IIRC), a sacrificial animal whose ownership is shared cannot be sacrificed if one owner dies before it is sacrificed. However, sacrifices can be made on behalf of the entire nation, even though some Jew somewhere will probably die after the animal is selected and before it is sacrificed. This indicates that communal offerings cannot be seen as jointly owned by all the Jews in the world, but rather, as belonging to the Jewish people as an independent entity. Thus, the technical laws of jointly-owned sacrifices are used to prove that the Torah views the Jewish people as having independent status. This clearly has implications for how Jews view the relationships between God, themselves, and their people.

"Halachic Mind" may be seen as the intellectual justification for the personality type which is described in "Halachic Man". It is worthwhile, after reading "Halachic Mind", to reread "Halachic Man" - and to see what a different perspective on it you may then have.

I was much helped by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks' excellent article in understanding the book (and writing this review). As I said, the book is very difficult. But it is extremely helpful as a window into Rabbi Soloveitchik's thought, and as a perspective on Jewish philosophy as a whole.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Towards a Jewish philosophy based on Halakhah, November 18, 2004

By 

Shalom Freedman "Shalom Freedman" (Jerusalem,Israel) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Halakhic Mind (Paperback)

This is from the book- jacket." This work .. articulates for the first time Rabbi Soloveitchik's attitude toward Western culture and modern scientific values. He shows how twentieth century science and philosophy, under the influence of Bergson, gave rise to a wholesome epistemological and methodological pluralism that has recast the entire enterprise of metaphysics. A newfound(or newly recognized) appreciation of the role of choice and creativity in the forging of useful and coherent world-systems offers the first hope in modern times of creating a comprehensive and intelligible God- oriented and God- worshipping metaphysical system.Religion can now look at science not as an intellectual rival or threat, but as a model for the important act of constructing a world - view based on spiritual values and tenets of faith.
Drawing upon examples of Jewish practiceRabbi Soloveitchik shows how fine points of Halkahah deal with the most essential aspects of human existence, contributing to the necessary and wholesome task of constructing a universe congenial to the God- worshipping individual."

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mitnaggedism, April 14, 2010

By 

S. H. Brenner "student" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Halakhic Mind (Paperback)

The Rav, Joseph Soleveitchik, provides a powerfully honest exposition into the mind of Mitnaggedism with its intense focus on the Talmud, serving God through the Law. Using references to Western thinkers, he attempts to create a philosophy of Halakha differentiating his legalistic approach from the more spiritual Hassidic parnership with God.