Customer Reviews

On Jewish Learning (Modern Jewish Philosophy and Religion)

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It is true as reviewer M. Llewyn has written that this book is abstract and difficult. But it is also true that it is written by one of the great intellectual heroes of modern Judaism. The story of Rosenzweig's rediscovery of his Jewishness, his writing of his monumental work ' Star of Redemption' while suffering almost complete paralysis is a story of human courage and Jewish faith. In this small book he centers on Jewish learning and education. A man of immense intellect and learning himself he understand that Judaism is a religion which requires of its adherents an effort of both heart and mind in the deepest way. His insights on the way to learn and the way to teach are the heart of this small and valuable work.

I felt uncomortable giving this book a rating since I did not understand much of it. If you can understand Hegel, you can understand Rosensweig. But if you (like me) are an ordinary mortal with a smaller appetite for abstraction, don't bother with the last 60% or so of this book, which is so dense that it makes Solovetchik or Maimonides seem like beach reading.

The first essay or two (in which Rosenzweig discusses Jewish education) are a bit easier to follow. In the first essay, Rosenzweig lays out a curriculum for Jewish education of preteens and teenagers, and in particular suggests that teachers be scholars as well. (Presumably, this scheme would require Jewish educators to be paid like college professors rather than like kindergarten teachers). His second essay discusses adult education but is a bit more vague.