Loving Truth and Peace: The Grand Religious Worldview of Rabbi Benzion Uziel [Paperback]

Marc D. Angel (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 28, 1999 | ISBN-10: 0765760347 | ISBN-13: 978-0765760340

Rabbi Benzion Uziel (1880-1953) was one of the leading rabbinic figures of his generation. He served as Chief Rabbi of Tel Aviv-Jaffa and Salonika before becoming the Sephardic Chief Rabbi of the land of Israel (1938), a post he held until his death. A scion of great Sephardic rabbinical families, he was also well-steeped in the teachings of the Ashkenazic tradition. A staunch traditionalist, he was innovative and sensitive to the challenges to modernity. He was a religious Zionist who taught respect for all Jews?even those who were not religiously observant. He was deeply devoted to the particular teachings and norms of halakhic Judaism, while also maintaining a universalistic outlook and a genuine concern for the well-being of the non-Jewish population within Israel. Rabbi Uziel was a prolific author. His volumes of responsa, Mishpetei Uziel, are models of halakhic erudition, clarity and sensitivity. Various of his speeches, sermons, and addresses were included in a volume, Mikhmanei Uziel, reflecting not only Rabbi Uziel's worldview, but also the pressing issues within the Jewish community of his time. Shaarei Uziel is a two-volume work dealing with the laws of guardianship of orphans?and with the laws of charity in general. Hegyonei Uziel is a two-volume work in which Rabbi Uziel presents a general philosophy of Judaism. This book draws on the various published writings of Rabbi Uziel to present his grand religious worldview. He dealt with issues that are of continuing concern to the Jewish people, such as conversion, halakhah in a modern Jewish state, the role of women in Jewish law, Jewish nationalism, and tolerance. When Rabbi Uziel died in 1953, his funeral was attended by many thousands of people, Jews and non-Jews, Sephardim and Ashkenazim, religious and non-religious. He was a unique personality who won the respect and admiration of the diverse segments of society. While efforts have been made in recent years to republish some of his writings, Rabbi Uziel's teachings remain relatively u

Editorial Reviews

Review

Rabbi Marc Angel has long been recognized as an outstanding student, teacher, and interpreter of the modern Sephardic experience. In this work, Rabbi Angel expounds and expands upon the thought and philosophy of Rabbi Benzion Uziel who, as the first Sephardic Chief Rabbi of the State of Israel and acknowledged master of halakha, preached a message of mitzvot, support for the ideals of religious Zionism, and love and concern for all Jews. These are the very principles that have guided Rabbi Angel in his career as a distinguished rabbi and leader. They are teachings worthy of consideration and emulation by all Jews today.--Norman Lamm

Product Details

• Paperback: 282 pages
• Publisher: Jason Aronson (June 28, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0765760347
• ISBN-13: 978-0765760340
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.3 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,559,206 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars What a great book!!, January 12, 2001

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This review is from: Loving Truth and Peace: The Grand Religious Worldview of Rabbi Benzion Uziel (Paperback)

As reflected in the title of Rabbi Angel's book, Rabbi Uziel's approach to Judaism was inclusive, not sectarian. He was a Zionist and a lover of Jews, all Jews. He sought to embrace the entire community at the very time when there were powerful forces in the Orthodox world condemning Zionism and pushing for a separation from the less religious. He also parted company with many of his rabbinic colleagues by advocating a universalistic view of Judaism, a subject which is treated by Rabbi Angel in one of the chapters of his book.

Rabbi Angel's book is full of other examples which show how Rabbi Uziel's insights differed from those of his colleagues. Regarding some of these, the world has come to agree with him. For example, while most of the rabbinic establishment of Palestine was opposed to women's voting, Rabbi Uziel strongly supported female suffrage.

In a particularly fascinating discussion, Rabbi Angel deals with Rabbi Uziel's view of conversion. Most people assume that halakhah demands that converts be turned away when they first approach the rabbi, that conversion for the sake of marriage is improper, and that no one can be converted without a strong commitment to Torah observance. Rabbi Uziel had a very different view. He was more welcoming to converts, and believed that there was much to be lost to the Jewish people by not converting non-Jewish marriage partners. He also noted that violation of Torah laws by a convert does not invalidate a conversion, as long as the person recognizes a general commitment to Torah. Whether rabbis today should adopt this approach can be debated; but certainly it should never be asserted that there is only one halakhic approach to the issue of halakhic conversion to Judaism.

We are living at a time when the Sephardic community is experiencing a revival of learning, especially in the State of Israel, as well as a rise of extremism far removed from the traditional Sephardic way. At the same time, the issues discussed by Rabbi Uziel, and masterfully analyzed by Rabbi Angel---issues such as the status of women, halakhah in a modern state, Jewish honor and the role of the rabbi--- are just as pressing now as they were years ago. As such, Rabbi Uziel's distinctive religious outlook, as transmitted by Rabbi Angel, is as vital as ever.