A passion for truth [Hardcover]

Abraham Joshua Heschel (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: 1973

In his final book, completed a few weeks before his death, one of the most beloved religious leaders of our time gives us a moving and meaningful exploration of how the great religious teachers of tradition affect and shape our own personal spirituality.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

LJ's reviewer asserted that at the time of its publication this was "probably the best book on Hasidism to appear in the English language." Though it is not for the casual reader, those who undertake it "will be charmed by the work's depth of feeling and comprehensive scope" (LJ 8/73).
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Review

A Passion for Truth presents a surprising parallel study of two figures, the Hasidic tzaddik(righteous man, spiritual leader), Reb Menachem Mendl of Kotzk (1787-1859), and the Christian mystic, father of existentialism, Danish theologian Soren Kierkegaard (1813-1855)...Rabbi Heschel is never heavy and all that he presents in this aphoristic, quotable book is cast in terms that touch all our lives. -- Edmund Fuller, The Wall Street Journal

Probably the best book on Hasidism to appear in the English language. -- Library Journal, September 15, 1995, and August 1973 --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux; First Edition Second Print edition (1973)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0374229929
• ISBN-13: 978-0374229924
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5 x 2.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,611,032 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Abraham Joshua Heschel (1907-72), one of the foremost Jewish savants of our time, was internationally known as scholar, author, activist, and theologian.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Abraham Heschel's True Passion, October 1, 2003

By 

C. D. Hoffman "hypercritical" (new york, ny United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Passion for Truth (Jewish Lights Classic Reprint) (Paperback)

The book analyses the thoughts of the Kotzker Rebbe by contrasting and comparing him to the Danish theologian and philosopher, Soren Kierkegaard. Few men could ever have conceived and written such an incisive work; no one else could have approached it with such an inner feel for the Hasidic tradition and yet, with a mind open to the teachings of Christian theologians.

Every thought resonates with Heschel's major "popular" statements of religion and Jewish philosophy, "God in Search of Man', and "Man is not Alone". It is obvious from reading this work that Heschel's own philosophy drew heavily on the Kotzker Rebbe's teachings - strip away the adornments and seek the essence and truth.

It is quite unfortunate that Heschel's major work on the Kotzker was never translated from the original Yiddish. Until such translation is published, this book alone provides both an incisive look at theological radicalism and a sense of the misdirection of most modern theories of religion.

14 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Knowing the Kotzker Rebbe, March 28, 2000

By 

Joshua Kullock (Capital Federal, Argentina) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Passion for Truth (Jewish Lights Classic Reprint) (Paperback)

There are a lot of books about Chasidism, but not about this interesting character. In "A Passion for Truth", Abraham Joshua Heschel shows the deep and intricate personality of one of the most significant Chasidic Rabbis: Menajem Mendl of Kotzk. One of the most important things in this book is the link that Heschel establishes between the Kotzker Rebbe and the Danish theologian Soren Kierkegaard. Throughout this amazing book, Heschel shows the semblance and differences of these two important figures of the Nineteen-century. "A Passion for Truth" is a book that everyone who wants to know about Chasidism and the Kotzker-trend system has to read.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The love and joy of the Baal Shem, and the search for Truth of the Kotzker and Kierkegaard, August 23, 2010

By 

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

This review is from: A Passion for Truth (Jewish Lights Classic Reprint) (Paperback)

This book is built around two sets of comparison. In the first the Baal Shem Tov is compared to Menahem Mendl of Kotzk. The sharp contrasts between the two are highlighted. The Baal Shem came to the world to bring it light and blessing. He raised the spirits of the disheartened and depressed Jewish people, and gave them a new hope, a new sense of joy, a new sense of their own value a new sense of their love of God and God's love of them. The Kotzker came into the world in search of truth. The expansive generous all - inclusive spirit of the Baal Shem is contradicted by the harsh truth- seeking sarcastic and often bitter soul of the Kotzker. As the Baal Shem opens worlds the Kotzker closes them. The Baal Shem spread joy and the Kotzker lived the last twenty years of his life in the seclusion of his own depression and disappointment.
The second part of the book compares the Kotzker with Kierkegaard. Putting doctrinal Jewish and Christian differences aside Heschel focuses on the great similarities between these two truth- seekers. Sarcastic at times, filled with irony towards themselves and humanity they each in his own way seek a religion of Truth. They both seek a religion of higher purity. Kierkegaard condemns Christendom as making little room for the true individual inward subjective Christian- the Kotzker cuts himself off from the masses seeking his guidance, and searches for truth by himself alone. These two individuals each of whom praises a kind of solitude and solitary quest for truth set themselves apart from the mass of mankind. Kierkegaard's renunciation of ordinary married life, his rejection of his fiancee Regina , are paralleled by the Kotzker's withdrawal into his own study away from the ways of the world. Still there are strong differences between the two. The Kotzker does not deny the importance of family life, is not devoid of friends and supporters. Still what fascinates Heschel is the integrity of the two truth- seekers, their uncompromising search to find the true way in worship of God.
Heschel writes this book with astounding clarity and beauty. It is clear in his largely loving tone to all the major figures that he himself bears the Hasidic spirit of his grandfather , the Apter Rebbe, who was called 'The Lover of Israel'.
I found this to be a profound study which at the same time was clear and beautiful.
A holy book from a holy writer.