Just what is Torah Judaism? What did it mean for the Jewish people centuries ago? Why did it vanish among the greater part of world Jewry? Is it still a vital force of durable worth? This is a book with some highly intelligent answers by a young American Jew who started outside the fold and worked his way in. From a non-religious background, an inner quest set him off on an intensive program of self-education. He had to learn all about Torah Judaism, past and present. Out of his vast scholarly reading, the author begins with a concise but thorough overview of the religious condition of American Jewry at the time of writing. Then, turning to the past, from a wide range of primary sources the author draws a devastatingly accurate picture of the anti-religious ideologies of 18th-century Europe and the Reform Judaism that came in their wake, providing the thoughtful reader a clear picture of the forces out of the past that led to the tragic post-war estrangement from authentic Judaism. The negative aspect, however, is only one side of the picture. The author goes on to present solid reasons and proofs for the basic validity of Torah Judaism. There is a sound introduction to the fundamentals of the Jewish faith. A description of a number of key mitzvoth follows, and the book ends with an objective description of how observant Jews actually live in America today. By any account, this is a book long overdue. It fills a serious gap in the background knowledge of the American Jew, giving the reader (whatever his orientation) important food for thought.
Tags: Kiruv, Modernist Heresy, Torah Judaism, Religion, Teshuva, Apologetics
Date: Thu Jan 01 1981
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