On Judaism: An Introduction to the Essence of Judaism by One of the Most Important Religious Thinkers of the Twentieth Century

Edited by Nahum N. Glatzer
With a new Foreword by Rodger Kamenetz
 
“The question I put before you, as well as before myself, is the question of the meaning of Judaism for the Jews. Why do we call ourselves Jews? I want to speak to you not of an abstraction but of your own life . . . its authenticity and essence.” With these words, Martin Buber takes us on a journey into the heart of Judaism—its spirit, vision, and relevance to modern life.

Martin Buber (1878–1965), one of the paramount spiritual leaders of the twentieth century, is best known as the author of I and Thou—the basic formulation of his philosophy of dialogue—and for his appreciation of Hasidim, which made a deep impact on Christian as well as Jewish thinkers. Born in Vienna, and raised in Lemberg, Buber studied philosophy at the University of Berlin. Fleeing Nazi Germany in 1938, he emigrated to Israel, where he taught social philosophy at the Hebrew University until his retirement in 1951. He lived in Jerusalem until his death in 1965.

Also published by Schocken Books, Martin Buber’s work include: Israel and the World, The Legend of the Baal-Shem, The Letters Of Martin Buber, On the Bible, On Judaism, On Zion, Tales of the Hasidim, Ten Rungs, and Way of Response.