Judaism for Everyone ... without Dogma - Hardcover

Bernardo Sorj

4.03

30 ratings by Goodreads

9780615352879: Judaism for Everyone ... without Dogma

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0615352871 ISBN 13: 9780615352879

Publisher: International Federation for Secular & Humanistic Judaism, 2010

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This book presents an exceptional and stimulating view of Judaism and what it means to be Jewish. Instead of basing his arguments on blind faith and quotations of sacred texts the author argues for a Judaism oriented by humanistic values and personal freedom.

For almost two thousand years, historical circumstance has made being Jewish a matter of fate. Now it is becoming more and more a matter of individual choice. Judaism for Everyone ... without Dogma is an effort to contribute to the advancement of a Judaism that is based on freedom not on fear or blind acceptance of authority.

Tradition and collective memory are raw materials that each generation must reinterpret and in which new meanings are found. Individuals that value their capacity to decide what is right and wrong cannot accept ready-made formulas. For them the question is not what Judaism is but rather how to find their own way to be a Jew.

In a series of short chapters the reader will travel through Jewish history from biblical times to our days. He will find that the making of the Jewish people was always influenced by other cultures and through this long history different models of Judaism developed. The author shows how Judaism survived by reinventing itself by adapting to new circumstances and cultural change. The more open the local society was the more diverse and rich Judaism became. Diversity and pluralism do not endanger Judaism. On the contrary, it only threatens those that claim a monopoly on deciding what Judaism should be.

The second part of the book presents a panorama of the different ways that in modern times the Jews absorbed the cultural and political values of the Enlightenment, producing a pluralistic culture. From Spinoza to Einstein, from Freud to Buber, from Kafka to Amos Oz a vibrant Jewish culture has developed which is based on reason and humanistic values, not on dogma. It is this culture which has become the common ground for most Jews today.

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About the Author:

Bernardo Sorj has a degree in Jewish history from the University of Haifa and a Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Manchester. He serves on the board of numerous academic journals and scientific bodies, is a consultant to international organizations, and has been a visiting professor at various universities in the United States and Europe. He is currently the director of the Edelstein Center for Social Research and a professor of sociology at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. He has authored 23 books, which have been published in English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese, and over 100 articles. In 2005, he was elected "Man of Ideas" in Brazil. He is listed as a current philosopher by the International Federation for Secular & Humanistic Judaism.

Review:

Judaism for Everyone ... without Dogma represents a major contribution to the advancement of contemporary Judaism. It argues for a secular Judaism rooted in Jewish culture and humanistic and democratic values, for Jewish communities that respect pluralism, for a dialogue between Diaspora and the State of Israel that fosters the richness, and diversity of the Jewish people. For all these reasons, I strongly recommend this book. --Yossi Beilin, Former Israel MP (Member of the Knesset), Minister of Religious Affairs, Justice, Economics and Planning, and leading participant in both the Oslo accords and the Geneva Peace Initiative.

Bernardo Sorj has powerfully articulated the historical, and cultural grounding of the movement of Secular Humanistic Judaism. From the beginnings of Jewish evolution to today's Jewish diversity, his insightful analysis of the modern Jewish experience, and his message of acceptance will resonate with cultural Jews worldwide. --Rabbi Adam Chalom, Dean - North America, International Institute for Secular Humanistic Judaism

Judaism for Everyone ... without Dogma offers a brilliant new approach to the future of an ancient people. Prof. Bernardo Sorj's deep acquaintance with Jewish history, Jewish tradition, and the state of Jews around the world today, led him to the conclusion, that the way to save Judaism from extinction is to take the keys of the gates to Judaism from the religious establishment. New Judaism should be pluralistic, democratic, and open to everyone. --Nahum Barnea, Political Scientist and Journalist, awarded with the Israel Prize for Communication in 2007

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