A Living Covenant: The Innovative Spirit in Traditional Judaism

Personal

Value

Notes

Review
"I learned much from this book, and I appreciate its theo- logical courage and originality." -- Harold M. Schulweis, Rabbi, Cong. Valley Beth Shalom, Encino, Calif.; author of For Those Who Can't Believe

"This deep philosophical treatise--filled with new, nuanced interpretations of Torah and Talmud--reads like a novel that one cannot put down until reaching the very last page." -- Judith Hauptman, Rabbi Philip R. Alstat Associate Professor of Talmud, The Jewish Theological Seminary; author of Rereading the Rabbis: A Woman's Voice

"With passion and erudition, David Hartman argues for a version of Judaism that is at once faithful to the tradition and fitted to the requirements of modernity. He writes like Jacob wrestling with the angel, and the result, for the reader, is an exhilarating experience." -- Michael Walzer, Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton

This is Rabbi Hartman's most important book. In it he presents his own Covenant theology. He has learned much and provides critiques of two of his great teachers in this work, Rabbi Joseph Dov Ber Soloveitchik and Yehoshua Leibowitz. Rabbi Hartman places the Covenant at Sinai at the center of Jewish experience. He tends to see this Covenant more in terms of the marital relation, than in the relation of parents and children. And this with the stress he places on responsibility and freedom for humanity. For Rabbi Hartman Torah and Torah learning are the true legacy of Sinai and the message and life- work of the people of Israel. This is a profound work and an inspiring one. And all those interested in thinking deeply about the p

Rabbi David Hartman is a dying intellectual within Orthodox Judaism. So many rabbis have decided to abandon their hopes of ever creating a "Modern Orthodox" reality in America and worldwide. No longer are the great institutions like Yeshiva University, Rabbinical Council of America, and the like no longer defending their theology. In fact, many of their leadership officials have become defeatist about it and market it as an "approach" to becoming "more religious." Some have abandoned their previous stances causing friction in the congregations they serve.

With this reality, Rabbi Hartman is like a breath of fresh air. His service within Judaism of helping others that share in his vision of creating a positively identified Jewish community that rejects the old "horse and buggy" approach of coercion and guilty is greatly needed. On top of this, his insistence of bringing a "theological humility" that comforts other Jews from other movements is also needed.

Having said that, Rabbi Hartman's book is a summary of his theology. Quoting from other theorists as diverse as Erich Fromm and Spinoza (things one wouldn't find in Art Scroll), he begins affirm a positive approach to Orthodox Judaism that affirms both human potential and laity empowerment. No longer does the Jew need to fear modernity like they feared the Russian Czar.

Despite the nobility of the concept and the power of his personality, I found his book to be a little lofty and somewhat loose ended, but this book is essential to begin the dialogue.

Links