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A partisan guide to the Jewish problem
Book by Steinberg, Milton
308 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1986
11 people want to read
About the author
Milton Steinberg
32 books10 followersAmerican author, philosopher, rabbi, teacher, and theologian
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March 7, 2025
A work of intellectual rigor and emotional depth, offering a penetrating examination of Jewish identity, history, and the challenges of modernity. Steinberg, a rabbi and philosopher whose scholarship spans Talmudic tradition and contemporary existential thought, writes with a clarity and urgency that demands engagement.
Published in 1945, the book emerges from a world scarred by war and genocide, yet it refuses to dwell in despair. Instead, it charts a path forward, grappling with the complexities of Jewish existence in a fractured age. The title itself, 'A Partisan’s Guide', signals Steinberg’s commitment to taking a stand, to advocating for a vision of Jewish life that is both rooted in tradition and responsive to the demands of the present. He is not a detached observer but an active participant in the struggle to define what it means to be Jewish in a world often hostile to difference.
The book’s treatment of Zionism exemplifies Steinberg’s ability to balance idealism with pragmatism. He views Zionism as a necessary response to the historical realities of millennia of Jewish displacement and persecution, a movement born of both hope and desperation. “Zionism,” he writes, “is the Jewish people’s attempt to wrestle destiny from the hands of history, to plant roots in a soil that has too often been barren for us.”
Steinberg marvels at the audacity of the Zionist project, its capacity to transform a scattered people into a collective force united by a shared vision. For Steinberg, the true beauty of Zionism lies in its potential to create a society that embodies the ethical and spiritual ideals of Jewish tradition—justice, compassion, and intellectual vitality. He envisions a Zion that serves not only as a refuge but as a model for the world.
Throughout the book, Steinberg explores a range of themes with a scholar’s precision and a rabbi’s moral urgency. He examines the tension between particularism and universalism, arguing that Jewish identity thrives in dialogue with the wider world rather than in isolation. His analysis of antisemitism is particularly incisive, tracing its roots to the insecurities of majority cultures and their need for a scapegoat. “Antisemitism,” he writes, “is a pathology of the soul, a reflection of the world’s inability to reconcile itself to difference.”
Steinberg also grapples with the challenges of assimilation, warning that the pursuit of acceptance often comes at the cost of authenticity. “To erase oneself,” he writes, “is the greatest betrayal of all.”
The book’s closing sections turn to the future, offering a vision of Jewish life that is both rooted in tradition and open to change. Steinberg’s Zionism, like his Judaism, is dynamic and evolving, capable of inspiring wonder, addressing necessity, and embodying beauty in equal measure.
Reading A Partisan’s Guide is an experience that demands intellectual engagement and emotional openness. Steinberg’s insights challenge the reader to confront identity, belonging, and the persistence of prejudice. The book surprises with its modernity, its relevance undiminished by the passage of time, and its prophetic vision of a Jewish independent state in Eretz Israel years before its wondrous actualization.
The book’s audience is broad, extending beyond Jewish readers to anyone grappling with the complexities of identity in a fractured world, as well as all lovers of Israel. What emerges from its pages is not a set of easy answers but a call to thoughtful and immediate action, a reminder that the struggle for authenticity and justice is both a personal and collective endeavor.
Published in 1945, the book emerges from a world scarred by war and genocide, yet it refuses to dwell in despair. Instead, it charts a path forward, grappling with the complexities of Jewish existence in a fractured age. The title itself, 'A Partisan’s Guide', signals Steinberg’s commitment to taking a stand, to advocating for a vision of Jewish life that is both rooted in tradition and responsive to the demands of the present. He is not a detached observer but an active participant in the struggle to define what it means to be Jewish in a world often hostile to difference.
The book’s treatment of Zionism exemplifies Steinberg’s ability to balance idealism with pragmatism. He views Zionism as a necessary response to the historical realities of millennia of Jewish displacement and persecution, a movement born of both hope and desperation. “Zionism,” he writes, “is the Jewish people’s attempt to wrestle destiny from the hands of history, to plant roots in a soil that has too often been barren for us.”
Steinberg marvels at the audacity of the Zionist project, its capacity to transform a scattered people into a collective force united by a shared vision. For Steinberg, the true beauty of Zionism lies in its potential to create a society that embodies the ethical and spiritual ideals of Jewish tradition—justice, compassion, and intellectual vitality. He envisions a Zion that serves not only as a refuge but as a model for the world.
Throughout the book, Steinberg explores a range of themes with a scholar’s precision and a rabbi’s moral urgency. He examines the tension between particularism and universalism, arguing that Jewish identity thrives in dialogue with the wider world rather than in isolation. His analysis of antisemitism is particularly incisive, tracing its roots to the insecurities of majority cultures and their need for a scapegoat. “Antisemitism,” he writes, “is a pathology of the soul, a reflection of the world’s inability to reconcile itself to difference.”
Steinberg also grapples with the challenges of assimilation, warning that the pursuit of acceptance often comes at the cost of authenticity. “To erase oneself,” he writes, “is the greatest betrayal of all.”
The book’s closing sections turn to the future, offering a vision of Jewish life that is both rooted in tradition and open to change. Steinberg’s Zionism, like his Judaism, is dynamic and evolving, capable of inspiring wonder, addressing necessity, and embodying beauty in equal measure.
Reading A Partisan’s Guide is an experience that demands intellectual engagement and emotional openness. Steinberg’s insights challenge the reader to confront identity, belonging, and the persistence of prejudice. The book surprises with its modernity, its relevance undiminished by the passage of time, and its prophetic vision of a Jewish independent state in Eretz Israel years before its wondrous actualization.
The book’s audience is broad, extending beyond Jewish readers to anyone grappling with the complexities of identity in a fractured world, as well as all lovers of Israel. What emerges from its pages is not a set of easy answers but a call to thoughtful and immediate action, a reminder that the struggle for authenticity and justice is both a personal and collective endeavor.
Displaying 1 of 1 review