La esencia del Judaísmo

by Leo Baeck

First published in German in 1905 as Das Wesen des Judentums, Leo Baeck’s The Essence of Judaism is perhaps the most widely read example of German Jewish scholarship in the 20th century. Written as a response to Adolf von Harnack’s lectures Das Wesen des Christentums (The Essence of Christianity), the book seeks to both define the fundamental principles of Judaism, and contrast them with other religions. But by outlining Judaism’s essence, Baeck also shows how the different denominations within Judaism are bound together by fundamental commonalities. Translated into English in 1936, it quickly became a classic in the English-speaking world, and has since been gifted at Bar Mitzvahs and featured on synagogue reading lists. In a world of religious plurality, the book remains highly relevant today.

“The analysis in this masterly volume is set on a high level of historical knowledge, integrity of thinking and religious insight... A life dedicated to religious study and profound spiritual pondering has gone into The Essence of Judaism... [Its] study... is, therefore, valuable not only for attaining a clearer understanding of Judaism but also for achieving a clearer understanding of the background of the great world religions of Christianity and Islam... In the definition of what he regards as the essence of Judaism, [Baeck] often points out wherein it differs from Christianity, Buddhism and other systems of religious teaching.” — David de Sola Pool, The New York Times

“A mature product of German Jewish genius... This beautifully written book may best be described as the swan song of German Jewish scholarship.” — Jacob Agus, Jewish Social Studies

“In Leo Baeck the pith of the man and the writer is dignity, Jewish dignity. As a host in his home, as a guest in other homes, as a preacher in his synagogue, and as the leader of German Jewry within Himmler’s concentration camps, he is and has remained the shining incarnation of those rarest gifts: dignity coupled not with sternness but with radiant warmth.” — David Baumgardt, Commentary Magazine

“This work will give back to many faith in their Judaism and will awaken a desire to immerse further in its study... It is not one of the least merits of this book that it awakens the desire for further instruction and immersion in Jewish scholarship and Jewish life... This work is based on a comprehensive mastery of the biblical and postbiblical literature, draws on other religions, and from belief in the value and mission of Judaism, creates a vivid warmth.” — Heinemann, Monatsschrift für Geschichte und Wissenschaft des Judentums

“This is an unusually important book... Baeck considered himself a ‘liberal’ Jew, but the synagogues in which he preached in Berlin were, by American standards, ‘conservative’... yet after the War he taught at Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati, where ‘reform’ rabbis are trained. Baeck and the book under review bring home to us the utter inadequacy of such labels. It was of his essence to stand above factions.” — Kauffmann, Religious Education

“[The book] presents us [...] with what may briefly, and not altogether inaptly, be described as Prolegomena to Judaism. Within a very moderate compass we have an able characterization of Judaism, an interesting and warm exposition of its leading ideas and peculiarities... Dr. Baeck writes with enthusiasm... The book as a whole is stimulating.” — Wolf, The Jewish Quarterly Review

Genres: Religion, Judaica, Judaism, Jewish

273 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1964

Reviews

[Mirjam Laurisaar · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was anticipating this book to give me an understanding of Judaism - its core beliefs, its values, its principles. 200 pages in and I'm still no closer to comprehending what is this religion about. The book is not bad, but the style of the writing is very filosophical, full of reflections referring to Judaic religious texts, the author contemplating nuances of the faith. There are no explanations to the religious terms and vocabulary used. I would say that the book is more suitable for someone who gets Judaism inside and out and/or is very familiar with religious filosophy. Don't expect it to give you a practical understanding of the faith.

[Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a dense philosophical/theological discussion of Judaism that I struggled with off and on for six weeks. I'm not sorry to have read it and am glad he discusses his points win relatively bitesize pieces which makes it easier to pick up after a break. A serious book for people who want to seriously engage with the subject.

[Lewis Weinstein · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have extracted some of Rabbi Baeck's observations about Judaism in anticipation of having my fictional character Berthold Becker read Baeck's book and discuss these points with the Rabbi.

[David Birnbaum]

For anyone (Jew or Gentile) hoping to understand the nature of Judaism, Leo Baeck should be your guide.
Many will disagree with his conclusions, but for Jewish people disagreement is a good road to understanding

[Greg · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book by Rabbi Baeck, the leader of a Jewish Community during Nazi Germany, is very interesting. It serves almost as a compendium of his thought, notable for being the work of a highly intelligent and thoughtful individual, and also an individual who chose to remain in Germany and lived through the Nazi concentration camps. As such, he has a large moral claim when speaking about a number of topics. His early statement about the blessings bestowed on those without power is particularly noteworthy. “A minority is compelled to think; that is the blessing of its fate. It must always persist in a mental struggle for that consciousness of truth which success and power comfortingly assure to rulers and their supporting multitudes. The conviction of the many is based on the weight of possession; the conviction of the few is expressed through the energy of constant searching and finding.”

The book overall is quite philosophical. This is not surprising given that Baeck believes that “the dominant form of Judaism always remained that of a religious philosophy of inquiry, a philosophy which produced method rather than system.” There are a number of philosophical claims that struck me as interesting. Particularly interesting are his statements about the mission and universality of Judaism. “Judaism has always retained the fundamental principle that its religion is the property of all and that all may fully experience it without an intermediary.” “All presuppositions and all aims of Judaism are directed toward converting the world or, to be more precise, toward teaching it.”

Less interesting to me are Baeck’s statements about Judaism and its merits compared to other world religions. “Judaism is a religion of altruism, since it declares that man to be striving toward perfection who has found his way to God by seeking his brethren and who serves God by loving and being just to them. Buddhism, on the other hand, is the religion of egotism, since it attributes perfection to the man who retreats from mankind in order to discover the only true approach to himself.” This is one such statement of many. These are statements of Baeck’s belief, but I find them to be very judgmental and, unsurprisingly, one-sided statements. I would have preferred a more balanced discussion of these types of statements, or that Baeck had left them out all together.

Baeck also delivers some quite thought provoking philosophical statements. “For Judaism sin is the fate prepared by the individual when he disowns himself and makes of himself a mere object. Man does not fall into the sin of his fate, but into the fate of his sin.” “For Judaism there is no faith without morality and ethics, no mystery without commandment, no significance of the beyond without the value of this world. Unless man believes in himself and in his task, his faith in God as well as his faith in atonement is empty.” While the quantity of such statements was overwhelming to me personally, I found that sincere reflection on them was quite beneficial.

Overall, for serious students of Judaism and religion in general, I think this is an interesting book.

See my other reviews here!

[Mered · Rating 4 out of 5]

El libro está escrito como una introducción al judaísmo. El autor, Leo Back, fue uno de los rabinos liberales alemanes más importantes de fines del siglo XIX y la primera mitad del siglo XX.
Muchas de las posiciones son discutibles. Sin embargo, el libro es ilustrativo del pensamiento del judaísmo reformista de la época, presentando al judaísmo bajo el prisma del neo-kantianismo. Esto implica que puede resultar anacrónico en algunos de sus planteos: al ser un libro escrito en 1905, no tiene en cuenta la Shoá, el moderno Estado de Israel ni el sionismo.
En definitiva, es un buen libro, aunque hay que considerar los años pasados. Como judío ortodoxo, me encontré en desacuerdo con muchas de las ideas de Baeck, pero esa ya es una apreciación personal que en nada disminuye los argumentos del autor.

[Jordon Gyarmathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always enjoy reading Leo Baeck. As someone who was raised Christian, fell out of religion entirely, then converted to Judaism, I appreciate the comparative view of both Abrahamic religions. It is almost like Baeck is articulating the reasons why Christianity did not appeal to me and Judaism did. In this work he speaks about dogmatism, prophets, "faith," obligation to fellow man, love, and knowledge. I recommend this to anyone interested in theology and Judaism.