Judaism Beyond God

by Sherwin T. Wine, Adam Chalom (Foreword)

Judaism Beyond God presents an innovative secular and humanistic alternative for Jewish identity. It provides new answers to old questions about the essence of Jewish identity, the real meaning of Jewish history, the significance of the Jewish personality, and the nature of Jewish ethics. It also describes a radical and creative way to be Jewish - new ways to celebrate Jewish holidays and life cycle events, a welcoming approach to intermarriage and joining the Jewish people, and meaningful paths to strengthen Jewish identity in a secular age.

Genres: Judaism, Jewish, Judaica, Philosophy, Nonfiction

286 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1985

Reviews

[Arthaey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Drily written, with more history and less "how to be / what to do as a modern secular" than I was hoping for.

[Tucker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read for a second time. Basically I agree with his thesis as a whole, though a few of his blunter, briefer, broader comments, such as “In the twentieth century, no major intellectual figure advocates faith," are not really true or helpful. Some people will stop reading when they hit sentences like these, which makes it a little tricky for me to recommend it to people, and I'm surprised this wasn't totally cleaned up as errata when the original 1985 book was revised in 1995. With this book, he is not, however, intending to win friends or converts to non-theistic humanism anyway. He is speaking to Jews who already don't believe in God and who want to figure out how they can live their own lives, prioritizing reason and human dignity over sticking with old traditions (to maintain their intellectual integrity as non-theists) yet also retaining their Jewish identity. I posted an article to Medium: "What Can Jews Do When They Don't Believe in God?"

[Jaana Ylikangas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is, in my opinion, the best book by rabbi Wine. Good from the start to the end. It makes clear how Judaism is a cultural context and offers (to me) acceptable answers to the challenges of today´s world. Rabbi Wine is a brilliant thinker. At times one can see how those who he refers to belong to the era of his studies, but his conclusions are fresh and humanistic. In the way he defines Judaism, it´s my faith as well. Respect the past, learn from it, act! Philosophy that is not only words. No bitterness. He tells us there are no magical, supernatural powers, but I think the book has magical powers to change people´s lives :-) !

[jodi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Addresses my questions, but doesn't answer them. Hope others can offer further ideas and insights.

[Rodger W. Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Common sense that is not so common.

I loved this book because I could resolve my heritage without having to leave my brain at the door Rabbi Wine is one of the bravest among us.

[Felipe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ll never look at Judaism the same way again after reading this book. It does the necessary job of exposing incoherences between mainstream (including Reform) Judaism and the lifestyle and beliefs of millions of modern Jews (and any secular person, for that matter). The kind of thing so many of us have in mind but never really stop to think and systematise. Importantly (as the book itself makes clear), it goes beyond criticism and offers a positive alternative point of view on many topics.

Not a 5-star because I think it needs some urgent editing (the version I have was written in 1995 and I couldn’t find any more recent one). Most sources don’t go further than the 70’s. Perhaps because of that, I feel some opinions expressed there (e.g. our relationship with nature) are still 20th century ones.

All in all, if the title rings the bell to you, it’s well worth the read.

[Mira · Rating 3 out of 5]

I agree with the vast majority of what Wine writes in this book, but the outright contempt for and nastiness towards "ambivalent" Jews- Reform, Conservative and Reconstructionist- keeps me from reccomending it. Who the hell are we agnostics to say that being observant is spitting on the memory of the Jews who died unsaved by god in the Holocaust- especially considering those survivors who did continue to observe? It undermines Wine's argument that Secular Humanistic Judaism should be about finding our own path, rather than just tearing down traditions or acting out of contrarianism, when most of the book is doing just that.

(Also, his optimism in 1985 that secular diaspora Jews would help influence Israel to be less ruled by corrupt fundamentalists and promote equality for all who lived there is heartbreaking to read now.)

[Joshua · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maybe it asks more questions than it answers, but they're good questions. Sets out the basis of a good and lucid philosophy of Jewish identity.

[Patrick Aleph · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit dull. I prefer Sherwin Wine on video OR A Provocative People which was AMAZING.

[Paulo Reimann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good

Good stuff. One must stretch his mind. Accept a different view from the traditional. I would say Wine teachings are in between his and the Lubavitcher.