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Sin•a•gogue: Sin and Failure in Jewish Thought
"A manual for living with defeat" ―Tablet
It is no more possible to think about religion without sin than it is to think about a garden without dirt. By its very nature, the ideals of religion entail sin and failure. Judaism has its own language and framework for sin that expresses themselves both legally and philosophically. Both legal questions―circumstances where sin is permissible or mandated, the role of intention and action―as well as philosophical questions―why sin occurs and how does Judaism react to religious crisis―are considered within this volume. This book will present the concepts of sin and failure in Jewish thought, weaving together biblical and rabbinic studies to reveal a holistic portrait of the notion of sin and failure within Jewish thought. The suffix "agogue" means to lead or grow. Here as well, Sin•a• Sin and Failure in Jewish Thought will provide its readers frameworks and strategies to develop even in the face of failure.
It is no more possible to think about religion without sin than it is to think about a garden without dirt. By its very nature, the ideals of religion entail sin and failure. Judaism has its own language and framework for sin that expresses themselves both legally and philosophically. Both legal questions―circumstances where sin is permissible or mandated, the role of intention and action―as well as philosophical questions―why sin occurs and how does Judaism react to religious crisis―are considered within this volume. This book will present the concepts of sin and failure in Jewish thought, weaving together biblical and rabbinic studies to reveal a holistic portrait of the notion of sin and failure within Jewish thought. The suffix "agogue" means to lead or grow. Here as well, Sin•a• Sin and Failure in Jewish Thought will provide its readers frameworks and strategies to develop even in the face of failure.
210 pages, Paperback
Published March 18, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
October 22, 2023
Did I fail to enjoy it?
October 22, 2019
What a spectacular book.
Very thought provoking.
On a side note, I'll say one of the hallmarks of a great book is that my reading list doubled from the endnotes and bibliography.
My only quibble is my preference for footnotes over end notes, as it save the time of flipping back and forth.
But, I've already passed it on to my wife who is also engrossed. I'm sure I'll read it again.
Very thought provoking.
On a side note, I'll say one of the hallmarks of a great book is that my reading list doubled from the endnotes and bibliography.
My only quibble is my preference for footnotes over end notes, as it save the time of flipping back and forth.
But, I've already passed it on to my wife who is also engrossed. I'm sure I'll read it again.
August 2, 2019
The well-rounded and always interesting Dovid Bashevkin hits a grand-slam with the publication of his debut book. Combing both novel sources and a stark truths, Bashevkin answers many questions that so many are hesitant to ask.
This book will certainly get you thinking!!!
This book will certainly get you thinking!!!
December 2, 2024
This book was written for observant Jews familiar with Torah and beginning yeshiva studies. Since I have none of those requirements, I really should've given up on this book, but stubbornly tried anyway. I was curious about "sin and failure in Jewish Thought." There were many times I had to stop and search for something on Google, since Bashevkin assumes you know Hebrew, too.
Section One was interesting, but then it went downhill from there. By the time I'd finished the book, I couldn't remember what was discussed at the beginning. It all gets jumbled together. There are 394 endnotes, which I just skimmed. (I usually read endnotes, but these aren't like Richard Dawkins endnotes. They rarely are just more than citing sources.)
So, in the end, I know I don't want to be Jewish (in the religious sense. There is a part in the book going into what makes a Jew a Jew.) A good Jew doesn't masturbate. Well, count me out. Jews are also cautioned about never despairing or being troubled. I was born with major depression ... I can't help BUT despair. What about Jews with depression? That's not gone into, although rabbinical advice was to keep busy. Which is impossible to do when you barely have the energy to get out of bed to go to the toilet.
The last chapter goes into the personal and professional correspondence of noted Rabbis. The author states that this is where real thoughts of the rabbis on sin can be found -- which kind of makes me wonder why more of the book wasn't devoted to them.
There are many passages where Rabbis give contradictory advice. One says you can sin with a thought -- another says you can't sin with a thought. Usually, there's a general consensus, but by then I was too confused to catch it.
There were some interesting concepts like comparing the Christian view of original sin to the Jewish view; did God sin when he ordered the moon to diminish; the holy sin, such as when Esther had to commit adultery to save the Jewish people.
But overall, I'm regretting trying to tackle this book.
Section One was interesting, but then it went downhill from there. By the time I'd finished the book, I couldn't remember what was discussed at the beginning. It all gets jumbled together. There are 394 endnotes, which I just skimmed. (I usually read endnotes, but these aren't like Richard Dawkins endnotes. They rarely are just more than citing sources.)
So, in the end, I know I don't want to be Jewish (in the religious sense. There is a part in the book going into what makes a Jew a Jew.) A good Jew doesn't masturbate. Well, count me out. Jews are also cautioned about never despairing or being troubled. I was born with major depression ... I can't help BUT despair. What about Jews with depression? That's not gone into, although rabbinical advice was to keep busy. Which is impossible to do when you barely have the energy to get out of bed to go to the toilet.
The last chapter goes into the personal and professional correspondence of noted Rabbis. The author states that this is where real thoughts of the rabbis on sin can be found -- which kind of makes me wonder why more of the book wasn't devoted to them.
There are many passages where Rabbis give contradictory advice. One says you can sin with a thought -- another says you can't sin with a thought. Usually, there's a general consensus, but by then I was too confused to catch it.
There were some interesting concepts like comparing the Christian view of original sin to the Jewish view; did God sin when he ordered the moon to diminish; the holy sin, such as when Esther had to commit adultery to save the Jewish people.
But overall, I'm regretting trying to tackle this book.
January 20, 2022
Worth a read but it was pretty scattered/there wasn’t a cognizable theme tying the book together beyond “sin in Jewish though” - i would’ve preferred a more refined concept or thesis but that may just be personal preference
November 9, 2023
Different rating scale for non fiction! Lost me a few times but overall a very readable and interesting discussion of how we might think about sin and failure in our lives as modern humans and modern Jews.
October 6, 2022
The Perfect book for this time of year; I began reading on Rosh Hashana and ended with the story of Yonah on Yom Kippur. There's a fascinating array of schema combined with heartwarming compassion in this author's head. I'm better for reading it.
December 22, 2019
Start reading the Chumash, and sin is mentioned early on in chapter 3 in Genesis. Moreover, its repercussions are such that we live with them today. By the time one gets to Genesis chapter 4, we find that “sin crouches at the door.” So, sin is a big deal in Judaism. In Sin•a•gogue: Sin and Failure in Jewish Thought (Cherry Orchard Books), author Rabbi David Bashevkin has written a remarkable book that analyzes the nature of sin.
In a book about sin, Bashevkin commits one (albeit quite minor) when he mistakenly calls anthropologist Franz Boas by the name of Frank Boas. Nevertheless, that is a sin that is easily forgiven.
Boas is known as the one who observed that Eskimo’s have myriad terms for the word snow. Bashevkin notes that the assertion since questioned, if not entirely discredited, is still instructive in considering the many names for sin in the Hebrew language. Terms such as chet, avon, pesha, avera, and others show that there are many different forms of sin.
In this most engaging book, Bashevkin surveys the Jewish attitude towards sin over the ages. While Bashevkin displays his fealty to traditional Judaism, he also explores the nature of sins, as seen in other religions and cultures.
In the Talmud, one of the poster children for sin is Elisha ben Avuya. It was he who ultimately received the inglorious moniker of acher, meaning “the other one”. Bashevkin does a superb job of explaining the Elisha ben Abuyah narrative. He notes that if Elisha ben Abuyah was the quintessential failed religious leader, his foil is Rabbi Akiva.
Bashevkin has done a remarkable job of explaining the Jewish approach to sin. For many, they may think it is closer to the mortifications of Opus Dei; when it is, in fact, just the opposite. Do not think that Bashevkin minimizes the effect of sin. Just the opposite. He makes it eminently clear its devastating effects. However, he also shows that sins can be rectified, and that there was only one acher.
If Bashevkin is guilty of any sin, it is that of brevity, in this all too short remarkable work. At a brief 145 pages, this fascinating book shows what a gifted and quick-witted writer he is. To which the reader is left, like a sinner, desirous, wanting much more.
In a book about sin, Bashevkin commits one (albeit quite minor) when he mistakenly calls anthropologist Franz Boas by the name of Frank Boas. Nevertheless, that is a sin that is easily forgiven.
Boas is known as the one who observed that Eskimo’s have myriad terms for the word snow. Bashevkin notes that the assertion since questioned, if not entirely discredited, is still instructive in considering the many names for sin in the Hebrew language. Terms such as chet, avon, pesha, avera, and others show that there are many different forms of sin.
In this most engaging book, Bashevkin surveys the Jewish attitude towards sin over the ages. While Bashevkin displays his fealty to traditional Judaism, he also explores the nature of sins, as seen in other religions and cultures.
In the Talmud, one of the poster children for sin is Elisha ben Avuya. It was he who ultimately received the inglorious moniker of acher, meaning “the other one”. Bashevkin does a superb job of explaining the Elisha ben Abuyah narrative. He notes that if Elisha ben Abuyah was the quintessential failed religious leader, his foil is Rabbi Akiva.
Bashevkin has done a remarkable job of explaining the Jewish approach to sin. For many, they may think it is closer to the mortifications of Opus Dei; when it is, in fact, just the opposite. Do not think that Bashevkin minimizes the effect of sin. Just the opposite. He makes it eminently clear its devastating effects. However, he also shows that sins can be rectified, and that there was only one acher.
If Bashevkin is guilty of any sin, it is that of brevity, in this all too short remarkable work. At a brief 145 pages, this fascinating book shows what a gifted and quick-witted writer he is. To which the reader is left, like a sinner, desirous, wanting much more.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews