Judaism for Everyone ... without Dogma

by Bernardo Sorj

This book presents an exceptional and stimulating view of Judaism and what it means to be Jewish. Instead of basing his arguments on blind faith and quotations of sacred texts the author argues for a Judaism oriented by humanistic values and personal freedom. For almost two thousand years, historical circumstance has made being Jewish a matter of fate. Now it is becoming more and more a matter of individual choice. Judaism for Everyone ... without Dogma is an effort to contribute to the advancement of a Judaism that is based on freedom not on fear or blind acceptance of authority. Tradition and collective memory are raw materials that each generation must reinterpret and in which new meanings are found. Individuals that value their capacity to decide what is right and wrong cannot accept ready-made formulas. For them the question is not what Judaism is but rather how to find their own way to be a Jew. In a series of short chapters the reader will travel through Jewish history from biblical times to our days. He will find that the making of the Jewish people was always influenced by other cultures and through this long history different models of Judaism developed. The author shows how Judaism survived by reinventing itself by adapting to new circumstances and cultural change. The more open the local society was the more diverse and rich Judaism became. Diversity and pluralism do not endanger Judaism. On the contrary, it only threatens those that claim a monopoly on deciding what Judaism should be. The second part of the book presents a panorama of the different ways that in modern times the Jews absorbed the cultural and political values of the Enlightenment, producing a pluralistic culture. From Spinoza to Einstein, from Freud to Buber, from Kafka to Amos Oz a vibrant Jewish culture has developed which is based on reason and humanistic values, not on dogma. It is this culture which has become the common ground for most Jews today.

190 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Brazilian social scientist, professor of Sociology at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. He is Director of Plataforma Democrática Project and Director of the Edelstein Center for Social Research.

He has published 23 books and more than 100 articles, on Latin American development, the social impact of new technologies, social theory and Judaism.

Reviews

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Uma excelente introdução à história do Judaísmo e suas diversas correntes. Trata-se de um livro muitíssimo equilibrado e que aponta até caminhos para o futuro do Judaísmo.

[Dani López · Rating 2 out of 5]

Es un repaso del judaísmo y un comentario a la actualidad desde el judaísmo reformista. No está mal, pero a quien conozca el tema no le aportará nada la primera parte del libro. Y si se es muy observante, no estará de acuerdo con sus puntos de vista.

[Caio Lescher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ótima introdução sobre história judaica e debates contemporâneos. O livro é ao mesmo tempo didático e preciso e traz perspectivas interessantes sobre possibilidades de renovação do judaísmo hoje, procurando se atualizar a pautas atuais e se contrapor a doutinas limitantes e conservadoras.

[Luis Puente · Rating 4 out of 5]

Todos los títulos son concisos.

Por que es un excelente libro ya que nos lleva a conocer bien el judaísmo de forma amena y concisa.