The Jewish Prison: A Rebellious Meditation on the State of Judaism

by Jean Daniel

In a provocative personal inquiry, the author posits a challenging idea: By considering themselves God's "chosen people," the Jews have imprisoned themselves. Attempting to upend his own assumptions and those of the reader, Daniel provides an adventurous testimony closely rooted in current events and in an exploration of his own Jewishness. THE JEWISH PRISON carefully considers Israel, both as a state and as an idea, and its influence upon the worldwide Jewish community. It examines anti-Semitism, both historically and in the present day. And it rigorously questions, throughout, the role of religion in modern morality.

Genres: Nonfiction

212 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2005

About the author

Jean Daniel, (né Jean Daniel Bensaid) (born 21 July 1920) is an Algerian-born French-Jewish journalist and author. He is the founder and executive editor of Le Nouvel Observateur weekly. (wikipedia)

Reviews

[Melville House Publishing · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a provocative personal inquiry, the author posits a challenging idea: By considering themselves God's "chosen people," the Jews have imprisoned themselves. Attempting to upend his own assumptions and those of the reader, Daniel provides an adventurous testimony closely rooted in current events and in an exploration of his own Jewishness. THE JEWISH PRISON carefully considers Israel, both as a state and as an idea, and its influence upon the worldwide Jewish community. It examines anti-Semitism, both historically and in the present day. And it rigorously questions, throughout, the role of religion in modern morality.

[Dionysius the Areopagite · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gem found by accident at the checkout of Lehigh's Linderman Library for a quarter, many moons ago, refound the other day unloading a crate of books I'd tucked away, forgotten about, over a year ago. Jean Daniel, Job: Melville House's The Jewish Ink, doused page after page ballpoint black ink citations to be revisited in a forthcoming psychiatric paper. Good times.