Judaism
Reclaimed: Philosophy and Theology in the Torah
Rabbi
Shmuel Phillips
Reviewed by
- Rabbi Ari Kahn
Torah study is a multi-faceted discipline, ranging from the
examination of biblical texts to the study of Mishnah, Talmud, and Kabbalistic
literature (and much more). Even the
first, most basic element, reading the text of the chumash itself, can
be approached from a variety of different angles. One approach focuses on the
so-called pshat, which I would translate as the straightforward, contextual
understanding of the text, but many more levels of understanding are available.
It is told of the famed Gaon of Vilna, a man who singlehandedly authored more
commentaries on esoteric Kabbalistic ideas than almost all of his contemporaries
combined, that toward the end of his life he returned to the text of the Torah
as his main text of study. The Vilna Gaon focused on the most basic Jewish text
as the source of the ideas developed in the Mishnah, the Talmud, the midrashim,
the Zohar, and the writings of the Rambam, precisely because he saw that all of
the wisdom accumulated and extrapolated over centuries of Jewish learning
emerge from this text. Law, philosophy and ethics emerge from the text of the
Torah, and often “between the lines,” as well.
Rabbi Shmuel Phillips’ recent work rests upon a similar
approach as it unlocks the Torah for this generation. His new book, Judaism
Reclaimed, facilitates a multi-faceted, multi-disciplined appreciation
of Torah ideas for modern readers. The book covers a vast array of topics and an
almost-dizzying number of sources. In a sense, Judaism Reclaimed is
a wonderful review of – and response to – modern intellectual discourse.
Rabbi Phillips “dusts off” the writings of Maimonides, especially
the Guide for the Perplexed, which some modern Jewish scholars have claimed is
more suited to medieval intellectual concerns, especially in the sections that address
Islamic or Greek philosophy (see, for example, Rabbi J.B. Soloveitchik, The
Halakhic Mind). Judaism
Reclaimed has the Rambam weigh in on a host of modern issues. Similarly,
Rabbi Phillips shines another major light on the issues he tackles by bringing Rav
Shimshon R. Hirsch into the discussion. Rav Hirsch’s insights, presented deftly
and with great sensitivity and skill by Rabbi Phillips, quite often prove extremely
current, even prescient, and extremely forward-thinking. But these are far from
isolated examples: Judaism
Reclaimed cites a broad-ranging list of thinkers and writers, both
ancient and modern, to buttress arguments and illuminate the discussion
(including insights from my first published work, Explorations, which
has recently been re-published in a much-expanded version titled Explorations
Expanded: Bereishit).
If I were to voice any small criticism of Judaism
Reclaimed, it would not be with Rabbi Phillips’ enlightening and
engaging volume but with the recommendation for it penned by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks,
who implies that Judaism Reclaimed introduces a new philosophical approach. I
found quite the opposite to be the case: The strength of the book lies in its
strong foundations, as it bases its arguments on – rather than departing from -
generations of Jewish and general philosophy. Rather than trailblazing a new path,
Judaism Reclaimed revisits, re-examines, clarifies; it makes the
old path newly accessible.
My second “criticism” regards tone rather than content, as
reflected in the title: The author believes that Judaism needs to be “reclaimed.”
Rabbi Phillips implies that evil or ignorant forces have attempted a hostile
takeover of Jewish thought. Consequently, at times his tone is strident when pointing
out and rejecting the inroads these forces have made.
These small criticisms aside, Judaism Reclaimed
is a wonderful introduction (for some, it will be more of a clear-headed
review) of major chapters in classical Jewish thought and intellectual episodes
of more recent vintage. The work is extremely well-written and well-informed, and
I have no doubt that it will serve as a reading companion, a source of ideas,
and a springboard for discussion for years to come.
