Heschel
December 15, 2010
This month, I’ve assigned the Temple’s Board of Trustees to read Abraham Joshua Heschel’s book God in Search of Man, A Philosophy of Judaism. It’s a remarkable book, a powerful treatise on many facets of what it means to be a Jew, not just in terms of where we have come from but also in terms of who we can be as individuals and as a people. I invite you to read it along with us.
Heschel was born in Poland to a long line of Chasidic rabbis and settled in New York in the 1940’s. He became a prolific author, teacher, philosopher, civil rights and anti-war activist. He marched with Martin Luther King, represented Jewish interests in the drafting of Vatican II, and became the leading Jewish voice in interfaith dialogue in the 50’s and 60’s.
Heschel has also had a major influence on me. Through his writings I’ve come to understand faith and God in ways I had never considered before. Heschel has a way of ennobling the simple moments and evoking spiritual meaning in everyday events. His words have made Jewish life seem both more exalted, in a sense, and more ordinary.
Heschel wrote his doctoral thesis on the Hebrew prophets, and their influence–the striving to do right in the world–is embedded in all his books. He saw social justice as a religious obligation. He had a powerful sense of the ineffable, and concluded that the ultimate spirit of God could not be accessible via only one path, thus his important role in the relations between Christians and Jews.
Heschel lived in awe of the splendor of creation and of every moment. He was known to walk into an evening class and declare in a dramatic voice, “On my way here something extraordinary has happened. The sun set!” His vitality for life and striving for holiness in all things was a profound influence on Jews and non-Jews alike.
It’s not light reading, but the effort is well worthwhile.
This winter when it’s too cold to go out and you find yourself hungry for something more in life, join with the Trustees and curl up with Heschel. He left many books, some more accessible than others. His ringing prose and inspirational message make him one of the most quotable of authors on religion, God, Judaism, ethics and human behavior. Then please get in touch with me. I am interested to hear what you think.
