Heschel came from preeminent rabbinic families, deeply rooted in European Jewish history. His education encompassed rigorous traditional yeshiva studies alongside his academic pursuits, culminating in a doctorate from the University of Berlin. He delved into the profound spiritual and philosophical dimensions of Jewish thought, leaving a legacy of ideas that resonate beyond academic circles. His work explores the essence of faith and its relevance in the modern era.
"Abraham Joshua Heschel, descended from a long line of Orthodox rabbis, fled Europe to escape the Nazis. He made the insights of traditional Jewish spirituality come alive for American Jews while speaking out boldly against war and racial injustice"-- Provided by publisher
Offers the first English translations of selected writings by Abraham Joshua Heschel from his tumultuous years in Nazi-ruled Germany and months in London exile. Composed during a time of intense crisis for European Jewry, these writings both argue for and exemplify a powerful vision of spiritually rich Jewish learning and its redemptive role.
"Heschel's last statement on despair and hope in Hasidism as he experienced it himself through study of the Baal Shem Tov and the Kotzker, whose life and thought is dramatically depicted in this book." —Prof. Fritz A. Rothschild, The Jewish Theological Seminary It is comparatively easy to preach joy and fervor, but to demand Truth is like shaping marble without tools. And so [the Kotzker] went looking for a few surging people and called loudly upon their souls to bend their conceit and see the Truth beneath the soil.... This was not a philosophical inquiry into the nature of Truth but a scrutiny of men’s lives in relation to Truth. Religion, the Kotzker maintained, was not simply an act of adopting a system of beliefs and certain modes of conduct; test and trial were needed, and one had to ascertain through introspection whether one’s beliefs were genuine or not, and whether one acted out Truth or lived a life of pretense.... Kierkegaard made it his task “to reintroduce Christianity into Christendom.” The Kotzker sought to reintroduce authenticity to Jewish life. Kierkegaard’s posthumous impact has been powerful. But has the Kotzker affected Jewish self-understanding?—from A Passion for Truth
A classic study of religion and God's relationship with His people. A major text for every faith that believes the Bible is a holy book. Abraham Joshua Heschel was one of the greatest theologians of the twentieth-century and this is his definitive work.
Elegant, passionate, and filled with the love of God's creation, Abraham Joshua Heschel's The Sabbath has been hailed as a classic of Jewish spirituality ever since its original publication-and has been read by thousands of people seeking meaning in modern life. In this brief yet profound meditation on the meaning of the Seventh Day, Heschel introduced the idea of an "architecture of holiness" that appears not in space but in time. Judaism, he argues, is a religion of time: it finds meaning not in space and the material things that fill it but in time and the eternity that imbues it, so that "the Sabbaths are our great cathedrals."
Offers insights that speak to the essence of prayer.
The collection showcases the essays of a prominent figure in Judaic studies, highlighting his intellectual depth and insight. Compiled and edited by his daughter, Susannah Heschel, it offers readers a unique perspective on his contributions to the field. This compilation serves as a testament to his scholarly virtuosity and enduring influence.
Heschel's classic work on Maimonides, originally published in Berlin during the thirties, in one of the few scholarly biographies available of the great medieval philosopher.
Abraham Joshua Heschel was one of the most revered religious leaders of the 20th century, and God in Search of Man and its companion volume, Man Is Not Alone, two of his most important books, are classics of modern Jewish theology. God in Search of Man combines scholarship with lucidity, reverence, and compassion as Dr. Heschel discusses not man's search for God but God's for man--the notion of a Chosen People, an idea which, he writes, "signifies not a quality inherent in the people but a relationship between the people and God." It is an extraordinary description of the nature of Biblical thought, and how that thought becomes faith.
Abraham Heschel is a seminal name in religious studies and the author of Man Is Not Alone and God in Search of Man. When The Prophets was first published in 1962, it was immediately recognized as a masterpiece of biblical scholarship. The Prophets provides a unique opportunity for readers of the Old Testament, both Christian and Jewish, to gain fresh and deep knowledge of Israel's prophetic movement. The author's profound understanding of the prophets also opens the door to new insight into the philosophy of religion.