The Wondering Jew, Micah Goodman
The Wondering Jew, Micah Goodman
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The Wondering Jew
Israel and the Search for Jewish Identity

Author: Micah Goodman

Narrator: Paul Boehmer

Unabridged: 6 hr 2 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Tantor Media

Published: 11/10/2020


Synopsis

A celebrated Israeli author explores the roots of the divide between religion and secularism in Israel today, and offers a path to bridging the divide

Zionism began as a movement full of contradictions, between a pull to the past and a desire to forge a new future. Israel has become a place of fragmentation, between those who sanctify religious tradition and those who wish to escape its grasp. Now, a new middle ground is emerging between religious and secular Jews who want to engage with their heritage—without being restricted by it or losing it completely.

In this incisive book, acclaimed author Micah Goodman explores Israeli Judaism and the conflict between religion and secularism, one of the major causes of political polarization throughout the world. Revisiting traditional religious sources and seminal works of secularism, he reveals that each contains an openness to learn from the other's messages. Goodman challenges both orthodoxies, proposing a new approach to bridge the divide between religion and secularism and pave a path toward healing a society torn asunder by extremism.

About Micah Goodman

Micah Goodman is president of Beit Prat, one of the leading organizations in Israel for young adults, and a senior fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem. The author of Catch-67, he is considered one of the most original and influential public intellectuals in Israel.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Rachel

Admittedly, I think I’m punching a little above my weight class with this one. I know most of the names and concepts, but am uncertain about fitting them all in a row. Luckily I read this book with my synagogue’s Israel book club, and am piqued by our shared discussion. In my breakaway group, we talk......more

Goodreads review by Mark

This was a nice little read. Had some interesting philosophical points. Essentially tried to explain how judaism in Israel has its own strain of thinking because its a majority Jewish country.......more

Goodreads review by Shawn

A fascinating examination of the complex nature of Jewish identity. In particular, Goodman is focused on the various strands of Judaism and Jewishness that are within Israeli culture. Though primarily focused on Israeli Jewishness, it is rooted in the long intellectual and religious traditions of th......more

Goodreads review by Alex

This was a well-written and well-argued philosophical work for a very limited audience... secular Israeli Jews. The author begins by trying to piss off Orthodox Jews. He almost succeeded with me. He talks a lot about orthodoxy as practiced in Israel which is decidedly different from that practiced i......more