An engaging look into the philosophies and lifestyles of the various sects of Orthodox Jewish fundamentalists. Landau (an editor of the Israeli daily Haaretz) examines the resurgence of haredism and its sociopolitical impact. Though he describes haredi ghettos in London, N.Y.C., and elsewhere, he focuses primarily on Israeli sects, delineating their newly emerged political power and predicting a growing role for them in Israeli's future: Haredi mentor ``Rabbi Shach's decision in March 1990 to support the [right wing] Likud was the most momentous event in Israeli politics for years.'' Both the rightist Likud and the left- leaning Labor parties woo the haredim with financial support for their institutions of learning and with draft deferments for their ubiquitous Talmudic academy students. Landau documents the extent of all this kosher political pork, tracing it back to Israeli's founding years. Though he remains objective throughout, he depicts the 92-year-old spiritual leader of Degel Hatorah as backward and bigoted and cites a Hasidic editor who warns against ``talking with disgusting heretics.'' More appealing are Landau's portraits of more tolerant leaders like Rabbi Schneerson, the Lubavitcher Rebbe, and Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, the spiritual leader of Sephardic Jews from North Africa and the Near East. Landau also details the schisms that divide the sects from one another, and the even wider breach between them and the National Religious Party, representing the Modern Orthodox in Israel. While Modern Orthodox are, for the most part, fervent nationalists, the haredim, the author says, see the sinfully secular state of Israel as ``a vindication of their anti- Zionism.'' Landau concludes with a fascinating study of the fierce debate in Israel and beyond on ``Who is a Jew?,'' suggesting that ``the dismissal of haredism as anachronistic may itself be an anachronism.'' A valuable, well-researched study of this misunderstood minority of a minority. (Appended with a solid bibliography and a glossary of both Yiddish and Hebrew terms.)
Pub Date: June 1, 1993
ISBN: 0-8090-7605-5
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Hill and Wang/Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 1993
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.
A compendium of charts, time lines, lists and illustrations to accompany study of the Bible.
This visually appealing resource provides a wide array of illustrative and textually concise references, beginning with three sets of charts covering the Bible as a whole, the Old Testament and the New Testament. These charts cover such topics as biblical weights and measures, feasts and holidays and the 12 disciples. Most of the charts use a variety of illustrative techniques to convey lessons and provide visual interest. A worthwhile example is “How We Got the Bible,” which provides a time line of translation history, comparisons of canons among faiths and portraits of important figures in biblical translation, such as Jerome and John Wycliffe. The book then presents a section of maps, followed by diagrams to conceptualize such structures as Noah’s Ark and Solomon’s Temple. Finally, a section on Christianity, cults and other religions describes key aspects of history and doctrine for certain Christian sects and other faith traditions. Overall, the authors take a traditionalist, conservative approach. For instance, they list Moses as the author of the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible) without making mention of claims to the contrary. When comparing various Christian sects and world religions, the emphasis is on doctrine and orthodox theology. Some chapters, however, may not completely align with the needs of Catholic and Orthodox churches. But the authors’ leanings are muted enough and do not detract from the work’s usefulness. As a resource, it’s well organized, inviting and visually stimulating. Even the most seasoned reader will learn something while browsing.
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2005
ISBN: 978-1-5963-6022-8
Page Count: -
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 23, 2010
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
This a book of earlier, philosophical essays concerned with the essential "absurdity" of life and the concept that- to overcome the strong tendency to suicide in every thoughtful man-one must accept life on its own terms with its values of revolt, liberty and passion. A dreary thesis- derived from and distorting the beliefs of the founders of existentialism, Jaspers, Heldegger and Kierkegaard, etc., the point of view seems peculiarly outmoded. It is based on the experience of war and the resistance, liberally laced with Andre Gide's excessive intellectualism. The younger existentialists such as Sartre and Camus, with their gift for the terse novel or intense drama, seem to have omitted from their philosophy all the deep religiosity which permeates the work of the great existentialist thinkers. This contributes to a basic lack of vitality in themselves, in these essays, and ten years after the war Camus seems unaware that the life force has healed old wounds... Largely for avant garde aesthetes and his special coterie.
Pub Date: Sept. 26, 1955
ISBN: 0679733736
Page Count: 228
Publisher: Knopf
Review Posted Online: Sept. 19, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 1955
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