I read this carefully, without being sure I understood your view. Although the last two paragraphs more clearly describe it, I thought.
Your final sentence “For me personally, I didn’t devote my life to a beautiful wisdom tradition called Judaism just to become like everybody else.” Is eloquent, and beautiful.
This is a very thoughtful and interesting framing of the Jewish dilemma in the modern world. Thank you for posting this, and congratulations on your appointment at Harvard.
Since this is a very scholarly dissertation and therefore rare, dissimilar to the bulk of writings, it needs to be reread and given thoughtful consideration.
The Jewish philosophical approach rarely seeks to puritanically negate or suppress primal forces (e.g., sexuality). Instead, it aims to ritualize and refine them; to sublimate their raw power, channel their energies, and transform them into instruments of sanctity and purpose. Nationalism (another primal force) ought not to be rejected, but productively redirected.
I read this carefully, without being sure I understood your view. Although the last two paragraphs more clearly describe it, I thought.
Your final sentence “For me personally, I didn’t devote my life to a beautiful wisdom tradition called Judaism just to become like everybody else.” Is eloquent, and beautiful.
Thank you, will respond tomorrow.
This is a very thoughtful and interesting framing of the Jewish dilemma in the modern world. Thank you for posting this, and congratulations on your appointment at Harvard.
Your paragraph (8) is on point. It is evident today.
Paragraph (9) was what I was encouraged to learn and I think it is fool-proof.
Since this is a very scholarly dissertation and therefore rare, dissimilar to the bulk of writings, it needs to be reread and given thoughtful consideration.
The Jewish philosophical approach rarely seeks to puritanically negate or suppress primal forces (e.g., sexuality). Instead, it aims to ritualize and refine them; to sublimate their raw power, channel their energies, and transform them into instruments of sanctity and purpose. Nationalism (another primal force) ought not to be rejected, but productively redirected.