Moses Mendelssohn's Living Script: Philosophy, Practice, History, Judaism

Moses Mendelssohn (1729-1786) is often described as the founder of modern Jewish thought and as a leading philosopher of the late Enlightenment. One of Mendelssohn's main concerns was how to conceive of the relationship between Judaism, philosophy, and the civic life of a modern state. Elias Sacks explores Mendelssohn's landmark account of Jewish practice--Judaism's living script, to use his famous phrase--to present a broader reading of Mendelssohn's writings and extend inquiry into conversations about modernity and religion. By studying Mendelssohn's thought in these dimensions, Sacks suggests that he shows a deep concern with history. Sacks affords a view of a foundational moment in Jewish modernity and forwards new ways of thinking about ritual practice, the development of traditions, and the role of religion in society.

Author: Elias Sacks
Publisher: Indiana University Press
Published: 12/12/2016
Pages: 334
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.46lbs
Size: 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.88d
ISBN: 9780253023742

Review Citation(s):
Choice 08/01/2017

About the Author

Elias Sacks is Assistant Professor of Religious Studies and Jewish Studies at the University of Colorado Boulder.