We Jews: Who Are We and What Should We Do? »

Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz is internationally regarded as one of the greatest rabbis of this century and of the last. Scholar, teacher, mystic, scientist, and social critic—and hailed by Time magazine as a "once-in-a-millennium scholar"—Rabbi Steinsaltz has been a resident scholar at Yale University, at the Institute for Advanced Studies at Princeton, and at the Woodrow Wilson Institute in Washington, D.C. Best known for his monumental translation of and commentary on the Talmud, Rabbi Steinsaltz has also founded a network of educational institutions and outreach programs in the United States, Israel, the former Soviet Union, Great Britain, and Australia. He is the recipient of the Israel Prize and of the French Order of Arts and Literature. The author of many books including Opening the Tanya and Learning from the Tanya, Rabbi Steinsaltz is widely known throughout the world as an extraordinary teacher.

In We Jews, Rabbi Steinsaltz explores the most important issues that concern  Jews today as Jews.  He provides wise and uplifting answers to Jews everywhere, whether they are secular and assimilated or orthodox–Are we a nation or a religion? Are the stereotypes of Jews really true? Why are Jews so controversial? How can we navigate the opposing forces of diversity, culture, and politics? Can we survive intermarriage and the loss of tradition? Do we still worship the Golden Calf? In this book, Rabbi Steinsaltz sees causes and consequences, achievements and failures, looks at the contemporary world, and observes the dreams and longings of modern Jewish people.  Written as an intimate and inspiring internal memo to the whole Jewish family, We Jews answers these questions and many more in a way that is at once insightful and inspiring.

Publishers Weekly

Based in Jerusalem, Steinsaltz is an internationally influential rabbi who is best known for his prodigious project of translating and reinterpreting the Talmud. This book is a series of 12 essays, each attempting to answer a perplexing and formidable question: What are the implications of the Jewish capacity to identify with the surrounding culture? Why do Jews have no united leadership? Are Jews a nation, a religion, an ethnic group or a race? Do Jews have unique character traits? Why do Jews want to save the world? Are Jews too emotional or too intellectual? What does it mean to be the chosen people? How is it that Jews have made such impressive contributions to artistic and intellectual achievement? What is the basis for anti-Semitism? What will become of the Jewish people? Most of these questions will apply more to Diaspora Jews than to those living in Israel. The issues Steinsaltz identifies are tough conundrums that do not lend themselves to easy answers; he struggles valiantly but often vainly to come up with satisfactory solutions, suggesting that the value is in raising the questions, not necessarily in answering them. His elucidation of each subject demonstrates his profound erudition, not only enabling readers to see a great mind at work but also challenging them to seek their own resolution of the hard dilemmas that have been so clearly posed. (Apr.) Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.