Being Jewish Today is a deeply humane, learned, and personal reflection on Jewish identity by Rabbi Tony Bayfield, exploring the meaning of Jewish identity and its relationship to Jewish tradition and belief. It covers a range of topics, including the journey of Jewish people and thought, Jewish identity, Israel as land and the scourge of anti-Semitism, Torah, universal suffering, and divine inaction. It appeals to all Jews and anyone curious about the nature of Judaism and religion today.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 384 pages
Publication date: 21 January 2021
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

A Deeply Humane, Learned, and Personal Reflection on Jewish Identity

Rowan Williams' "Being Jewish Today" is a profoundly humane, learned, and personal reflection on Jewish identity. It has resonated with many readers, including Daniel Finkelstein and Michael Marmot, who have praised it for its insightful exploration of the journey of a British Jew and the experiences of millions of people today. The book takes a comprehensive approach, covering geographic, historical, cultural, philosophical, political, autobiographical, and religious aspects of Jewish identity.

A Journey of Exploration and Reflection

Being Jewish Today is a journey of exploration and reflection. It begins with an account of the journey of Jewish people and thought from ancient times to the present day, tracing the evolution of Jewish identity and its relationship to Jewish tradition and belief. Bayfield then delves into the complexities of Jewish identity, exploring the concept of Israel as land and the scourge of anti-Semitism. He also examines the twin concerns of Torah: Halakhah – practice, and Aggadah – ethics, as well as the matter of belief in a world faced with global extinction.

Addressing Universal Suffering and Divine Inaction

Rabbi Bayfield confronts the widely evaded questions of universal suffering and divine inaction. He draws on key religious and secular thinkers to support his argument, making his book a compelling read for all Jews, whether religious or cultural, and anyone curious about the nature of Judaism and religion today.

A Masterful, Challenging, and Urgent Book

Bayfield's masterful, challenging, and urgent book will appeal to all Jews, whether religious or cultural, and to anyone curious about the nature of Judaism and religion today. It offers a fresh perspective on Jewish identity and its relationship to Jewish tradition and belief, and provides valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities facing the Jewish community today.

Weight: 410g
Dimension: 135 x 214 x 31 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781472983831