We all must read Michal Goodman

Mr Goodman offers us an extraordinary synthesis of religion, philosophy, politics, and social psychology. “The Wondering Jew” constructs a framework to understand the dynamics between Israeli secular Zionism and religious Zionism, as the well as the expanding polarities within each community. He skilfully connects ancient ideas to the ruminations of scholars in Middle Ages (especially Moses Maimonides), with a robust through line to today. Though informed by a critique of contemporary incarnations of Judaism in Israel and in the Diaspora, as well as a reflection on Jewish politics, his message is positive and finds the glass half full. He is by no means a partisan complainer. Instead, he is a visionary, finding the good on all “sides” of the argument regarding Jewish identity. Goodman suggests concrete ideas and actions for society, and for each of us as individuals. If you have an open mind, regardless of what jersey you wear, this work creates a dynamic thought architecture that facilitates a reflection on where we are today, Micah Goodman writes with fluidity and intuitive, linear logic. As such, the book is extremely accessible and a pleasure to read. I rate “The Wondering Jew” eleven, on a scale of ten!

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