How Judaism Became a Religion

by Leora Batnitzky
How Judaism Became a Religion cover
Good Books rating 3.33
Religion and Theology
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  • ID: 7607
  • Added: 2025-12-16
  • Updated: 2025-12-16
  • ISBN: 9781400839711
  • Publisher: Princeton University Press
  • Published: 2011-08-22
  • Reviews: 3

In How Judaism Became a Religion, Leora Batnitzky presents a fresh perspective on the history of modern Jewish thought, questioning whether Judaism is a religion, a culture, or a nationality. This thought-provoking work traces the debates and creative tensions that have arisen as Jewish thinkers grapple with fitting Judaism into a modern, Protestant conception of religion as an individual and private matter of belief or faith. /n/n Batnitzky's wide-ranging introduction discusses major Jewish thinkers from the past three centuries, including Moses Mendelssohn, Abraham Geiger, and Martin Buber, while also exploring the emergence of modern orthodoxy, Jewish nationalism, and Jewish religion in America. This compelling narrative offers a new lens through which to understand the complex history of modern Jewish thought.

Reviews
Princeton University Press · 2025-12-16
novel 4.00

The book presents a novel argument about the clash between modern religion and Judaism, highlighting the creative aspects of this tension. It offers a fresh perspective on the evolution of Jewish thought.

The reviewer praises the book for its novel argument and fresh perspective on the relationship between modern religion and Judaism. They found the exploration of the creative tensions within Judaism particularly compelling. The reviewer suggests that the book offers a unique lens through which to understand the evolution of Jewish thought, making it a valuable contribution to the field.

Quick quotes

    Batnitzky makes the novel argument that it is this clash between the modern category of religion and Judaism that is responsible for much of the creative

    The book discusses many of the major Jewish

    Tracing how the idea of Jewish religion has been defended and resisted from the eighteenth century to today

Amazon · 2025-12-16
provocative 4.00

The book is intellectually provocative and sparks new ideas, making it a valuable read for both scholars and general readers. It offers a deep dive into the creative tensions within Judaism.

The reviewer highlights the book's ability to provoke new ideas and spark intellectual curiosity. They found it consistently engaging and thought-provoking, making it a valuable read for anyone interested in the subject. The reviewer particularly appreciates the way the book explores the creative tensions that arise from the clash between modern categories of religion and Judaism, offering a nuanced understanding of the topic.

Quick quotes

    Consistently intellectually provocative

    Sparking new ideas

    Anyone interested in the subject will find the book consistently intellectually provocative

Goodreads · 2025-12-16
challenging 2.00

The book is dense and challenging but offers a fascinating exploration of modern Jewish thought. It provides a unique perspective on the relationship between Judaism and the individual.

This book is not an easy read, but it's worth the effort. The reviewer found it dense and somewhat dry at times, but the insights into modern Jewish thought are invaluable. They particularly appreciated the way the book delves into the individual's relationship with Judaism, offering a fresh perspective on a complex subject. The reviewer suggests that while it might be aimed at scholars, anyone interested in the topic will find it intellectually stimulating.

Quick quotes

    Dry to begin with and very dense throughout

    A very interesting primer on modern Jewish thought

    Very interesting primer on modern Jewish thought regarding Judaism and the individual

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