secular Jews | David Solomon

The sixth instalment of David’s Jewish Philosophy lecture series considers two renowned, sometimes controversial, philosophers living during the Enlightenment:

Baruch Spinoza, and
Moses Mendelssohn.

Watch the lecture here: https://youtu.be/IC_bZTM55yA

In the first part of this Zoom lecture, David examines the ideas and impact of Baruch Spinoza, including the ultimate cause of his excommunication from the Jewish community. He explores concepts developed by Spinoza in his books:

– Tractatus Theologico–Politicus (Theologico-Political Treatise), which provides a defence of secular thought, and

– Ethics, which discusses:

reality is God
the universe (God) is necessary and determined
miracles do not exist
there is no free will
the pursuit of reason leads to freedom.

For Moses Mendelssohn, David explains, the challenge was to reveal religion in the Age of Reason. Mendelssohn’s book, Jerusalem, explores:

the Torah as revealed law
differences in nature and the laws of the Jewish people
reason as the true religion of humanity
the test of religious truth and its effect on conduct.

As with previous lectures, David provides historical context for both philosophers, describing their 17th and 18th century worlds. He also tackles some of the beliefs and misconceptions about these figures, many of which have carried through to today.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 44:13 — 26.1MB)

Continue reading “#84 A Journey Through Jewish Philosophy (6)”

Although the Holocaust looms large as the defining feature of Jewish life in Germany, it was not an isolated historical event for German Jews. The Shoa followed a long and tragic trail of massacres, pogroms, and persecutions. However, the historical relationship between the Jewish and German peoples consisted of more than bloodshed and hardship. As David explains in this lecture, “the symbiotic relationship between the Jews of Germany and the general German population was nothing short of astounding.”

In this podcast episode, From Exile in Paradise to Redemption in Hell Jews and Judaism in Germany: past, present, and future, David explores the long and fascinating story of German Jewish life, from the days of the Roman Empire to the present, covering:

Jews and the Roman Empire
the beginnings of Ashkenazi Jewry and the influence of Rabbeinu Gershom
the Rhineland Massacres of the 11th century, known in Jewish history as the Akedah
Meir of Rottenberg and Asher ben Yechiel
the constant return of Jews to Germany despite ongoing persecution and recurring massacres
the impact of the Reformation
the restriction of Jews to money lending and their subsequent influence on economic policy
Moses Mendelssohn, the Enlightenment, and secular Judaism
Jewish conversion to Christianity as an essential requirement for advancement in 19th Germany
Jewish mystical interpretations of the relationship between Jews and Germany
the growth of contemporary Jewish communities in Germany
the enormity of the Shoa and its place in history
the integral nature of Jews to German life and history.