Beyond Reasonable Doubt

Rating:
Summary: Leading theologian makes convincing arguments
Review: I find one of the reviews on this site curious; it makes the bizarre claim that modern day academics have abandoned the findings of higher biblical criticism: i.e. the fact that we now know that the current text of the Torah was redacted together from several earlier sources. The fact is that this is not a matter of debate in any academic circles, religious or non-religious. No uneducated and bible-thumping fundamentalists can claim otherwise. On this subject, it is best to read "Who Wrote the Bible" by Richard Elliot Friedman.

The strenght of Louis Jacob's theology is that he moves beyond the "Do it because I told you God said so" approach so popular among the Orthodox. Orthodox Jews claim that the text of the Torah is a direct quote from God, and thus we are obligated to follow its rules. Non-religious Jews use the findings of modern critical Bible study to show that since our understanding of how the Bible was edited is now known to be flawed, then it can't possibly be inspired in any way; therefore, humanity is free from trying to follow the word of God in this way (or in any way). In between these paths lies a view promoted by Rabbi Jacobs, and by Masorti and Conservative Judaism in general. He notes that *how* God inspired man is one question; whether or not God does so is another. If God does exist, and does inspire mankind in some way, then the Torah may well contain man's understanding of God's will, as Judaism has always claimed. Unfortunately, no brief review can do justice to the subtle and convincing arguments that Rabbi Jacobs makes for his views: non-fundamentalist, observant, authentic Judaism. You will have to read it for yourself - and you'll be the better for it.

Also, I strongly suggest obtaining "Halakha for Our Time" by Rabbi David Golinkin, published by the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, and "The Dynamics of Judaism", by Rabbi Robert Gordis.

Rating:
Summary: A bold effort to synthesize modern research with belief.
Review: In defense of Jacobs' much-maligned works, I believe that this book makes a valiant effort to describe a mode of Judaism that harmonizes historical-critical research and belief. Although the author himself admits that gray areas do exist in his non-traditional "liberal supernaturalism", it is certainly a step toward a definition of belief for today's Jews. The book is written in a very personal tone, one that some readers may find distracting; I found it to add an interesting autobiographical flavor, one that reflects Jacobs' journey from yeshiva student to Masorti proponent. Incidentally, he makes no claim that the so-called "High criticism" represented by Wellhausen's Documentary Hypothesis has been utterly rejected, only that it has been subject to scholarly revision and modification in recent years.

Rating:
Summary: A guide in misusing Biblical texts
Review: This book should really be entitled 'Beyond Reasonable Scholarship.' Dr Jacobs bases his argument on the false claim that Jewish tradition only countenances a single author for Psalms i.e. King David. Then he goes on to infer that as this is untrue (how could David write about future events?) the belief in the divine authorship of the five books of Moses must also be untrue. This is blatant nonsence as Dr Jacobs must know.
There are several Talmudic references to Psalms as a composite work and many later commentators such as David Kimkhi and the Malbim also explain how Psalms was the work of over 10 authors, edited in his generation by David and that later editions added Psalms written in the Babylonian exile. Therefore the supposed authorship of Psalms has not a jot to do with the authorship of the Pentateuch. This a bad book full of bad scholarship. It is also an insult to any academic or traditionally learned Jew who is aware of the sources.