Coherent Judaism begins by excavating the theologies within the Torah and tracing their careers through the Jewish Enlightenment of the 18th century. Any compelling, contemporary Judaism must cohere as much as possible with traditional Judaism. The challenge is that over the past two centuries, our understandings of both the Torah and nature have radically changed. Nevertheless, much Jewish wisdom can be translated into a contemporary idiom that not only coheres with what we know about our world but also enriches our lives as individuals and within our communities.

Coherent Judaism explains why pre-modern Judaism opted to privilege consensus around Jewish behavior (halakhah) over belief. The stresses of modernity have conspired to reveal the incoherence of that traditional approach. In our post-Darwinian and post-Holocaust world, theology must be able to withstand the challenges of science and history. Traditional Jewish theologies have the resources to meet those challenges. Coherent Judaism concludes by presenting a philosophy of halakhah that is faithful to the covenantal aspiration to live long on the land that the Lord, our God, has given us.

About the Author
Shai Cherry, Ph.D., is rabbi of Congregation Adath Jeshurun in Elkins Park, PA. Formerly on the faculties of Vanderbilt University and the University of San Diego, he is the featured lecturer for The Great Courses' "Introduction to Judaism" and author of Torah through Time: Understanding Bible Commentary from the Rabbinic Period to Modern Times.


Book Information
ISBN 9781644693407
Author Shai Cherry
Format Hardback
Page Count 570
Imprint Academic Studies Press
Publisher Academic Studies Press