Sacred Fragments

Rabbi Neil Gillman's Sacred Fragments is a brilliant introduction to Jewish theology. Since my childhood religious education was rather devoid of intellectual content, it was neat to see the various approaches to theology and their connections with general Western philosophy.

Gillman explores the traditionalist outlook, the radical views held by Reconstructionist Judaism, and the middle-of-the-road positions of Franz Rosenweig, Abraham Heschel, and others. His topics range from the epistemology behind Jewish beliefs to the purpose of ritual and how Jewish thinkers comprehend the Holocaust. Sacred Fragments is a challenging read but well worth the effort for anyone curious about the ideas underlying Judaism.