Saving Judaism from the Extremes

The legacy of Leopold Zunz

Simon Eder Study Group April 2017

Simon looked at the extraordinary parallels between Zunz and Jacobs and asked, as much of world Jewry has veered ever further to the right, –  can the Middle Way be restored?

It is the 200th anniversary of the publication of the groundbreaking article On Rabbinic Literature. In twenty pages, Zunz – son of an assistant Cantor – created critical Jewish scholarship. Described as a “Jewish Luther” he uncovered the power of science as applied to our tradition and its texts. He was a trail blazer for all who follow, among them Rabbi, Louis Jacobs. What is the legacy of the Wissenschaft des Judentums movement? What are the extraordinary parallels between Zunz and Jacobs? As much of world Jewry has veered ever further to the right – can the Middle Way be restored?