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Song for Low Voice (in Eb) and Piano. Lyrics in German and English ... Read more

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Publisher: John LanePublication date: 1911Subjects: ComposersBiography ... Read more

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Recommedation for a book of recommendations
Radical Judaism creatively combines many of the trends in modern
Judaism--with Art Green's unique way of rendering issues and debates
as urgent calls to action--to bring us closer to solving many of the
problems that bother religious and other thoughtful people: how to
reclaim religious passion from its misdirection into divisiveness and
atrophy, how to make our colleagues wake up and take action on the
disasters facing humanity and the rest of the world today, how to
respect our heritage while fully accepting modern knowledge.

If enjoyed the book a lot and know that it represents a summary of
Green's life work so far, but I don't know his other books enough to
say how many steps forward this one takes. Readers should also be
aware that Green is in an exploratory stage of this fusion of ideas.
The book is not a doctrine and perhaps not even a signpost pointing us
in a clear direction; it is an invitation to join him in creating new
forms for the practice of religion and social action based on these
ideas.

Green's Judaism is radical, yes, but true to its meaning as understood
by most Jews today. For instance, although he explicitly brings its
core message close to the "we are all One with the universe" message
of well-known Eastern religions, he also insists on celebrating the
diversity of life and the unique perspectives each person brings.

The book's ideas are too rich and complex for a summary, and other
reviewers have done a nice job presenting some of them, but I
recommend the book for its main themes as well as its byways and
enjoyable insights, such as why Freud couldn't have access to all the
rich approaches to relationship that Judaism built up over the
centuries and presented it in a narrow Oedipal light.

I'll finish by adding something for non-Jewish reader. Green claims to
aim his book at people outside the Jewish tradition as well as within
it, but I'm afraid his doctrinal and interpretive concerns delve so
deep within specifically Jewish areas that non-Jews will find much of
the book arcane and ultimately uninteresting.

Not Radical Enough for me
Arthur Green, Radical Judaism: Rethinking God and Tradition, Yale University Press, New Haven and London, 2010.

Jewish theology has gone through many a metamorphosis over roughly two thousand years since the closing of the biblical canon. It is precisely thanks to this flexibility of the Jewish theological tradition that Judaism has been able to survive many extremely critical periods in its lifespan. In responding to the many dangers Jews have had to face during the three millenia of their existence perhaps none has been as threatening as the one brought about by relatively recent scientific advances such as Darwin's theory of evolution, the insights of modern astro-physics and the Shoah, (the catastrophe also known as the Holocaust). These three have placed a huge question mark over the traditionally accepted existence of the biblical theistic God. While in the end it is true that the existence or non-existence of God cannot be proved, it can be said that, by and large, science and the non-responsiveness/absence of a God-from-beyond have put an end to the plausibility of the existence of the biblical God.
In view of most Jewish theologians' apparent fear that the survival of Judaism without the biblical God is an impossibility, they have, and this has been done a number of times before, set out once again to reinterpret the Bible God in order to enable his continued existence..
Arthur Green's book, in my opinion, is yet another such desperate attempt at rescuing the biblical God from oblivion. Although to me, as a Jewish theologian and Bible scholar, it is perfectly clear that Judaism is well able to survive and to continue making a valuable contribution to world society without the biblical God, it seems that this is not the case for Green. I shall enlarge upon my position a bit later.
It is somewhat amusing how Green repeatedly avows his non-belief in the God as depicted by the biblical writers. He makes it clear that in no way does he accept a fundamentalist reading of scripture. Historical and literary criticism do make sense to him as does also responsibly done archaeology. But a literal reading of the biblical text, what our rabbis call pshat, is not acceptable to him and for that I applaud him.
Yet, the reality of God and God's pertinence for Judaism must by all means be maintained, it seems, and so, to accomplish this, Green turns to Jewish mysticism and more particularly to Kabbalah. Because it is impossible to convey his thinking in detail here, let me just say that God, for Green, is imbedded in human conscience/soul. God resides in every person; we are all intimately God-related and therefore horizontally related to one another. This possession, human God-connected conscience, lies within everyone and is available to be tapped so as to be translated into beneficial action for the world, but not every human being is aware of the great gift that lies within each person`s self. Judaism's task/mission is to make humanity aware of this inherent gift and to challenge everyone to act upon it for the good of creation. Our world is in danger of self-destruction because of our advanced human evolutionary state which provides us with enormous powers for good or for evil. Humanity's suicide at whose brink we stand can be avoided and even reversed once all people realize that they are called to goodness by the God-within-them. It is the immanence of God and our potential awareness of it that calls us to transcend our basic biological existence which we share with all other earthly beings, animate and inanimate. The theology that Green bases himself on is the Talmud's Rabbi Ben Azzai's insistence that the most important biblical teaching is that we, humans, are created in the image of God and second, the challenge contained in God's call to Adam and Eve, (i.e., to humanity): ayekha - "where are you?"
With the exception of Green's repeated reference to Kabbalah in which he grounds his theology, there is nothing new, let alone radical, in his teaching. Much of the same is found in Mordecai Kaplan, Abraham Joshua Heschel, but in both cases, minus Green`s Kabbalah mysticism. Let me, however, make it clear that all these teachers' ultimate theological thrust is wise and well worth listening to.
My final remark is this: the very same valuable thrust toward achieving a fully realized humanity is found in Spinoza's writing. By following Spinoza, one arrives there without the biblical God, as well as without the supra-rational hermetic teachings of Kabbalah. Once we take the wonder of nature in its evolutionary development which encompasses everything and everybody in the universe seriously and realize our connectedness to and total dependence on it, we arrive at the very same mandate for humanity that Green proposes, but this time on the basis of our evolutionary intellect and rationality which nature provides.

New Pathways in Judaism
Rabbi Green strikes a good balance in this book between a scholarly and personal exploration of non-dual Judaism.He takes on topics that others would fear to go: God and Being, Evolution and the History of God, the nature of the Torah, and the meaning of Israel, both in the ancient and modern sense.

This is a great deal of ground to cover in 166 pages.But Green is deeply committed to his view of Judaism, and the path it should take in the future.I view this work, and some of his other writings, as a prologue and challenge to create a `new' and more vibrant Judaism.He wants to shift the focus of Judaism away from theism and dualism and toward panentheism and monism.He can't do this alone.He invites readers to do their own work and investigations along this unique path.

Perplexity of the Guide with an addendum
I need to first state that the title of this review is not meant to be facetious.In this book,Rabbi Green (not related) admits to his own perplexities as a heterodox Jew in the post-modern world.

I do have to make one admission before I continue.I studied with Rabbi Green at the University of Pennsylvania in 1974-1975 school year.I did well in his class and remember that he was and most likely still is a powerful teacher.

To write a review about this book is extremely hard.Rabbi Green is a scholar par excellence in his field.This book has many gems to be mined.One can see the depth of his learning in the area of Jewish mysticism and Judaism in general.

It is difficult to write a review about his theology for what one is really saying is that "I would have written it differently".

With that caveat, I truly begin. Rabbi Green is both politically and religiously progressive.Based on the book, I do not know which drives which.

Rabbi Green seeks to create a new horizon for Judaism in the 21st century.The problem he faces I believe is that he admits that he is a mystical-panentheist, using personal metaphors. Such a horizon can not bind.

He believes in an imperfect God, one who is evolving.His God appears to be rooted in our "evolving" consciousness.In this regard, it seems to me that God is subjective.Yet, on the other hand, he believes that God permeates all of creation.To draw from another myth, his struggle with God reminds me more of Odysseus wrestling with the shape shifter Proteus.

His chapter on Torah was the most satisfying.Both a beginner and those advanced in the study of Torah can learn from Rabbi Green's sensitivity with the text.I agree with him that Spinoza does a disservice to Torah by treating it like any other book.I would recommend Leo Strauss' book on Spinoza as another means to untie the knot.(For those who have a certain prejudice against Leo Strauss, I note that he began his career as a Jewish scholar.He was a friend of Gershom Scholem and well respected by Walter Benjamin.The late Saul Lieberman supposedly made a similar remark about Leo Strauss as he made against Gershom Scholem about their respective studies.)As a counterpoint to Rabbi Green, I would recommend the Jewish writings of Leo Strauss presently being edited by Kenneth Hart Green.Leo Strauss offers another approach to interpreting the Bible which may offer another way for someone Jewish to understand their Tradition.

I am not convinced about Rabbi Green's understanding of evolution.It is somewhat simplistic.It appears that he wants to overlap modern science with religion.To me, science and religion are inexorably in conflict.Science by definition is atheistic.By definition, they can not prove miracles.

Again, for those who are following Rabbi Green's path, I would also suggest that they read Hans Jonas' writing post Gnosticism.He offers an alternative myth about God and his self-limitation and our responsibility in the world.He has also written about saving the planet which is the basis of the Green movement in Germany and the environmental movement in Japan.His writings have not caught on in the United States and should become a part of Jewish renewal.

I would have liked Rabbi Green to address the issue of sacred limits.

Among the many controversies in this book, his chapter on Israel may gather the most attention.I think his treatment concerning the State of Israel is basically misguided.As an aside, I thought the Prayer for Israel does not speak tomessianic pretensions since I had always thought that it was written by Agnon.

Even if you disagree with Rabbi Green, you must admire his honesty.It takes great courage to show one's beliefs so nakedly.The book should be read.But, I imagine that it will be only discussed in the rarefied air.For those who seek the continuation of Judaism, the question really is, "Will it play in Peoria?"I am afraid that it will never find its way there.

Last, but not least, I think the word Seeker does a disservice to Rabbi Green's life quest.Though it is not original to me, I believe that he is a spiritual explorer.We should be so fortunate to be like Rabbi Green to explore the heights as well as the depths of the spiritual map.

My true review is a 3 plus/ 4 minus.

An addendum:I would also recommend the writings of Lev Shestov, who through his philosophic studies, tries to burst through the idea of God to God.He is heavy on Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, Pascal, Nietzsche, etc.He wrote also on Husserl. ... Read more

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This is an EXACT reproduction of a book published before 1923. This IS NOT an OCR'd book with strange characters, introduced typographical errors, and jumbled words.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more

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Publisher: Berlin : Schlesinger'sche Buch- und MusikhandlungSubjects: Liszt, Franz, 1811-1886Notes: This is an OCR reprint. There may be typos or missing text. There are no illustrations or indexes.When you buy the General Books edition of this book you get free trial access to Million-Books.com where you can select from more than a million books for free. You can also preview the book there. ... Read more

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Vienna Waltz
The Franz Joseph era has a number of lessons that can be applied today.It was a period which spanned 1830-1916 and including technological breakthroughs, artistic innovations, scientific and philosophical, improvements in the standard of living and of course the backlash by the sorts of people threatened by all these changes.

Franz Joseph came to the throne in 1848 in response to a series of revolutions that shook the Austrian Empire to its very foundations.The reign of France's citizen king, Louis Philippe came to an end as did the administration of Prince Metternich in Austria. The Austrian empire faced real difficulties as the minority peoples, particularly the Hungarians nearly managed to throw off the yoke of foreign rule. Nationalism had come to Eastern Europe.

In the midst of this national trauma, the Archduchess Sophie masterminded the ascent of her son and through repressive measures, order returned to Vienna and the empire.If Franz Joseph had had his way his rule would have been far less eventful and the level of intellectual life would have been far less lively. As it happened, neither would prove to be the case.His brother would be shot by Mexican revolutionaries, his glamourous wife, the Princess Diana of her day, would be killed by an Italian anarchist, his son would commit suicide, his great-nephew would be killed, thereby sparking World War I.Franz Joseph was never victorious in any of the wars he fought and in the 1860s had to submit to the creation of a duel monarchy with the hated Hungarians.

Vienna was renowned during the period as a center for medical training and education.The majority of the degrees awarded in the capital during Franz Joseph's reign were in medicine and not just to citizens of the empire.Austria's greatest influence during the period was to train a large segment of the world's doctors and to arrive at new and innovative methods of healing. It was in this atmosphere that Freud, perhaps that most famous member of the Viennese medical community, rose to prominence.

But perhaps the greatest contribution to the world was in the field of music.This was the era of the Strauss family, Brahms, Mahler, and Richard Strauss as well as the atonal creations of Schonberg which are still rather confusing.Any of these composers on his own would have dominated his era. Vienna enjoyed an embarrassment of riches. Coupled with these artistic visionaries was the fantastic world of the Jugendstil with Klimt, Kokoschka, and Schiele as the leading practitioners.

Politically, the standard of living rose in no small part due to the efforts of Vienna's crusading mayor, Karl Lueger.Mass transit, public power, slum clearance became the businesses of government under his administration.

Demographically, Vienna's population expanded greatly during Franz Joseph's and this lead to rising political strife.The prevailing anti-Semitism was a blot on the era. Along with its own anti-Semites, Vienna also hosted two monsters from the future who would play a significant role in the future of Europe during the 20th century, Joseph Stalin and Adolph Hitler.

Arthur J. May was one of the leading authorities on the Hapsburg era. This book is an excellent introduction to his insightful scholarship and erudition. ... Read more

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Best of the Best
I was fortunate to work for Lake Forest College for 2 years and have never been as happy with the ambiance,excellence and near perfect surroundings of it's setting.I knew who the authors were, and they captured an acedemic and human story of the College and it's setting in Lake Forest.Someone had described the campus as "The Enchanted Forest" and anyone who visits will soon see how this description fits. ... Read more

Product Description
This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process.We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide.We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more

Product Description
This is an EXACT reproduction of a book published before 1923. This IS NOT an OCR'd book with strange characters, introduced typographical errors, and jumbled words.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more

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Chapters: Franz Burri, Ernst Leonhardt, Arthur Fonjallaz, Jakob Schaffner, Hans Oehler. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 18. Not illustrated. Free updates online. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: Franz Burri (1901-1987) was a Swiss political figure who, from his base in Germany, became the leading disseminater of Nazi propaganda in the country. Born in Lucerne, to a half-German working class family, Burri was a supporter of Nazi Germany from an early age and frequently visited the country during the 1930s. He came to full time activism in 1941 by forming his own Bund der Schweizer in Grossdeutschland (League of the Swiss in Greater Germany), calling for a very close relationship between his country and Nazi Germany. Known for his crude language and his fondness for wearing the brown uniform of the Sturmabteilung, his hopes for a career in the SS were dashed when Reinhard Heydrich deemed him unsuitable. Also involved in the larger National Movement of Switzerland, Burri quit this organisation after the rejection of his SS application in 1941 to set up his own Nationalsozialistischer Schweizerbund (NSSB), although he moved to Germany full-time soon after this and ran a sister group, the Nationalsozialistische Bewegung in der Schweiz, from there. Both of the groups were funded directly by Germany. Following his move to Germany Burri took up his role as the leading producer of Nazi propaganda for the Swiss market. From his base in Frankfurt, he produced the International Presseagentur, a newspaper funded by the Nazis. Within its pages Burri and his fellow writers, notably his closest ally and NSSB chief Ernst Leonhardt, called for a Union of the German Peoples in which Switzerland would be absorbed into the Third Reich in the same way that Austria had been. Having taken up German citizenship, he was symbolically stripped...More: http://booksllc.net/?id=16403322 ... Read more