Eugene Wernick responds to Jenna Weissman Joselit on “Judaism as a Civilization”
To the Editor:
I read with appreciation Jenna Weissman Joselit’s recent Jewish Masterpiece feature. I had read Judaism as a Civilization when I studied at City College.
When I entered the Jewish Theological Seminary in 1960, I often led the Sabbath morning preliminary service.
Behind me was the first row, where the distinguished professors of the seminary sat. On one end was Saul Lieberman and Louis Finkelstein. On the other end there was Mordecai Kaplan.
But never the twain would meet! What Joselit does not emphasize is the book was published in 1934 and what followed was the Holocaust.
Dr. Finkelstein was so overcome with teshuvah for some of his “heretical” thoughts in the first publication of his “The Pharisees” that he revised and republished it. Kaplan was tolerated at the seminary but never achieved the adulation that was accorded to Lieberman, who as the foremost Talmudist represented hewing almost to the letter of tradition.
In the Talmud program I was insulated from philosophy but was mandated to attend history courses as well.
The subsequent Reconstructionist movement was tarnished with the libel of being a collection of “kooks.”
I never forgot and will ever be grateful for the impact Judaism as a Civilization has made on my perspective on the Jewish experience.
Perhaps in the course of time the reputation of the book and its author will achieve the recognition that it deserves.