Renaissance of Jewish Learning

'The Renaissance of Jewish Learning" (Bildung und kein Ende) is a short treatise that begins with a critique of the Scientific investigation of Judaism movement (Wissenschaft des Judentums) and its endless writing of books. The starting point for Jewish learning must not be the Jewish past but the Jewish human being (Mensch) in the present. In contrast to advocates of Zionism, for FR the "Jewish human being" is not a reference to nationality or ethnicity, but to humanity. Judaism, in the opinion of FR, is not a creed or religion to be entered into through genealogical records. It is also not a realm of literature to be entered through the writing of many books. It is only lived, one is it. Judaism, however, does not exist in and of itself in the present. It was there in the past and is, therefore, also literature. Since there is no distinction between reading and leaning in the Hebrew language, literature is addressed to those who are in the process of learning.

According to FR, Jewish education and learning are in a state of decline. The fact that so many Jews are choosing to convert to Christianity can also be blamed on the general state of religious instruction. Furthermore, the Jewish home is nor longer "the heart from which Jewish life is pumped, and to which it returns." The stream of life, however, still seems to flow through the synagogue. For many assimilated Jews contact with the synagogue is minimal. Jewish learning must restore the connection between the synagogue and the whole of Jewish life. FR gave up the idea that a program for Jewish learning must be constructed according to a detailed plan. There is only one plan and that is to remain in a state of readiness. All that needs to be organized in advance is time and space for Jewish learning.

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