God, Man and History - Berkovits, Eliezer. Shalem, 2004. 199p. $15.95, Paperback. ISBN 9657052157. 296.3 God. Revelation (Jewish theology).

Eliezer Berkovits ranks among the top Jewish theologians of the 20th century, though he is not as well known as some others. Thankfully, his works are now being republished. He spoke for a moderate, modern orthodoxy, and his voice is especially welcome in today’s world.

Writing in the late 1950s, Berkovits worked within the framework of Western philosophy, building from the works of Plato and Aristotle, Spinoza and Kant. His goal was not to write a philosophy solely of Judaism but to describe a Judaism that addresses the condition of all human beings. At the core of his theology is the encounter—the actual meeting of God and human at Mt. Sinai. For Berkovits the encounter with the divine demonstrates that God cares about human beings. On that foundation he builds his philosophy of religion, ethics and Israel. He teaches that once human beings know God cares for them, they can act in ways that seek meaning, accept responsibility for their actions, and act with righteousness toward others.

I highly recommend this book for any library seeking to represent the breadth of Jewish opinion in the contemporary world.

Rabbi Louis A. Rieser
Etz Hayim Synagogue
Derry, New Hampshire