NBN Book of the Day Julian E. Zelizer, "Abraham Joshua Heschel: A Life of Radical Amazement" (Yale UP, 2021)
Dec 17, 2021
Julian Zelizer, a Princeton history professor and author, delves into the life of Abraham Joshua Heschel, a rabbi deeply intertwined with civil rights history. He highlights Heschel's Hasidic roots and how they shaped his moral vision. The discussion explores Heschel's activism, notably his partnership with Martin Luther King Jr. during the Selma march. Zelizer also addresses Heschel's critiques of religious institutions and his profound idea of 'radical amazement'—a call for ethical living grounded in spirituality rather than mere dogma.
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Dual Hasidic Roots Shape Heschel
- Heschel wrestled with two Hasidic traditions: the Baal Shem Tov's optimism and the Kotzker's bleakness.
- He spent his life trying to hold both truths together rather than fully resolve their tension.
Berlin Years Radicalized His Thought
- Berlin exposed Heschel to modern philosophy and the rising threat of Nazism while sharpening his intellectual voice.
- Expulsion by the Gestapo ended his German career and forced his eventual move to the United States.
Personal Losses Fueled Moral Urgency
- Much of Heschel's family perished in the Holocaust, a loss that haunted his theology and activism.
- Those tragedies intensified his commitment to preventing future moral collapse.
