Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz on Rethinking Jewish Identity at the 92nd Street Y

By: Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz

Hear from Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz, a man Time calls a "once-in-a-millennium scholar". Explore challenging questions, such as, "Are Jews a nation, a religion, an ethnic group, or a race?", "Do Jews have unique character traits?", "What does it mean to be the 'chosen' people?", "What will become of the Jewish people?"

Rabbi Steinsaltz has written 58 books on the Talmud, Jewish mysticism, religious thought, sociology, historical biography, and philosophy. He teaches at the Mayanot Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem.

©2006 92 nd Street Young Men's and Young Women's Hebrew Association (P)2006 92 nd Street Young Men's and Young Women's Hebrew Association

Wisdom from a humble master

Rabbi Steinsaltz offers his perspective on Jewish identity, both for those looking in from the outside and self-identified Jews who oftentimes find little to distinguish themselves from the greater American society. Are Jews a civilization, a religious expression, a race, an ethnicity...? More than just his declaration that Jews are, in fact, a family (with all of the baggage and value that are attached to that definition), Rabbi Steinsaltz's wisdom emerges from his particular love for every type of family member - even those who have been pushed away or pushed themselves away from living a distinctly Jewish life.

What does it mean to be Jewish?

Again, I come away from this discussion dissatisfied. I suspect that the only way to avoid nibbling around the edges of this question is a lifetime of traditional Jewish emergence and study, which, unless you were brought up in the tradition, is well beyond attainable as we go about our business in the modern world.

Jewish identity / Jew preaches to (mostly) Jews

This answered my curiousity which was simply how do Jews see themselves in the world today. If he has any book(s) out, I'd imagine they give a more formal look at Judaism (Orthodox -I think) and a better context of the Jewish experience.

He speaks a lot on what it means to be "family" to Jews, in the broader sense. Doesn't address whether 'the Jewish open door policy to Jews' is still present today, but says it 'meant' this or 'was' this. Still, he sounds like a personable person.

He spoke about a connection between Jewish as synonymous with atheist, but this wasn't really articulated beyond being disagreeable to the believing Jew. I'd have appreciated a better explination here.

Comical at times, thus three stars rather than two.

Steinsaltz makes me smile

Adin Steinsaltz is a great genius with a warm heart and in impish sense of humor that made me smile through this charming talk. He has an interesting quality of appearing to meander, until you realize that he is going right to the point.

Wonderful

Loved it. I'm on my third listen. Rabbi Steinsaltz also has a fabulous sense of humor.

Always Worth It…

…to listen to the brilliant and caring Adin Steinsaltz! Lots of wisdom for both Jews and the world more generally.