Judaism Faces the Twentieth Century: A Biography of Mordecai M. Kaplan (American Jewish Civilization Series)

Rating:
Summary: A valiant try
Review: Scult makes the effort to see Kaplan as a major force in restructuring and enhancing Jewish 'civilization' as a whole. While Kaplan was without doubt a major Jewish twentieth century figure the results of his efforts are not particularly encouraging. The Jewish people it seems need God far more than they need Kaplan's 'God idea'. The Jewish people once they follow Kaplan's prescription and make of their religious life a ' tradition' only, lose a dimension of meaning not easily gained elsewhere.. Is it surprising then that what we have today in the Jewish world is so so much assimilation on the one hand, and a growth in a more narrow kind of Haredi Judaism?
Kaplan was a prolific, and in certain ways heroic figure.But his ideas and his whole view - of - the -world did not bring about true Jewish renewal. And the long- term beneficial results of his effort seem to be minor indeed.