On the point of following his cousin Rosenstock-Huessy into Christianity, Rosenzweig found that he could turn Christian only 'as a Jew'. Sustained study of the Jewish sources and of Hermann Cohen's work led him to the philosophical Judaism of The Star of Redemption , begun on postcards mailed from the Front in 1915-1916.
Creation gives being, but also transitoriness.
It is complemented by revelation, which brings man to his true self. Man responds to God's love with a love of God, which he translates into love of his neighbour, helping to lead the world to redemption. Of the story of Balaam's ass, he said that through the year it is a fairy-tale, but when read from the scroll on the appointed Sabbath it contains the word of God speaking directly to him. The Oxford Companion to Philosophy 2. All rights reserved.