The Death of Death (Resurrection and Immortality in Jewish Thought)
Gillman, a professor of Jewish philosophy at the Jewish Theological Seminary, takes on death, at least as an intellectual exercise, and offers an interesting survey of the topic in the context of Jewish religious thought. Starting in the Garden of Eden, Gillman examines the various ways Judaism, a religion often thought to be concerned exclusively with living, has dealt with the matter of dying. Throughout, Gillman compares and contrasts the doctrines of bodily resurrection and spiritual immortality, whose competition for preeminence has caused tension in the ring of Jewish eschatology. Gillman's writing style is workmanlike, but his organization and knowledge of history are excellent, making this a good starting point for anyone interested in the topic. His own personal conclusion--a belief in bodily resurrection--makes for an intriguing summation.Ilene Cooper--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.