Maimonides: The Exceptional Mind
Dr. Israel Drazin succeeds in presenting Maimonides philosophy in a manner that the average reader can comprehend. The ideas presented are clearly stated so as to induce the reader to probe his own thinking. The author and the reader are thus engaged in a profound and meaningful conversation. The book is a valuable and original contribution to the vast literature on Maimonides. --Professor Bernard Auerbach, University of Maryland (retired)Israel Drazin s Maimonides: The Exceptional Mind is a passionate and provocative polemic against ignorance and blind faith in Judaism. Jews must think for themselves. Sadly, many Jews do not adhere to this principle of Judaism. For Drazin, Maimonides is the champion of enlightened and rational commitment to a life of Torah free from superstition and mysticism. --Dr. Raphael Jospe, Department of Jewish Philosophy, Bar Ilan University.Dr. Israel Drazin, accomplished Targum scholar, has turned his writing skills to Maimonides, whose rationalistic approach ( Maimonides: The Exceptional Mind ) fascinates the author. Despite the overwhelming acceptance of the Rambam s authority, Drazin demonstrates the existence of a surprising gap between the Master s ideas, and contemporary traditional thought and observance. Rambam describes God as withdrawing from His world after creation, for intervention would compromise the philosophic concept of His perfection. But traditional Jews do not cease to pray for God s intervention. Rambam s halakha does not recognize demonic forces, but those sections he eliminated from the liturgy for this reason (e.g. in Kiddush Levana) remain in the most traditional prayer books.Parts two and three of this book are devoted to exposing non-rational parts of contemporary Jewish practice (devils, demons, mysticism) despite their rejection by Maimonides. Following holiday sequence, Drazin s revelations are fascinating eye-openers: Demons and Sympathetic Magic in the Passover Seder will cause many to begin reading this beautifully crafted volume from Chapter 31!The conflict between Rambam s rationalism and popular religion is spelled out over a wide range, including passing over Rambam s Mishneh Torah ( why did Judaism reject it ) in favor of other law codes.Drazin s work on Maimonides is marked by disarming candor, uncompromising intellectual curiosity, penetrating original analysis, and love of Maimonides, making his thought the prism for investigating all things Jewish ( Rashi was convinced that God is corporal, that He has a body, including hands, feet, and head ). The book is written with skill and extreme clarity, uncovering true deep meanings in the Rambam s words. Each chapter spells out questions, and summarized the discussion at the end. The physical production of the volume sets new standards of attractiveness.Israel Drazin presents us with captivating insights into Jewish intellectual history, thought, and practice, built around Maimonides, the Jewish philosopher king , and pivotal figure for all things Jewish for almost a thousand years.Drazin tells it like it is. The book cannot be put down!--Professor Shamma Friedman (Jewish Theological Seminary and Bar Ilan