David Behrman once wrote, “Generations of Jews report [As a Driven Leaf] as their first significant encounter with adult Judaism.” Many would agree. While those who study and practice the Jewish faith use an assortment of texts to connect to their spirituality, there’s something about the books of Milton Steinberg that invites readers in and allows them to understand Judaism in a new way.
“There is a lesson in this for all of us,” wrote Steinberg, “an admonition as to priorities in living, a reminder that the solicitudes of love and comradeship openly expressed and unashamed stand before wealth or fame or power. It is these, the treasures of the heart, not the treasures of the marketplace, which in the end are indispensable to human happiness.” Steinberg’s humanity, his compassion, his understanding of the world, and his wisdom comes through in his writings and it is for this reason that his texts have been used in classrooms, lectures, and book groups. It is for this reason too that adults have chosen his books for individual study over the years.
How has your community used the books of Milton Steinberg? How have these books affected your own understanding of Judaism?
As a Driven Leaf, first published in 1939 and considered a classic since, brings the Talmud to life in a breathtaking saga. This masterpiece tells the gripping tale of renegade Talmudic sage Elisha ben Abuyah's struggle to reconcile his faith with the allure of Hellenistic culture. Set in Roman Palestine, As a Driven Leaf draws readers into the dramatic era of Rabbinic Judaism. Watch the great Talmudic sages at work in the Sanhedrin, eavesdrop on their arguments about theology and Torah, and agonize with them as they contemplate rebellion against an oppressive Roman rule.
A literary masterpiece, Steinberg's classic novel also transcends its historical setting with its depiction of a timeless, perennial feature of the Jewish experience: the inevitable conflict between the call of tradition and the glamour of the surrounding culture.
The current edition includes two Forewords: One by the renowned Rabbi David J. Wolpe, and the second by author Chaim Potok, originally written in 1996.
Click here for the free Rabbi Discussion Guide.
When Milton Steinberg died in 1950, he left one manuscript tantalizingly unfinished. Set against a backdrop of unrest in ancient Israel, The Prophet's Wife is a stirring portrait of the young prophet Hosea, his free-spirited wife Gomer, and a people seduced by the lures of power and idolatry.
This exciting literary find creatively brings to life the prophet and his world, in a story that is both highly personal and yet grand in scope, exploring the relationship of the Jewish people with God. Essays by three extraordinary writers and thinkers provide startling, breathtaking interpretations to deepen understanding of the novel.
Click here for free resources for The Prophet’s Wife.
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