Elad Lapidot, “Is Technology Jewish? A Conversation with Heidegger”

Elad Lapidot’s article delves into the conceptual nexus between Judaism and technology through the philosophical lens of Martin Heidegger. Heidegger, who voiced critical perspectives on Jews in his Black Notebooks, characterizes modern technology as a force that shapes and threatens the human condition. Technology, to Heidegger, transcends its role as a mere tool, forming a historical mode of being that influences modern consciousness, especially through the concept of Gestell (enframing), which imposes an instrumental framework on the world. Lapidot examines whether Heidegger’s linkage of Jews and modernity reflects a metaphysical rather than a racial dimension, exploring if “world Jewry” symbolizes for Heidegger the height of modernity, where rootedness in reality is fundamentally compromised. The article probes the difficulty of disentangling Heidegger’s critique of technology from his commentary on Jewish identity, addressing the complex interpretive challenges posed by Heidegger’s worldview.

Amit Kravitz, “Another Look—Heidegger the Nazi, Heidegger the Anti-Semite”

Amit Kravitz reconsiders Martin Heidegger’s association with Nazism and anti-Semitism, focusing on how these ideologies impacted his philosophical work. Kravitz highlights Heidegger’s ambiguous relationship with the Nazi party and his continued anti-Semitic views, particularly as expressed in his Black Notebooks. The analysis suggests that Heidegger’s anti-Semitism appears in a “metaphysical” guise, whereby he connects Jewish identity to what he describes as “forgetfulness of being,” a central concept in his philosophy. This framing allows Heidegger to interpret Nazism as a metaphysical pursuit of existential truth, thus justifying the regime’s principles on ideological grounds. Kravitz argues that Heidegger’s anti-Semitic rhetoric is deeply embedded in his philosophy, presenting a problematic fusion between metaphysical abstractions and anti-Semitic biases.

Amit Kravitz, “On Nobility, Gentleness, Humor, and Emotion: Jean Améry on Thomas Mann”

This article explores Jean Améry’s nuanced interpretation of Thomas Mann, focusing on themes of nobility, emotional depth, and subtle humor that Mann weaves into his work. Kravitz examines Améry’s appreciation of how Mann’s portrayal of human suffering, dignity, and humor transcends bourgeois culture, defying readings that simply tie his work to the decline of this social class. Améry emphasizes that Mann’s exploration of empathy and emotional realism creates a more profound understanding of human experience. Through this lens, Mann emerges as a voice both of his time and beyond, challenging detached or reductive interpretations and positioning himself as a timeless figure of literary depth and compassion.

Naama Yeger, “And the People Were Divided into Two Camps: Religious Reforms in the Early 19th Century”

Naama Yeger’s article examines the Jewish reform movement in early 19th-century Germany, focusing on the ideological divides it fostered between radical Enlightenment thinkers and reformers of Jewish practice and identity. Figures such as Saul Ascher, Lazarus Bendavid, and David Friedländer sought to modernize Jewish life by translating prayers into German and re-evaluating traditional commandments, aiming for societal integration by aligning with Enlightenment values. These reforms, especially through the establishment of reform synagogues in cities like Berlin and Hamburg, became pivotal in shaping modern Jewish identity and practice across Europe. Yeger discusses how these reformers influenced subsequent generations, setting the stage for enduring debates around Jewish identity in the modern age.

Philipp Stelzel, “History after Hitler”

Philipp Stelzel’s article analyzes the transformative role of Jewish and German émigré historians in post-WWII German historiography. Historians such as George Mosse and Peter Gay, who left Germany under Nazi persecution, significantly impacted academic and public discourse by challenging entrenched nationalist narratives in West Germany. Stelzel explores how these émigré scholars engaged in debates, including the Fischer Controversy, which questioned Germany’s role in World War I. Through their contributions, they promoted a pluralistic, critical historiography that gradually moved German scholarship toward a more reflective and inclusive approach to the nation’s past.

Avihu Zakai, “Erich Neumann and the Moral Crisis of Western Culture”

Avihu Zakai examines Erich Neumann’s application of the Jungian concept of the “shadow” to diagnose Western culture’s moral crisis. Neumann, a disciple of Carl Jung, argued that the repression of the “shadow” by traditional Western ethics, particularly Christian morals, contributes to catastrophic social outcomes, such as war and scapegoating. He contends that societies must confront these dark aspects rather than project them outward. Zakai emphasizes Neumann’s proposal for a “new ethic” that integrates the shadow, promoting a more mature and humane moral framework that could mitigate destructive collective behaviors and foster personal and societal growth.

Avihu Zakai, “Interpretation, Judaism, and Western Humanism”

In this critical review of Geoffrey Hartman’s Text, Spirit, Bat-Kol: Essays, Zakai highlights Hartman’s unique approach to Jewish texts as vital sources of moral guidance. Hartman, drawing from his own experiences as a Holocaust refugee, examines themes of exile, testimony, and the interplay between Jewish tradition and Western thought. Zakai emphasizes Hartman’s commitment to memory and humanistic values, especially through his establishment of Yale’s Holocaust Testimonies Archive. The review underscores Hartman’s role in bridging Jewish scholarship with broader humanistic discussions, portraying him as a key figure in the dialogue between Jewish and Western humanistic values.

Mark Wolovitz, “German Jewish Torah”

Mark Wolovitz’s review of Abigail Gillman’s A History of German Jewish Bible Translation explores the cultural significance of translating the Hebrew Bible into German from the Enlightenment to the Holocaust. Focusing on translators like Moses Mendelssohn, Leopold Zunz, and later Martin Buber and Franz Rosenzweig, Gillman traces evolving motivations—from Enlightenment ideals of clarity to Buber and Rosenzweig’s attempt to evoke the spiritual essence of the Hebrew text within German. Wolovitz highlights how these translations served as a bridge to German culture, yet also embodied Jewish resilience amid rising nationalism, reflecting an ongoing negotiation between Jewish identity and modernity.

Gilad Sharvit, “A Glimpse into the Voyeur of the Soul”

Gilad Sharvit reviews Joel Whitebook’s Freud: An Intellectual Biography, which reinterprets Freud’s life and theories by exploring formative influences, particularly his relationships with key figures and family members. Whitebook argues that Freud’s early experiences shaped his psychological theories, including repression and unconscious conflict. Sharvit notes Whitebook’s meta-biographical approach, emphasizing Freud’s legacy as an intellectual tradition shaped by interpretation as much as by Freud’s own discoveries, thus offering a fresh, layered perspective on Freud’s influence in the field of psychology.