essays on tradition

Two thoughtful and passionate essays from the famed Jewish philosopher. Of the pair, the first one about the inner life of East European Jews is perhaps easier to read, as it deals with history and shtetl life along with more abstract concepts. (The portrait of the steadfastly pious Ashkenazi transcending daily oppression may be somewhat romanticized.) The second essay, about Shabbat, is more poetic, overflowing with metaphors and other ornate expressions, and I enjoyed it best when I stopped trying to intellectually analyze every idea and instead let the language wash over me -- much as Heschel says the spirit of Shabbat enters the souls of Jews every week. ( )