Buber And Rosenzweig Essay

Buber and Rosenzweig both have differing opinions when it comes to halachic observance and the study of Jewish Law. On one hand, Buber is one who grew up in a traditional household. In spite of this, he is in favor of spirituality and meditation. More of a liberal being. Rosenzweig on the other hand, grew up in more of a religiously lax household. With this in mind, he preached law and education of said law. Although they both have one goal (to let the individual decide his/her total Jewish being), it’s important to see the differences in these philosopher’s beliefs and how they may or may not affect Jewish people. Buber and Rosenzweig dispute over halachic observance. Buber prefers thinking and spirituality over halacha, while Rosenzweig

He states, “the task of the time was not the creation of more Jewish books, but the cultivation of more Jewish people” (Levenson 90). This is basically saying that instead of learning from Jewish literature, the Jewish people would be better off learning how to be a decent person and how to live as such. In essence, he’s saying that the more people know about how to be a good Jewish person, the more Jewish they are. If not a lot of people know how to do this, then there will not be too many Jews. If they get an education however, the Jewish population will rise. To Buber however, he could do without the education of Jewish law. He believes that it is more important for Jewish people to have a strong spiritual relationship with God. He makes this very clear in his writings, “And in all the seriousness of truth, listen: without IT a human being cannot live. But whoever lives only with the IT is not human” (I and Thou). Essentially, he is saying that Jewish people cannot live a successful life sans the presence of God, or the lack of a relationship with God. The second part of the quote however states that you cannot live a Jewish life solely based off God. There has to be other practices along with it. This can include meditation and other liberal