Beyond Reasonable Doubt

Louis Jacobs, founding rabbi of the New London Synagogue, was a renowned scholar with an international reputation as a lecturer. He was the author of The Jewish Religion: A Companion (1995) and of many other distinguished books, several of them published by the Littman Library, including Beyond Reasonable Doubt (1999), Hasidic Prayer (paperback 1993), and Theology in the Responsa (paperback 2005), as well as an edition and translation of Zevi Hirsch Eichenstein’s Turn Aside from Evil and Do Good (1995). He died in 2006.

• 1Introduction: The ‘Jacobs Affair’2Liberal Supernaturalism3Is it Traditional?4Is it Scientific?5The Mitsvot: God-Given or Man-Made?6Orthodoxy7Reform8Secular Judaism9Mysticism10Modernism and Interpretation11ConclusionGlossaryBibliographyIndex

‘Jacobscogently and clearly presents his views on diverse topics.’  Roger S. Kohn, Association of Jewish Libraries Newsletter‘Brimswith scholarship and is powerfully argued. Jacobs's mastery of the full rangeof Jewish religious sources—legal, philosophical, and mystical—is apparent onevery page, and is well deployed in making his case for liberal supernaturalismas a breakthrough religious synthesis. And that case is hardly a timely one,for Jacobs is hardly alone in hungering for a form of traditionalism that cancombine halakhic observance with anopen intellectual outlook. Indeed, this is today the shared meeting ground ofthe right wing of Conservative Judaism and the left wing of the Orthodoxmovement.’  David Singer, Commentary‘Alearned and compelling argument for an enlightened form of traditional Judaism. . . written in a lucid, accessible style for lay readers, who will benefitenormously from Rabbi Jacobs's honest and critical assessment of the majortendencies in contemporary Judaism . . . a major critique of Jewishfundamentalism and a compelling alternative to it.'  Allan Nadler, Forward‘Hereis a scholar who . . . has much to offer British Jewry.’  Cecil Bloom, Jerusalem Post‘Thebook will enlighten because Jacobs is a reliable and lucid authority on theissues discussed.’  Robert Weissman, Jewish Quarterly‘Avery personal, and very mature and honest, statement of “where I stand”.’  Norman Solomon, Journal of Jewish Studies‘Themost engaging aspect of the book is the personal style in which it is written.The book is positively brought alive by a wealth of personal anecdotes andstories.’  Emma Conway, Le'ela