Thinking About Good and Evil

Rabbi Wayne Allen serves as the co-chair of the Rabbinics Department of the Anne and Max Tanenbaum Community Hebrew Academy of Toronto. He is the author of Prescription for an Ailing World and Perspectives on Jewish Law and Contemporary Issues, among other books.

• PrefaceAcknowledgmentsIntroduction1. Good and Evil in the Bible and Apocrypha2. Rabbinic Approaches to Good and Evil3. Good and Evil in Medieval Philosophy4. Kabbalah and the Problem of Evil5. Hasidic Masters on Evil and Suffering6. Early Modern Thinkers on Good and Evil7. Modern Thinkers on Good and Evil8. The Special Problem of the ShoahConclusionNotesBibliographyGeneral IndexIndex of Texts

"Illuminating analysis. . . . Allen produces a nuanced, vital exploration. . . . Allen's work as a congregational rabbi enables him to imbue this sophisticated yet accessible guide with heartfelt emotion. This remarkable guide will be of interest to any Jewish reader contemplating God's role in suffering."-Publishers Weekly "Allen believes it's important to understand Jewish philosophical thought about good and evil in order to better realize the importance of what he calls the 'two quintessential Jewish values: justice and goodness.' He challenges readers to see where they agree or disagree with each philosopher, which may help them to devise their own personal theology. His book would work well in a classroom setting or for a discussion group about theology. Anyone interested in the subject of good and evil should enjoy this interesting and provocative work."-Rabbi Rachel Esserman, Reporter “Rabbi Wayne Allen translates a lifetime of deep reflection about the most vexing question posed for Jewish faith, and indeed all religious faith, into an exceptional encounter with the myriad thinkers who have struggled with it.”-James A. Diamond, author of Jewish Theology Unbound “Thinking about Good and Evil is impressive for its comprehensiveness, scholarship, accessibility, and originality-dealing with sources largely if not completely ignored, usually because they have never before been translated into English.”-Rabbi David Novak, author of Jewish Justice “A comprehensive, learned, and clear exploration of Judaism’s many answers to the most difficult question: why does God permit evil? Both novices and scholars will find much here to stimulate their thoughts and stir their souls.”-Rabbi David Wolpe, Sinai Temple, Los Angeles