In this episode, we welcome back David Curwin to discuss his recent essay, "Rabbi Eliezer Berkovits and Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik: Neighbors Behind Fences," published in Hakirah: The Flatbush Journal of Jewish Law and Thought. Curwin’s essay explores the lives and legacies of Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik and Rabbi Eliezer Berkovits, two of the 20th century’s most influential Orthodox Jewish thinkers. While their biographies are strikingly similar, their legacies have taken dramatically different paths. Rabbi Soloveitchik’s impact endures strongly in Modern Orthodoxy, while Rabbi Berkovits remains relatively overlooked, though his philosophy offers urgent relevance today. Curwin guides us through a comparative analysis of their philosophical approaches, examining how each viewed the role of history, the purpose of halakha, and taamei hamitzvot (the reasons for the commandments). He shares unique insights into their different understandings of evil, particularly the Shoah, and the distinctive ways each thinker approached the nature and purpose of halakha itself. As we conclude, Curwin reflects on why Rabbi Soloveitchik’s legacy remains prominent, while Rabbi Berkovits’ contributions are still waiting for their due recognition. This conversation offers an illuminating perspective on why Rabbi Berkovits’ message is increasingly vital to Orthodoxy today, making this episode a must-listen for those interested in Jewish philosophy and contemporary Orthodox thought.
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• Bio: David Curwin is an independent scholar who has researched and published widely on Bible, Jewish thought and philosophy, and Hebrew language. His writings, both academic and popular, have appeared in periodicals such as Tradition, Hakirah, and Jewish Bible Quarterly, and he blogs about language topics at Balashon.com. Curwin studied at Yeshivat HaKibbutz HaDati and currently works as a technical writer in the software industry. Born in Massachusetts, he has lived in Rochester, New York, and San Francisco, but has made his home in Israel since 1996. He resides in Efrat with his wife and family. Kohelet: A Map to Eden is his first book.
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• Get his book here: https://korenpub.com/products/kohelet-a-map-to-eden
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