"A book of literally vast (if cleverly hidden) erudition, written by the leading Jewish theologian of our time, David Novak's Zionism and Judaism is a clearly written superstructure built upon an understructure of deep philosophical sophistication, addressed to all thoughtful people, Jew and Gentile alike, who take theology seriously. Novak, unlike the run of "religious Zionist thought" (which usually means narrowly Orthodox and most often overtly messianic thought) articulates a religious Zionism that takes Jewish nationhood to be rooted in Judaism, not the other way around. The Zionism thus articulated is not a consequence of "push" (anti-Semitism, persecution, alienation) but of "pull" (the natural drive - and right! - of a people not only to survive, but to prosper intellectually and spiritually in the world). Zionism (and not only Zionism, but every national movement, and here one can detect a criticism of many of Israel's enemies) should point to some transcendent end that attracts it. Without that kind of end attracting it, the whole project is only in the end reactionary. Jews need much more in the world than the world's rejection of them and Jews' rejection of the world in return. One finds in Zionism and Judaism a distillation of Novak's many theologically sophisticated and philosophically acute ruminations on election, covenant, natural rights and the place of Gentiles in Judaism. Everyone who struggles with the questions addressed in this book will be in Novak's debt.

" Menachem Kellner, Shalem College, Jerusalem of end attracting it, the whole project is only in the end reactionary. Jews need much more in the world than the world's rejection of them and Jews' rejection of the world in return. One finds in Zionism and Judaism a distillation of Novak's many theologically sophisticated and philosophically acute ruminations on election, covenant, natural rights and the place of Gentiles in Judaism. Everyone who struggles with the questions addressed in this book will be in Novak's debt." Menachem Kellner, Shalem College, Jerusalem of end attracting it, the whole project is only in the end reactionary. Jews need much more in the world than the world's rejection of them and Jews' rejection of the world in return. One finds in Zionism and Judaism a distillation of Novak's many theologically sophisticated and philosophically acute ruminations on election, covenant, natural rights and the place of Gentiles in Judaism. Everyone who struggles with the questions addressed in this book will be in Novak's debt.

" Menachem Kellner, Shalem College, Jerusalem of end attracting it, the whole project is only in the end reactionary. Jews need much more in the world than the world's rejection of them and Jews' rejection of the world in return. One finds in Zionism and Judaism a distillation of Novak's many theologically sophisticated and philosophically acute ruminations on election, covenant, natural rights and the place of Gentiles in Judaism. Everyone who struggles with the questions addressed in this book will be in Novak's debt." Menachem Kellner, Shalem College, Jerusalem;lt;br>Menachem Kellner, Shalem College, Jerusalem.