Uncovering Judaism’s Soul: An Introduction to the Ideas of the Torah

Why are we here? What is the point of all our efforts? And can our activities and endeavors really bring us true happiness? Rarely in our complex world do we have the opportunity to consider the larger picture, and for those who wish to gain some understanding of the traditional Jewish approach to these and similar questions, the task can be daunting. Uncovering Judaism’s Soul provides answers to these basic philosophical questions, and it bases these answers on original Jewish source material. Judaism is complex, and traditional Jewish religious literature is vast—for the uninitiated, the basic answers are difficult to find. Furthermore, the original sources are written in Hebrew and Aramaic, and although English translations exist for many of the better-known works, much has not been translated. With help, however, answers to fundamental questions can be uncovered: Why did God create the universe? What is the purpose of human life? How can a person find fulfillment in life?...