Jewish Thought at the Birth of Modernity

To historians of Europe, the early modern era begins around 1500 and ends sometime in the 1700s, and is characterize by scientific and technological advances, exploration of Asia and the New World, radical new ideas about philosophy and religion, and the emergence of something like the modern state. In conversation with J.J. Kimche, Tamara Morsel-Eisenberg examines how these changes affected Judaism, as Jews responded to the scientific revolution and printing press, Jewish theology moved away from the concerns of the medieval era (exemplified by Maimonides), mysticism went mainstream, and jurisprudence turned toward the compilation and study of halakhic codes. (Audio, 77 minutes.)