Kabbalah and the Rupture of Modernity

“Rubin’s book offers an exciting new way of thinking about Jewish modernity, making this one of the most original and interesting books in Jewish Studies of our time.” —Susannah Heschel, Dartmouth College “Chabad’s rich intellectual history and its place in the broad existential currents of modernity finally get their due with Rubin’s stupendous book, which like its author, is a wonder of erudition, insight, and humility.” —Yehudah Mirsky, Brandeis University “Eli Rubin’s book is the first full-length statement of Chabad’s philosophical program for an American audience. It makes the remarkable—and defensible—assertion that Jewish thought, and specifically the sixteenth-century Kabbalah of Isaac Luria, opens possibilities for modern science that are closed to the old determinism of pre-quantum science.“—David P. Goldman, Law & Liberty “Rubin weaves Chabad metaphysics and significant events so they illuminate one another, taking us through the forks in the roads to better understand the path that forged forward … It’s an approach that presents a major leap forward in the study of Chabad history and philosophy.“—Tzvi Freeman, Chabad “Kabbalah and the Rupture of Modernity is a rich resource, pairing philosophical and theological exegesis with a lively historical narrative. For readers of Judaic Studies who want an introduction to Chabad’s intellectual underpinnings, Rubin’s work is essential.“—Daniel Kalish

Eli Rubin is a contributing editor at Chabad.org. He received his PhD from the Department of Hebrew and Jewish Studies, University College London.