Conflicting Visions

In these energetic, pointed essays, Orthodox rabbi Hartman plants seeds for a Jewish spiritual renewal embracing the alienated and the faithful. A voice of tolerance, he urges Israelis to accept responsibility for building a total society that would grant political dignity to Palestinian Arabs if they are willing to renounce the quest for military power. He calls for religious pluralism in Israel where Reform and Conservative rabbis are forbidden to perform weddings. In seeking to engage a generation that is estranged from the traditional framework of Jewish spirituality, he presents a sustained dialogue with such contemporary Jewish thinkers as Mordecai Kaplan and his own mentor, Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik. Hartman, who teaches at Hebrew University in Jerusalem, remains confident and hopeful, though his tone is urgent. (Aug.)