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Ida Nasatir book review
A Partisan Guide to the Jewish Problem by Milton
Steinberg
May 22 1947—Book review—A Partisan Guide to the Jewish Problem by
Milton Steinberg—Southwestern
Jewish Press, page 6: The problem Rabbi Steinberg discusses in this
volume is, basically, how the modern Western Jew can best achieve and express
identification with the tradition and destiny of his people, and how Judaism can
be preserved in our time, as well as be perpetuated for the future. The
author thinks that we ought first to clear up the question: What is Judaism? His
answer to this is that Judaism is the culture of the Jews. But that, of course,
at once raises the further question: What are the Jews? The author says the
answer to that is that the Jews are a people—not a religion—but a
people. The house of Israel at present is in chaotic condition, order can
be established, according to Rabbi Steinberg, by looking upon Palestine as a
center of Jewish culture, and by uniting and co-ordinating the diverse forms of
American Jewish culture. The author writes with vigor, persuasiveness, and
fluency of style. This is a book to put on one's summer reading list.