Abraham Joshua Heschel Prophetic Witness Edward K. Kaplan, Samuel H. Dresner

Abraham Joshua Heschel (1907-1972) was one of the outstanding Jewish thinkers of the twentieth century. A renowned American theologian and interpreter of tradition, author of such important books as "Man Is Not Alone", "God in Search of Man", and "The Prophets", he was a living example of holiness, compassion, and vehement dedication to social justice. This book, the first of two volumes, is the only comprehensive biography of Heschel. Based on interviews with Heschel's friends and family, archival documents, and Heschel's previously unknown writings in Yiddish, German, and Hebrew, the book traces Heschel's life from his birth in Warsaw in 1907 to his emigration to the United States in 1940. Edward Kaplan and Samuel Dresner describe how Heschel came of age in a Hasidic community and reached maturity in secular Jewish Vilna and cosmopolitan Berlin, speaking out as a religious philosopher during the advent of Nazism. They relate how he became a teacher in Berlin, in Martin Buber's education programme in Frankfurt (where his lifelong debate with Buber originated), in Warsaw, and in London, while the several Jewish cultures he had absorbed were being destroyed. They show that he was already intellectually and spiritually mature when he emigrated to the United States, fully prepared for his dual roles as interpreter of Jewish piety and social activist.

Edward K. Kaplan is Kevy and Hortense Kaiserman Professor in the Humanities at Brandeis University where he teaches in French, comparative literature, and religious studies. He has been writing on Heschel for many years, and his publications include Holiness in Words: A.J. Heschel's Poetics of Piety.

"'The most complete portrait to date of this remarkable religious figure.' Publishers Weekly 'The authors pay critical, careful attention to Heschel's words, and in particular to his poetry.' Laurie Adlerstein, New York Times Book Review"