ELIEZER GOLDMAN AND JUDAISM WITHOUT ILLUSION

It is somewhat surprising that the theological and philosophical works of Eliezer Goldman are practically unknown in the American Jewish community, as he was a product of that community. Goldman was also a groundbreaking religious philosopher, heavily influenced by Yeshayu Leibowitz (whose works he edited), who wrote important articles on medieval and modern Jewish philosophy, the philosophy of Halakha, Judaism, and modernity, and the interaction of religion and state. This essay will briefly review some of his important contributions for the first time in English to modern Jewish thought as he has been called one of the three most important Jewish philosophers of the time.