Jewish Teachings/Torah
Van Leer Institute Series on Ideas: The Triumph of Life
The Triumph of Life is Rabbi Irving Greenberg’s magnum opus—a narrative of the relationship between God and humanity as expressed in the Jewish journey through modernity, the Holocaust, the creation of Israel, and the birth of Judaism’s next era.
Greenberg describes Judaism’s utopian vision of a world created by a God who loves life, who invites humans to live on the side of life, and who enables the forces of life to triumph over death. The Bible proclaims our mission of tikkun olam, repairing the world, such that every human image of God is sustained in the fullness of our dignity. To achieve this ideal, Judaism offers the method of covenant—a realistic, personal, incremental partnership between God and humanity across generations in which human beings grow ever more responsible for world repair.
Greenberg calls on us to redirect humanity’s unprecedented power in modernity to overcome poverty, oppression, inequality, sickness, and war. The work of covenant requires an ethic of power—one that advances life collaboratively and at a human pace—so that the Jewish people and all humanity can bring the world toward the triumph of life.
The Triumph of Life: A Narrative Theology of Judaism
Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz, President & Dean of Valley Beit Midrash, interviews Rabbi Dr. Yitz Greenberg about his latest book, The Triumph of Life: A Narrative Theology of Judaism.
The Triumph of Life is Rabbi Greenberg’s magnum opus—a narrative of the relationship between God and humanity as expressed in the Jewish journey through modernity, the Holocaust, the creation of Israel, and the birth of Judaism’s next era.
Recreating Ourselves Through Teshuvah (In Hebrew)
This lecture was delivered, in Hebrew, at Mechon Hadar Israel’s Teshuvah Seminar on September 12, 2021.
“Confronting Jewish Destiny”
:58
Judaism teaches about a final redemption that is totally perfect and entirely universal: all of humanity will be united in compassion and understanding.
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“Self and Community: Being Human”
:58
Judaism stresses the dignity of each individual human. Rabbi Greenberg elaborates on this teaching in the literature of the rabbis and in contemporary life.
“In the Image of God”
1:28
The goal of religion, argues Rabbi Greenberg, is to create a context for human development. According to Judaism, the human being is created in the image of God, who is infinite. The human being, therefore, is of infinite value.
“Life and Death: The Halakhic Way”
1:32
Halakhah, says Rabbi Greenberg, is not just a system of law. Judaism is more than a religion of law. Judaism is a vision—a vision of the world and what the human should be like.
“Confronting Death: Being Human”
1:10
Rabbi Greenberg argues that religion is a vision of the human and a way to realize that vision. A human is an infinite, unique being. And Judaism’s main emphasis is life. Rabbi Greenberg builds on these themes to help us understand how we ought to confront the reality of death.
“Salanter: The Purpose of the Torah”
2:03
Through rabbinic texts and stories, Rabbi Greenberg discusses Rabbi Israel Salanter and the Mussar Movement. The Mussar Movement emphasized the ethical aspects of Torah.
“Salanter/Ethics”
1:00
Rabbi Greenberg builds on Rabbi Israel Salanter’s teaching that the Torah “came to make a mensch.” What ethical virtues does Judaism aim to inculcate in people?