Modernity/Contemporary Jewish Life
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.
Choosing Life: On Judaism, Covenant, and the Future of Humanity
An online conversation facilitated by Rabbi Elie Spitz with renowned scholar Rabbi Yitz Greenberg, exploring powerful insights from Rabbi Greenberg’s new magnum opus, The Triumph of Life. Together, they delve into Judaism’s evolving response to modernity, the Holocaust, the founding of the State of Israel, and the emergence of a new era in Jewish thought. Rabbi Greenberg reflects on the covenantal partnership between God and humanity, the central role of human dignity, and Judaism’s enduring call to embrace life and engage in tikkun olam—repairing the world. This intimate dialogue offers a profound and hopeful vision of responsibility, renewal, and the sacred work of shaping a better future.
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.
“TJS S4 Interlude R’ Yitz Greenberg and the God of History”
54:12
The SoundCloud series, The Jewish Story
“The Holocaust and the Rebirth of Israel” and “A New Era of Jewish History”
1:36
CLAL educational lectures, 1990
from the series Turning Points in Jewish History: Living the Covenant
“Eras of Jewish History”
1:01
In our era God is less present than in earlier eras of Jewish history. God’s absence allows for greater human responsibility in the world. After the destruction of the Temple, the rabbis found ways to manifest God’s present in the world through blessings, rituals, and study.
“Second Era of Jewish History”
1:21
Rabbi Greenberg explores the Rabbinic Period, which he labels as the second era of Jewish history. The period began in approximately 70 CE with the destruction of the Second Temple and ended around 500 CE, although Rabbi Greenberg contends that the impact continued through the eighteenth century and the birth of modernism.
“Third Era of Jewish History”
:58
We are now living in the third era of Jewish history, according to Rabbi Greenberg, who says this is the most extraordinary period of Jewish history.
“Modernity: The Third Era”
:45
Rabbi Greenberg praises America’s open society and points out unique aspects of modernity. Our time is one of the most unique and important for Judaism and society at large.
Long introduction; Rabbi Greenberg begins speaking about ten minutes in.
“Third Era: The Challenges”
:22
In this talk at Tel Aviv University, Rabbi Greenberg discusses the challenges facing contemporary Judaism, chief among them being that we are living at the start of the “third cycle” of Jewish history, which presents unique and unprecedented challenges.