The Wondering Jew

A celebrated Israeli author explores the roots of the divide between religion and secularism in Israel today, and offers a path to bridging the divide.

"A thoughtful social, political, and philosophical examination of Judaism. . . . A cogent consideration of the place of religion in the modern world."—Kirkus Reviews

The Wondering Jew explores Zionism, which began as a movement full of contradictions, balancing a pull toward the past with the desire to forge a new future. In Israel, this has resulted in fragmentation between those who sanctify religious tradition and those who wish to escape its grasp. A new middle ground is now emerging between religious and secular Jews who desire to engage with their heritage—without being restricted by it or losing it completely.

In this incisive book, acclaimed author Micah Goodman delves into Israeli Judaism and examines the conflict between religion and secularism—one of the major causes of political polarization throughout the world. Revisiting traditional religious sources and seminal works of secularism, Goodman reveals that each contains an openness to learn from the other's messages. He challenges both orthodoxies, proposing a new approach to bridge the divide between religion and secularism, aiming to pave a path toward healing a society torn asunder by extremism.