"Emil Fackenheim assumed the impossible task of responding to the Nazi annihilation of the Jews of Europe. He engaged in the pursuit of the philosophical implications of the slaughter of the Jewish people on Jewish thought, Judaism, the Jewish people, the State of Israel, and on philosophy itself."—Shofar
Description
David Patterson examines Emil Fackenheim’s central philosophical challenge: how to respond to the Nazi annihilation of European Jewry without surrendering to despair or granting Hitler a posthumous victory. He traces Fackenheim’s development of the “614th commandment”—a moral imperative not to abandon Jewish faith or identity, lest Hitler triumph even in memory. This concept becomes a cornerstone of Fackenheim’s thought, compelling Jews to affirm life, continuity, and resistance in the face of atrocity.
Through meticulous analysis, Patterson reveals how Fackenheim’s work reshaped Jewish theology, ethics, and the philosophy of history. He explores the implications of the Holocaust on Jewish existence, the role of Israel, and broader philosophical discourse. The book also situates Fackenheim among post-Holocaust thinkers such as Martin Buber, Franz Rosenzweig, and Emmanuel Levinas, highlighting his unique contributions to Jewish thought.
About the Author
David Patterson is the Bornblum Chair in Judaic Studies at the University of Memphis. A winner of the Koret Jewish Book Award, he has published more than 125 articles and chapters on philosophy, literature, Judaism, and Holocaust studies. Emil L. Fackenheim was the winner of the 2008 National Jewish Book Award from the Dorot Foundation.
Related Interest
March 2008