Judaism on Trial

Book excerpt: Arguing that science & anti-religious philosophy are not responsible for the decline of Judaism, Rabbi Cardozo says it is those who teach it that make Judaism appear irrelevant to the needs & problems of modern man. Jewish law & custom are taught as a dogmatic creed & no longer contains the exciting spontaneity of worship, while remaining formalistic, replacing love with habit. Instead, the author believes that Judaism must reflect deep compassion to recapture the flowing fountain of a glorious tradition - if not, all becomes meaningless.