Choosing Hope

David Arnow

The first book to plumb the depths of Judaism’s abundant reservoir of hope, Choosing Hope journeys from biblical times to our day to explore nine fundamental sources of hope in Judaism.

Acknowledgments Introduction What Hope Is and Why It Matters Judaism as a Reservoir of Hope Difficulty Tapping Jewish Sources of Hope A Way toward Hope About This Book Making the Most of This Book Notes on Translation and Gender 1. Repentance: The Gateway to Hope Introduction A Theology for Looking in the Mirror Prayer and Hope The Season of Teshuvah Seasonal Rituals Conclusion 2. Tikkun Olam: Turning Hope into Action Introduction Biblical Roots in Ecclesiastes Rabbinic Origins in the Mishnah An Intertextual Reading of the Sages and EcclesiastesAleinu’s Hope of Repairing the WorldTikkun Olam in the Mysticism of Isaac LuriaTikkun Olam Today Conclusion 3. Abraham and Sarah: Living in Hope Introduction Hope in God and Abraham’s Relationship Hope amid Abraham and Sarah’s Trials The Binding of Isaac as a Story of Hope Conclusion 4. The Exodus: Hope at the Heart Introduction Brueggemann’s Archetypical Tale of Hope Exodus as the Jewish Master Story Despair versus Hope in Midrash and Commentary Putting Exodus Memories into Practice Conclusion 5. The Covenant: Hope in Israel’s Relationship with God Introduction Covenantal Hope in the Morning Liturgy Covenantal Hope and the Ancient Trials of History The Post-Holocaust Conversation Conclusion 6. The Book of Job: Hope for Vindication Introduction Reframing Job Verses of Despair, Verses of Hope Hope for Vindication Conclusion 7. Jewish Eschatology: Hopes for the World to Come Introduction The Road to Resurrection in the Bible The Rise of the Rabbis and the Triumph of Resurrection The Messiah of the Rabbis Maimonides on the Messiah and the Afterlife Reform Judaism’s Hopes for the Afterlife Humans Fulfilling Hopes for Immortality? Conclusion 8. Israel: Hope in the Homeland Introduction Zionist Hope Fulfilling the Hopes of Statehood Reuven Rivlin’s Israeli Hope Snapshots of Israeli Hope: Israeli Activists Speak Conclusion 9. Jewish Humor: The Currency of Hope Introduction Humor and Hope The Beginning of Jewish Laughter Waiting for the Messiah The Schlemiel Laughing and Hoping in Hell God Laughs Too Conclusion Final Thoughts A Succinct Jewish Theology of Hope Finding Hope in Our Ancient Texts Hope Means Work Transmitting Our Heritage of Hope Notes Bibliography Subject Index Index of Texts