Moses the Heretic

by Daniel Spiro

At a time when cynicism masquerades as wisdom and fundamentalism as religiosity, Moses the Hertic offers a much needed antidote. It asks the questions, ""What would a Biblical Prophet look like in the... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0974764531
• ISBN13: 9780974764535
• Release Date: August 2008
• Publisher: AEGIS Press
• Length: 310 Pages
• Weight: 1.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.3" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

A great romp through some inner Jewish debates on present conflicts in religion and politics

Spiro is to be commended in how his characters engage some of the debates in the Jewish world about how Jews' understanding of that religion (and the other "Abrahamic" ones) impacts their political actions. The book treats all perspectives with, at a minimum, a respect of being well thought out if still not justified. My enjoyment came most from the tussles of the characters who put their beliefs to action. Be it Moses Levine's back and forth with Hafeez or with Rachel, the play by play is filled with nuggets that manage to humanize all stances to some degrees. Some of the main points that the title character Moses Levine strives to convince anyone who will listen include an international Jerusalem, a stress on interfaith dialogue/action Jews and Muslims, and a belief that intermarriage should not be a concern for Jews. He describes all of these within his framework of respect for fellow human dignity. Be that as it may, these are still pretty hotly contested items within the Jewish community and I found myself at odds with him for plenty of the points made their behalf. But I didn't come out unscathed as far as givens I thought I had and that's where the value of the book is for me. Closing it, I have much to rethink about my reasons for my own stances and whether they cohere within my value system. The plot moves at a nice pace, hardly standing for any drawn out descriptions. It sometimes jumps back and forth between the early days of our characters and their present ones. Spiro manages to put them in the course of events he's setting, which is a "what if" historical setup branching off the one we know in some respects. That's not to say that I think he pulls it off perfectly. I thought his portrayal of the president and congress potentially taking bold actions was a little too hopeful of how they might actually behave, even given the different course of events that Spiro introduces (sorry for the vaguness, trying to avoid spoilers). Nevertheless, the coherence of the story remains intact and there's no lack of self interested parties jockeying for position throughout. Finally, I also liked that Spiro never skips out on explaining a cultural/historical term one of his characters use as soon as it's first used. It makes the book more accessible and keeps the reader more closely involved and familiar with the culture. Overall, as said elsewhere, it's a rich novel of ideas. I ordered The Creed Room and can't wait to get started with that one.

a novel of ideas

If you love novels of ideas, you'll love this book. The protagonist, whose voice is lucid and powerful, leaps off the page and time and time again jolted me with fascinating ideas. Imagine a book that de-demonizes Islam, that imagines what might have happened if a wise counselor had prevented the Irag war, a book that strips away all unimportant distracting rituals to uncover the common heart of Judaism, Christianity and Judaism. A rare novel that both edifies and engages. Irvin Yalom M.D. (author of "When Nietzsche Wept" and "Staring at the Sun")

Manages to be both spiritual and satiric of modern day religion

The three Abrahamic religions have so much in common that it's shocking how much conflict exists between them. "Moses the Heretic" tells of one Moses Levine, a famed Nobel-peace prize winning Rabbi who has done much for the relationship between the three. His fame, however, is threatened by one of Moses own beliefs, one that would unite the three, but not in a way Moses would want against himself. "Moses the Heretic" manages to be both spiritual and satiric of modern day religion, a delightful blend to please readers of any faith.

More Than A Novel

In Moses the Heretic, author Dan Spiro weaves philosophy, comparative religion, current politics, and everybody's dreams for the way things should be into a story with real characters at its heart. To begin with, he pulls readers into the discussion of ideas they might resist thinking about by creating a compelling situation with the unlikely protagonist of a Conservative rabbi bearing a resemblance to actor Jason Alexander ("George" on Seinfeld). The rabbi's best friend is a world-famous intellectual, also a rabbi, who looks like Osama bin Laden. This unlikely duo engages us at once, from a terrorists' dungeon in East Jerusalem to talk shows on major cable television networks, from the White House to a 12,000 square-foot estate and an isolated corner in Jamaica--juggling the current events of our time at their own will while also living extraordinary lives with the goal of wrestling God. Being neither a Biblical scholar nor a Jew, I was nonetheless enthralled by this powerful novel of cataclysmic events caused by roads taken and not taken. Its characters involved me, and its stunning climax and ultimate resolution had me turning the final pages with eyes bulging and heart pounding. There is so much to Moses the Heretic that grips and lashes at the reader, until at last it not only informs but also, like Moses Levine of the story, transcends its own form to become an entrenched part of one own personal mythology.

A modern prophet

Moses the Heretic imagines how a religious prophet would fare in the realm of contemporary American politics and talk shows. Like The Creed Room (2006), the book blends an engaging story with a serious exploration of a range of religous and political issues from different perspectives. Even if you disagree with much of what Moses has to say, his debates with the other characters are challenging and illuminating.