As a Driven Leaf

A detailed Summary of As a Driven Leaf

In As a Driven Leaf, Elisha ben Abuyah is torn between the modern, Hellenistic practices of the Greeks, and the traditional beliefs of his people. In his day, Elisha must make a clear-cut decision and choose or the other. But what if Elisha lived in a contemporary society in which one did not have to make a clear-cut choice? What would the life of Elisha be in 20th century America?

One of things that Elisha struggles with throughout the novel is the belief in God. In Antiquity, the belief that God existed was fundamental to being Jewish. Elisha cannot face his peers because the question if a God exists plagues him. Elisha says that if the scripture is not the word of god, "what basis can their be or the Tradition, its law, its ritual and belies?" (155) However, in today's society, there is a choice for Jews to accept certain traditions and not others. Jews don't even have to believe in God to be Jewish. The traditions and customs, and way of living life are what is essential for some Jews. Even Nicholaus said, "I an not a Jew but even I have sensed something lovely in Judaism, in its faith and in its morality with its emphasis on pity. Even its rituals are not without poetic grace." (200)

[Jews] will associate with them and learn the

I believe that it is the modern world that contributes to the understanding of Judaism. Although some feel that we should exclude all modern ideas from our study of torah, I do not feel that this is the right way to preserve Judaism. Even in ancient times, it was up to Rabbis to slowly modify the traditional laws and customs to fit the issues of the current day. The Talmud was adapted to do just that. Why can't Judaism continue to be changed in a society where diversity and freedom of thought reign? Judaism is about culture, a way of life. It's about a people who believe in freedom and justice. What good is the freedom finally obtained after 2000 years if it's not able to extend to the modern ideas of Judaism? In such a huge society in which Jews are a very small part it is important to adapt to the society, but not so much as to loose culture altogether. I think Elisha would have held this belief as well if he were alive in the 20th century because he stresses the need for integration.

Elisha's struggle between the Hellenistic and Jewish worlds also relates to the child of an intermarried couple. The child can potentially grow up to be torn between the two and might even resent both religions. However, in modern society, there are more options. The parents could decide to expose the child both religions. Even in a home with two Jewish parents, the child is at least able to experience the outside world and not be held captive from it. It was not like this in Antiquity; Elisha had to be excommunicated from his people in order to learn about a different culture.

Elisha as a contemporary Jew in the late 20th century would not have to deny one world in order to ex

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Approximate Word count = 1172
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: History