The Jewish Question

National Review, Dec 21, 1998 by John J. DiIulio, Jr.

Klinghoffer's zeal-of-the-convert tone and conclusions are bound to offend many Jews, both religious and secular, both liberal and conservative. His book will also upset many Christians (we've got Jesus-is-coming prophesy all wrong, he's certain).

Even his worst critics, however, should credit him with offering a simplified, illuminating rationale for life-affirming Jewish laws on keeping kosher, refraining from sexual intercourse with one's wife during her period of menstruation, males' wearing fringes of precisely twisted wool cord on a four-cornered garment, and more. Credit him, too, for shredding the stereotype of Orthodox Judaism as slavish adherence to inane, hairsplitting laws (never mind that he charges the Christian Apostle Paul with advancing this stereotype).

As we read in Deuteronomy 4:29: "But if . . . you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul." Above all, credit Klinghoffer for looking, and for writing down what he sought-and found.