Holiness of Doubt

The Holiness of Doubt is a timely and essential contribution to the study of sacred Jewish texts. What does it mean for a book of faith for millions of people to be riddled with the uncertainties evoked by hundreds of questions? Rabbi Joshua Hoffman has chronicled the questions of the Torah and offers personal insights and the accumulated wisdom of interpretations, ancient and modern, to discover the meaning of questions and the holiness of doubt. This book offers the reader a chance to see the wisdom of the Torah refracted through its questions.Divided according to the weekly Torah portions as traditionally studied in the Jewish community, this book explores the purpose of questions in the text and becomes a unique interpretation of the Torah on its own. There are also summaries for the portions which do not contain questions to explore what impact the absence of questions has on the Torah as a whole.In confronting doubt, we gain a renewed permission to explore the deepest questions of our time. We can discover, like our ancestors dreamed, that the wisdom of the biblical tradition echoes eternal truth in every generation.

In this enlightening debut, rabbi Hoffman argues that the Torah can be better understood through questions the text itself poses, starting in Genesis with the snake's provocation of Eve. The Torah's questions are "more than literary devices," Hoffman explains, and asking them is "as sacred... as expressing absolute faith." God's first question of Adam and Eve in the garden "Where are you?"--might seem odd coming from an "all-knowing" being, but his intention, Hoffman writes, was to inspire self-reflection and compel Adam and Eve to "take responsibility for [their] actions"; eventually their fear of God "will be transformed into confidence and loyalty." Before God destroys Sodom and Gomorrah, his query "Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do?" demonstrated he was "grappling with the potential for goodness in the face of total wickedness," and, as such, implicitly grants humans "permission to ask questions of God... because God models that behavior." Ideal for synagogue study groups and curious believers, this offering advances an attitude toward doubt that's freeing but purposeful textual questions exist in order to help readers "confront... uncertainty" and enrich their faith. Jewish readers eager to take their Torah study a step further should have a look.-- "Publishers Weekly", In the sacred text of the Torah to which so many turn for answers and clarity, the presence of abundant questions challenges us to probe deeper. Hoffman's book thoughtfully and insightfully invites us to embrace the blessing of uncertainty in our studies and spiritual life journey.--Ari Sunshine, senior Rabbi, Congregation Shearith Israel, Dallas, Texas, Rabbi Hoffman's unique focus of methodically examining the questions within Torah, rather than the questions we may have about Torah, reveals a "face" of Torah we might otherwise overlook. As he highlights, this opens important conversations about inquiry, faithfulness and doubt that are most relevant and grounded in our sacred text.--Rachel Bovitz, executive director, Florence Melton School of Adult Jewish Learning, This book reminds us that what makes us human is our ability to question everything. It was a pleasure to engage on this journey of questions and answers, doubt and faith, through the Torah with Rabbi Joshua Hoffman as a guide. He helps us explore our own questions and doubts, leaving lots of room to think and reflect along the way. Bring an open mind and heart, and start reading!--Rabbi Jacob Blumenthal, CEO, United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, This is a wonderful book for anyone who wants a deeper mode of Torah study. Rabbi Hoffman explores the world of the Torah through the questions found in the text and helps us ask our own questions of ourselves, God, and the world.--Rabbi Denise L. Eger D.D., founding Sr. Rabbi of Congregation Kol Ami in West Hollywood, CA, author, past president of the Central Conference of American Rabbis

Rabbi Joshua Hoffman has studied and practiced as a pulpit Rabbi in the Southern California area for the past twenty-five years . He served Congregation Valley Beth Shalom in Encino from 2003-2021. As an ordinee of the fifth class of the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies, he received prestigious awards and achieved a M.A. in Rabbinic Studies in 2003​. He also received his M.A. in Education from the American Jewish University in 1999 and his B.A. in English and American Literature from Brandeis University in 1996. Over the years, he cultivated extensive experience with the Los Angeles and North American Jewish communities, serving in positions of leadership in the Rabbinical Assembly, Board of Rabbis of Southern California, Sandra Caplan Community Bet Din, and the JFNA Rabbinic Cabinet. Joshua teaches in the greater Los Angeles Jewish community, and was a lecturer in courses on Liturgy and Essential Jewish Texts at the American Jewish University. He publishes widely, including a series of Torah portion commentaries for the Los Angeles Jewish Journal. He is active on Twitter (@hoffmanrabbi) and Facebook (rabbijoshuahoffman) and his website, https://www.rabbijoshuahoffman.com/, includes weekly blogposts.