Show Notes
Baruch (Benedictus) Spinoza (1632–1677) was a radical free thinker who led a life guided by strong moral principles despite his disbelief in an all-seeing God. Join us with award-winning writer Ian Buruma, author of the new Jewish Lives biography Spinoza: Freedom’s Messiah, as we explore the life and legacy of the enlightenment thinker whose belief in freedom of thought and speech resonates in our own time.
More from The Jewish Lives Podcast
Join us with David Rieff, author of the new biography Robert Oppenheimer: The Sphinx Without a Secret, as we explore the inner life, contradictions, and enduring mystery of the man who helped usher in the atomic age.
Edmond de Rothschild (1845–1934) was born into one of the wealthiest families in history, but his legacy lies beyond aristocratic privilege.
Stephen Sondheim (1930–2021) was a towering figure in American musical theater.
Rabbi, writer, teacher, and thinker, Mordecai M. Kaplan (1881–1983) was one of the leading Jewish personalities of twentieth-century America. Founder of the Reconstructionist movement, he was a maverick who reshaped religious faith and practice, generating controversy at every turn.
Walter Benjamin (1892–1940) is widely considered one of the most creative cultural critics of the twentieth century.