The mag­nif­i­cent work of mod­ern fic­tion by Mil­ton Steinberg that brings the age of the Tal­mud to life. The char­ac­ters include the well-known his­tor­i­cal fig­ures: Aki­ba, Yohanan, Joshua, Eleazar, Beruri­ah, and Elisha ben Abuyah, whose strug­gle to live in two worlds destroyed his chance to live in either. Fore­word by Chaim Potok.

SYNOPSIS

The age of the Talmud is brought to life in a breathtaking saga. This masterpiece of modern fiction tells the gripping tale of renegade talmudic sage Elisha ben Abuyah's struggle to reconcile his faith with the allure of Hellenistic culture.

Set in Roman Palestine, As a Driven Leaf draws readers into the dramatic era of Rabbinic Judaism. Watch the great Talmudic sages at work in the Sanhedrin, eavesdrop on their arguments about theology and Torah, and agonize with them as they contemplate rebellion against an oppressive Roman rule.

But Steinberg's classic novel also transcends its historical setting with its depiction of a timeless, perennial feature of the Jewish experience: the inevitable conflict between the call of tradition and the glamour of the surrounding culture.

In his illuminating foreword, specially commissioned for this edition, Chaim Potok stresses the contemporary relevance of As a Driven Leaf: This novel of ideas and passions... retains its ability to enter the heart of pious and seeking Jew alike.

Synagogues everywhere are adopting As a Driven Leaf for group study.

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WHY WE LOVE THIS BOOK

Coming Soon

Rabbi Rosalin Mandelberg
Senior Rabbi of Ohef Sholom Temple in Norfolk

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Milton Steinberg (1903–1950) was a rabbi, theologian, and writer whose career bridged tradition and modernity. Ordained at the Jewish Theological Seminary and influenced by Rabbi Mordecai Kaplan, he served first in Indianapolis and later at New York’s Park Avenue Synagogue, where he became known as a gifted preacher, pastoral leader, and advocate for interfaith and civic engagement.

Steinberg introduced liturgical, educational, and social justice innovations, helping shape Conservative and Reconstructionist Judaism. His acclaimed works include As A Driven Leaf (1939), a novel exploring faith and doubt, and Basic Judaism (1947), a clear introduction to Jewish belief and practice.

Rejecting the idea of an all-powerful God, Steinberg advanced “limited theism,” teaching that God’s goodness is infinite but divine power is finite, requiring human partnership in the work of creation and redemption. Though his life was cut short at 47, his writings on Jewish identity, philosophy, and faith continue to influence generations.