Conservative Judaism in America: A Biographical Dictionary and Sourcebook by Pamela S.NadellReview by: Martin E. MartyThe Journal of Religion, Vol. 69, No. 4 (Oct., 1989), p. 612Published by: The University of Chicago PressStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/1204095 .

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The Journal of Religion

debate takes place between a pietist, who questions the permissibility of philo- sophic inquiry for those already committed to the Torah, and a scholar, who argues not only for the permissibility of such inquiry but also for its necessity as a religious obligation. The ensuing debate examines the nature of faith and infi- delity, tradition and proof, knowledge of creation and knowledge of God, human destiny, and the aims of philosophy. The three background studies explore the relation of Falaquera's Epistle to Averroes's Decisive Treatise, the perennial importance of studying philosophy, and Falaquera's evolving attitude toward poetry. The author displays impressive erudition, wit, and philosophic insight in a volume that is well suited to introduce the subject to novices. BARRY S. KOGAN, Hebrew Union College.

NADELL, PAMELA S. Conservative Judaism in America: A Biographical Dictionary and Sourcebook. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press, 1988. xvi+409 pp. $55.00.

In nineteenth-century America, as Jews grew in number and confidence, they began to develop networks of synagogues. One movement adapted most to America and modernity and became Reform. The Orthodox had most difficulty getting together. But around the turn of the century large numbers of rabbis and synagogues found themselves in a "historical school." They knew they needed to accommodate themselves to America, but they wanted to do so with less loss of distinctive Jewish heritage. Jewish Theological Seminary in New York became their base, and Conservative Judaism their name.

Marc Lee Raphael is editing a series of works on "Jewish Denominations in America" for Greenwood Press. In this volume, Pamela S. Nadell of American University introduces Conservatism's cast of characters. Most of the book is a biographical dictionary of leaders in a movement given life and shape chiefly by its rabbinic leaders. But she serves readers as well by defining Conservatism, however resistant to definition it may be. Also valuable is her set of short essays on institutions and expressions of Conservatism. The volumes in the series are designed to be less flamboyant floatings of theses and more foot-on-the-ground presentations of data. Nadell keeps her feet on the ground, to be sure, but she moves with ease and grace on the landscape of American Judaism and will take readers along with her on her explorations. This is a valuable reference work, awaiting counterparts dealing with other Jewish denominations. MARTIN E. MARTY, University of Chicago.

STAROBINSKI, JEAN. Jean-Jacques Rousseau: Transparency and Obstruction. Trans- lated by ARTHUR GOLDHAMMER. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1988. 421 pp. $60.00 (cloth); $19.95 (paper).

Transparency and Obstruction is the English translation of the 1971 revision of Jean Starobinski's doctoral thesis, first published in 1957 and quickly recognized as a classic work on Rousseau. This edition includes seven essays by Starobinski, published between 1962 and 1970, and an excellent prefatory essay by R. J. Morrissey that relates Starobinski's method both to the thesis of the book and to its methodological and philosophical context. In Transparency and Obstruction, Starobinski investigates Rousseau's obsessive concern with the problematic of the self in its attempts to know and be known by others and uses this theme in its

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