COLUMBIA -- What does Baruch Spinoza -- arguably the most radical thinker of the 17th century -- have to do with society and Jewish identity today?

That's the question Dr. Steven Nadler of the University of Wisconsin-Madison will address Sept. 10 at the University of South Carolina Solomon-Tenenbaum Lectureship in Jewish Studies, sponsored by the College of Arts and Sciences.

Nadler will give an evening lecture and participate in an afternoon panel discussion. His talk, "The Spinoza Problem: Secular Judaism and the Question of Jewish Identity," will be at 8 p.m. in the School of Law auditorium. At 1:30 p.m., he will join university and community Jewish scholars for a panel discussion on whether Spinoza was a theist, pantheist or atheist. The panel will be in Lumpkin Auditorium on the eighth floor of the Moore School of Business. Both events are free and open to the public.

Nadler says there is a growing interest in Spinoza's life and ideas and the mystery behind his excommunication from Amsterdam's Portuguese-Jewish community in 1656 for "abominable heresies and monstrous deeds."

"There is no question that he was the most radical thinker of his time and vilified by critics across the ideological spectrum, especially from all religious and political authorities," Nadler said. "He may have died 300 years ago, but his continued relevance is undeniable. He was the most modern of early moderns: a strong proponent of democracy, freedom of thought and a secular, tolerant society. In fact, many of the values we consider quintessentially 'American' were first defended by Spinoza."

But it is the question of whether Spinoza should be regarded as the first "secular Jew" that will be at the heart of Nadler's talk.

"It has often been argued that Spinoza was the first 'secular Jew' and that his critique of Jewish law, and of sectarian religions in general, made it possible to be a Jew outside rigorous halakhic (legal) observance," Nadler said. "Given his prominence in Jewish intellectual history, there is no avoiding dealing with Spinoza.

"Together, we'll explore Spinoza's thinking about the nature of Judaism and the foundations of Jewish identity and what we are to do with him and whether he is even a 'Jewish' thinker at all."

Nadler is the William H. Hay II Professor of Philosophy and the Max and Frieda Weinstein/Bascom Professor of Jewish Studies at UW. His research focuses on Spinoza, Descartes and Cartesian philosophy and Leibniz. He has written seven books, including "Spinoza: A Life," winner of the Koret Jewish Book Award, "Spinoza's Heresy" and "Rembrandt's Jews," a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. His forthcoming book is "The Best of All Possible Worlds: A Story of Philosophers, God, and Evil."

Joining Nadler in the afternoon panel discussion will be faculty from the University of South Carolina's prospective Jewish Studies Program and Rabbi Hesh Epstein of Columbia's Congregation Beit Midrash. Faculty will include Dr. Saskia Coenen-Snyder, history; Dr. Matthew Kisner, philosophy; and Dr. Katja Vehlow, religious studies. Dr. Stan Dubinsky, director of Jewish studies, will moderate.

Dubinsky said that with the pending establishment of a Jewish Studies Program at the university, the Solomon-Tenenbaum Lectureship takes on a new role in promoting and developing the program.

"This year's event features a lecture and panel discussion in Jewish philosophy," Dubinsky said. "One objective for us down the road is to be able to make a faculty hire in this area."

The Solomon-Tenenbaum Lectureship in Jewish Studies is funded by Melvin and Judith Solomon of Charleston and Samuel and Inez Tenenbaum of Columbia. Speakers have included Elie Wiesel, Thomas Cahill and Thomas Friedman. It is one of the premiere lectureships of the College of Arts and Sciences and of the university.

For more information on the Solomon-Tenenbaum Lectureship, call 803-777-4100 or visit www.cas.sc.edu/relg/.

Special to The T&D

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