תואר שלישי בפילוסופיה מהאוניברסיטה העברית בירושלים
ד"ר אפרים חמיאל
Dr. Ephraim Chamiel – professional resume
Dr Ephraim Chamiel obtained his education at Midrashiat Noam, Yeshivat Kerem Beyavne and the Hebrew University. Studied for B.A. in Economics and Political Science, and has a diploma in Business Administration as second degree.
Worked at Bank Leumi for 37 years and his last position before early retirement, was the Bank's representative in Australia. At mature age turned to the study of Jewish Thought and received his PhD in 2007 on his dissertation on the emergence of the modern religion trends in the 19th century Judaism (study of the responses to modernity in the philosophy of Z.H. Chajes, S.R. Hirsch and S.D. Luzzatto), titeled "Life in Two Worlds - The Middle way". This research was published in Jerusalem in Hebrew titled "Haderech Hamemutsaat" by Carmel Publishing House in 2011, and was translated to English and published in the U.S.A. titled "The Middle Way" in 2 volumes by Academic Studies Press, Brighton 2014.
His commentary to the Pentateuch titled "Ladaat Torah" (to Know Torah), a modern reading in the Peshat of the Torah and it's ideas, in 2 volumes, was published in Hebrew in 2014.
Chamiel published several papers on the thought of Luzzatto and Hirsch and their influence on the 20th century's Jewish thought. His book "The Dual Truth" was published in 2016 by Carmel. Dr. Chamiel taught for 3 years in the Jewish thoughts Department – the new era, of the Hebrew University, and is now a free researcher.
The Middle Way
The Emergence of Modern-Religious Trends in Nineteenth-Century Judaism Responses to Modernity in the Philosophy of Z. H. Chajes, S. R. Hirsch and S. D. Luzzatto, Vols. I & II
EPHRAIM CHAMIEL
Publication Date: December 2014
Summary:
This book in two volumes is devoted to examining the first encounter between traditional Judaism and modern European culture, and the first thinkers who sought to combine the Torah with science, revelation with reason, prophecy with philosophy, Jewish ethics with European culture, worldliness with sanctity, and universalism with the particular redemption of the Jews. These religious thinkers of the nineteenth century struggled with challenges of the modern age that continue to confront the modern Jews to this day. This objective work of scholarship, neither simplistic and isolationist nor destructive and arrogant, will be of interest to the modern thinker and to scholars of the history of religions. It is relevant to comparative study between Judaism and the various denominations of Christianity and other faiths that seek to find a middle way between their traditions and modernity.
Praise for The Middle Way:
“I do not think I am mistaken in emphasizing that this is an excellent work. It contains an exhaustive and comprehensive discussion of the general issues, combined with incisive and careful treatment of the details and bibliography related to this topic. The great labor that has been invested in this work is amply rewarded, and it also opens the way for both scholars and general readers to understand the influence of these three major thinkers on modern Jewish thought.”
—Shalom Rosenberg, Departments of Philosophy and Jewish Thought, Hebrew University
About the Author:
Dr. Ephraim Chamiel earned his BA in economics and political science, and a diploma in business administration from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He worked in various executive positions for Bank Leumi, and in his fifties, returned to the university to study Jewish thought. He defended his dissertation in 2006 under the guidance of Professor S. Rosenberg and Dr. M. Silber (the present volume is a translation of the 2011 Hebrew publication of this study). His work explores the problem of combining the world of Torah and Jewish thought with the secular world, and considers this to be a matter of existential significance (one with which he struggles day in and day out). Presently, he conducts research and teaches in the field of modern Jewish thought at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. His second book Ladaat Torah—a modern reading of the Pentateuch—was published in 2013 in Israel (Hebrew).
To Know Torah
To Understand the Weekly Parasha. Modern Reading in the Peshat of the Torah and its Ideas
The Dual Truth: Studies on Nineteenth-Century Modern Religious Thought and Its Influence on Twentieth-Century Jewish Philosophy, Volumes I & II
This book explores three schools of fascinating, talented, and gifted scholars whose philosophies assimilated the Jewish and secular cultures of their respective homelands: they include halakhists from Rabbi Ettlinger to Rabbi Eliezer Berkowitz; Jewish philosophers from Isaac Bernays to Yeshayau Leibowitz; and biblical commentators such as Samuel David Luzzatto and Rabbi Umberto Cassuto.
Running like a thread through their philosophies is the attempt to reconcile the Jewish belief in revelation with Western culture, Western philosophy, and the conclusions of scientific research. Among these attempts is Luzzatto’s “dual truth” approach.
The Dual Truth is the sequel to the Ephraim Chamiel’s previous book The Middle Way, which focused on the challenges faced by members of the “Middle Trend” in nineteenth-century Jewish thought.
Dr. Ephraim Chamiel has filled various managerial positions at Israeli Bank Leumi. Upon his early retirement, he completed his Doctorate in Jewish Thought at Hebrew University, teaching there for a number of years. He is currently continuing his research in modern Jewish thought.
Between Religion and Reason (Part I): The Dialectical Position in Contemporary Jewish Thought from Rav Kook to Rav Shagar
