Joseph Albo on Free Choice

[T]he author shows very convincingly that without a serious understanding of the way that Albo interpreted the different parts of the Bible, we cannot completely understand his unique opinion on free choice. --Ben Gurion, Journal of Religion Weiss's basic observation is very accurate: the philosophical implications of exegesis were indeed neglected by scholars of medieval Jewish philosophy, while one of the main characteristics of this corpus is the intertwining of philosophy with the interpretation of biblical and rabbinical texts. It is to Weiss's merit that he offers an exploration of Albo's contribution to this field through a meticulous study of exegetical passages of the Book of Principle. --David Lemler, Reading Religion Clearly written and thoroughly researched, this book presents the thought of Joseph Albo in an interesting new light. Shira Weiss is to be commended for a first-class piece of work. --Kenneth Seeskin, Philip M. and Ethel Klutznick Professor of Jewish Civilization, Northwestern University R. Josef Albo's Sefer ha'Iqqarim (The Book of Principles) is one of the most enduringly popular works of medieval Jewish philosophy. Perhaps because of that very fact, it is also one of the least studied in the academic canon. Shira Weiss's illuminating new study is, in fact, the first book-length analysis of Albo in English. Focusing on Albo's innovative philosophical exegesis, emphasizing his own focus on free-will, and situating Albo in his painful historical circumstances, Shira Weiss presents us with a ground-breaking work. --Menachem Kellner