In this new addition to Yale’s Jewish Lives series, Anthony Julius explores Judaism’s first figure.    He presents Abraham as living two distinct lives, each reflecting Judaism’s enduring contradictions. Julius examines the origins of a fundamental tension between scepticism and faith, independent thought and adherence to divine direction. After a youth spent challenging polytheism, and narrowly escaping death through a miracle, Abraham shifts his focus from critique to conversion—until a second miracle, which, Julius contends, becomes a personal catastrophe. He will discuss his insights with Dr Leya Landau.

An event from Jewish Book Week 2025.