In Chapter 5 of The Horizontal Society, Rabbi José Faur presents a transformative reading of the Torah, not as a set of religious decrees but as a legally binding contract between God and Israel. The Berith Sinai-Moab, he argues, established a horizontal legal framework, where divine law operates within a constitutional system rather than as … Read more
In Chapter 4 of The Horizontal Society, Rabbi José Faur examines the profound implications of Hebrew alphabetic literacy, contrasting it with the manipulative tendencies of anti-writing oral traditions. By emphasizing the Hebrew alphabet’s consonantal structure and the role of sopherim (scribes), Rabbi Faur presents a compelling argument for Alphabetic Judaism—a tradition that prioritizes intellectual engagement, … Read more
In Chapter 3 of The Horizontal Society, Rabbi José Faur deepens his exploration of Judaism’s intellectual and theological foundations by presenting God as a writer and Creation as a text. This chapter expands the metaphor of authorship to frame the universe and the Torah as semiotic systems that reveal divine will while requiring human engagement … Read more
In Chapter 2 of The Horizontal Society, Rabbi José Faur delivers a penetrating critique of hierarchical systems that rely on monolingualism and pure orality to sustain dominance. Through an analysis of language, textuality, and culture, Rabbi Faur exposes the intellectual stagnation fostered by what he calls the “analphabetic mind,” contrasting it with Judaism’s dynamic, participatory … Read more
In The Book of Creation, the first chapter of The Horizontal Society, Rabbi José Faur lays out a compelling vision of Judaism as a civilization built on the intellectual act of reading and interpreting divine texts. By presenting Creation as a semiotic system authored by God, Rabbi Faur redefines humanity’s role as interpreters and co-creators … Read more
In the introduction to the first section of The Horizontal Society, The God of Israel, Rabbi José Faur presents a profound analysis of Judaism’s foundational principles, positioning it as a unique intellectual and societal paradigm. By framing Creation itself as a text and portraying the God of Israel as a “writer” and “reader,” Rabbi Faur … Read more
The preface and introduction of Rabbi José Faur’s The Horizontal Society lay a robust intellectual and ethical foundation for his exploration of Jewish civilization. Rabbi Faur positions Judaism as a horizontally structured society, rooted in law, equality, and an interpretive engagement with texts. These opening sections introduce key concepts such as “Alphabetic Judaism” and the … Read more
Based on R. José Faur’s analysis in The Horizontal Society, his work has significant theoretical and practical implications for the study and practice of the Mishne Tora, positioning it as the definitive guide to Talmudic law. These implications can be grouped into the following categories: Theoretical Implications Practical Implications R. José Faur’s analysis in The … Read more
R. José Faur’s The Horizontal Society is a profound and nuanced exploration of Jewish philosophy, law, and identity. Published in 2010 as part of the “Emunot: Jewish Philosophy and Kabbalah” series, this work draws on Faur’s Sephardic/Maimonidean intellectual heritage and decades of teaching and scholarship. It presents a compelling argument for understanding Judaism as a … Read more
The Sepharadi tradition is one of extraordinary depth, harmonizing intellectual rigor with spiritual richness. For centuries, Sepharadi sages have contributed profoundly to Jewish thought, producing a legacy that continues to illuminate the minds and hearts of those who engage with it. Sepharadismo was born from the desire to sustain and expand this legacy, to explore … Read more
