The Book of Jonah: A Social Justice Commentary

by Shmuly Yanklowitz

The Book of Jonah is a unique text in the Jewish canon. Among the shortest books in the Bible, it is also one of the most mysterious and morally ambiguous. Who is this prophet running from God, hiding at the bottom of the ocean? Why does he struggle with God's mission to save and forgive Israel's enemies? In this volume, Rabbi Dr. Yanklowitz shows that the Book of Jonah delivers a message of human responsibility in a shared world. Illuminating such contemporary ethical issues as animal welfare, incarceration, climate change, weapons of mass destruction, and Jewish-Muslim relations, this social justice commentary urges us to join in repairing a broken world--a call that we, unlike Jonah, must hasten to answer.

Genres: Biblical Studies

186 pages, Paperback

Published April 1, 2020

Reviews

[Margaret Klein · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gem of a book looking at Jonah through the lens of modern times. Jonah is us. Reluctant. Scared. And yet, ultimately, spoiler alert, he succeeds in his mission and is still not satisfied. So much wisdom on every page that I am buying a second copy as a kindle edition to highlight and cut and paste from. A delightful way to prepare for the High Holy Days. (It should be noted that I know Shmuly and consider him a colleague, friend and mentor and am proud of his work. Nonetheless this is an independent review)

[Anthionette E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

We've all had those moments when we’re asked to do something we really don’t want to, right? That's exactly the case of Jonah, in the biblical story people sometimes refer to as “Jonah and the big fish”. The Book of Jonah by Rabbi Shmuly Yanklowitz is a fresh look at the classical biblical story of Jonah, and trust me, it is not just for Sunday school. This book discusses Jonah's mission to get the people of Nineveh to change their ways, and honestly, it is pretty relatable, especially in today's world.

This book is a guide for anyone trying to figure out the tough choices in life. Rabbi Shmuly blends ancient wisdom with today's issues. As you read, you’ll find yourself thinking about things like faith, justice, and how we all have a part to play in lifting up others. Read Rabbi Shmuly Yanklowitz's The Book of Jonah to learn more about the mysterious tale of Jonah.

When Rabbi Shmuly was writing this book, he had a clear goal in mind: to take the story of Jonah, which is really old, and make it feel meaningful for today’s world; especially when it comes to being better people and looking out for others. It was great to see the author's vision come to life through each words of the different chapters. The introduction to the book does a great job setting the tone for the rest of the book. It made the story feel deeper and more interesting to me. It doesn't just summarize the events, it also talks a bit about Jonah's character and the big lessons we can learn from it.

Rabbi Shmuly's writing style in his books is always very detailed and easy to follow, and this book is no exception. I like the connection of Jonah's struggles to real life issues, like failure and redemption. Rabbi Shmuly explained Jonah's reluctance yet success as a prophet which made him feel more real. There were so many themes this book touched on but my favorites were God's mercy, forgiveness, and caring for all people. The theme of God's merciful nature was evident throughout the book which reminds me of how vast the mercy and the love of God is. God is always willing to give us another chance, just like he did with Jonah and the people of Nineveh.

Even though I kind of knew Jonah’s story, Rabbi Shmuly made me see it in a new way. His interpretation of the story of Jonah adds a layer of expectation, as he relates old with new. It made me curious to see where he was going with it, and I wasn't disappointed. Also, my favorite part of this book was the discussion on pluralism when the sailors each cried out to their own God. It showed how different beliefs can exist together without conflict. I liked how it wasn’t about proving one religion right, but more about everyone having their own way of connecting with something bigger. Being open-minded and respecting other people’s faiths even if they’re different from our own is really important, especially in today's world.

Furthermore, I found no errors in this book; it was exceptionally edited. I enjoyed reading this book, it was packed with lessons that we can each apply in our daily lives. I also didn't find anything objectionable about this book, thus, I rate The Book of Jonah 5 out of 5 stars.

I recommend The Book of Jonah by Rabbi Shmuly Yanklowitz to anyone interested in exploring contemporary issues through a biblical lens.