As a Driven Leaf

The age of the Talmud is brought to life in a breathtaking saga.

First published in 1939, this masterpiece of modern fiction
tells the tale of renegade Talmudic sage Elisha ben Abuyah s
struggle to reconcile his faith with the allure of Hellenistic
culture. Set in Roman Palestine, As a Driven Leaf draws
readers into the dramatic era of Rabbinic Judaism. Watch the
great Talmudic sages at work in the Sanhedrin, eavesdrop on
their arguments about theology and Torah, and agonize with
them as they contemplate rebellion against an oppressive
Roman rule.

Steinberg s classic novel also transcends its historical setting
with its depiction of a timeless, perennial feature of the
Jewish experience: the inevitable conflict between the call of
tradition and the glamour of the surrounding culture. Beyond
its literary achievement, As a Driven Leaf is regarded as a
major influence on contemporary Jewish life and thought.
This new edition includes two forewords: One new, by the
renowned American Rabbi, Rabbi David J. Wolpe, the second
from author Chaim Potok, originally written in 1996.