Being-towards-eternity: R. Isaac Hutner's adaptation of a heideggerian notion

In his writings, Rabbi Isaac Hutner integrated various insights from secular philosophy and particularly from existentialist thought. Concerns regarding temporality, authenticity, and death permeate his thought. This article deals with what we call "being-towards-eternity,"a modification of Martin Heidegger's "being-towards-death,"through which Hutner seeks to reconcile genuine anxiety in the face of finitude with an unwavering belief in resurrection and life after death. Hutner's appropriation and adaptation of this Heideggerian notion demonstrates how he adopted secular ideas while cautiously remaining within the boundaries of traditional Jewish concerns and vocabulary.

Duke Scholars

Author Daniel M Herskowitz Religious Studies