In From Spinoza to Levinas Ze ev Levy discusses the pivotal ideas of the most influential Jewish thinkers in modern times including Spinoza Mendelssohn and Levinas Levy accounts for the political foundation of the philosophies of Spinoza and Mendelssohn and the role of hermeneutics in the writings of Spinoza and Maimonides He traces the history of modern philosophical and biblical hermeneutics and considers issues pertaining to death and dying in light of traditional Jewish and contemporary concepts of the body and soul Finally Levy focuses on the thought of Emmanuel Levinas arguably one of the most important Jewish philosophers in the second half of the twentieth century By articulating and responding to contemporary ethical and political challenges and dilemmas Levy succeeds in contributing to the rich legacy of Jewish thought