Embracing Paradoxy: A Review of Rabbi Taragin’s “To Be Holy but Human”

It isn’t very often that a book succeeds in truly capturing the essence of a great Jewish leader and his teachings. When one seeks to record the wisdom of a gadol, they run the risk of simplifying and stagnating their eternal lessons. That being said, Rabbi Moshe Taragin’s “To Be Holy but Human” (Kodesh Press, 2025) accurately captures the wisdom and intelligence of Rav Yehuda Amital z”l, in a way that is both easily digestible and deeply profound. 

Rabbi Taragin studied under Rav Amital for many years in Yeshivat Har Etzion. He focuses on the unique, yet effective approach that Rav Amital took towards teaching and the broader spiritual messages Rav Amital sought to instill throughout his tenure as founder and Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivat Har Etzion. The book offers inspiration and spiritual clarity to readers of all ages without sacrificing Rav Amital’s nuanced worldview. 

“To Be Holy but Human” is not merely a biography or compilation of various lectures. Rather, it is a carefully curated portrait of a Torah giant who grappled with the complexity of living an Orthodox life in a modern world. The book is structured as a series of essays and reflections, covering topics such as religious zionism and the historical significance of the Holocaust. Rabbi Taragin adds a personal touch by including short anecdotes that underscore how Rav Amital implemented these greater themes in his everyday life. 

While the lessons are slightly repetitive, the book illuminates the major themes of Rav Amital’s life and the values he held as paramount. Rabbi Taragin emphasizes Rav Amital’s insistence that embracing the tensions within Judaism — between faith and doubt, simplicity and sophistication, holiness and humanity — is not only necessary, but empowering. Rather than shying away from discomfort, Rav Amital taught that we must engage with these paradoxes and draw meaning from them, for it is through this very struggle that we come to understand our unique role in tikun olam [repairing the world].

One particularly memorable story describes a scene in which Rav Amital tells a student that he secretly enjoys being honored. The student, stunned by what he perceived as a contradiction to the values of humility, struggled to reconcile this confession. This moment reflects one of Rav Amital’s core teachings: to strive for holiness is not to reject one’s natural human desires, but to accept and elevate them through spirituality and a deep connection with Hashem. Rav Amital never claimed to possess a secret formula to resolve these inner conflicts; rather, he empowered his students to acknowledge the tensions and live comfortably within them.

Throughout the book, Rabbi Taragin draws upon his personal encounters with Rav Amital to animate these lessons. One story in particular, often retold by Rav Amital at Yeshivat Har Etzion, reshaped Rabbi Taragin’s view of childhood and achievement. At a relative’s brit milah, family members repeatedly referred to the infant as “Yankele Iluy,” “the great Torah scholar.” When Rav Amital inquired why the child was being called this, they explained that they wanted him to become accustomed to greatness from a young age. This encounter upset Rav Amital and led him to warn his students that a child’s happiness and emotional well-being must always come before imposed expectations and that accomplishments should be celebrated but never assumed. 

Years later, at a family bar mitzvah, Rabbi Taragin heard similar remarks predicting future greatness for the boy. Recalling his rebbe’s teachings, Rabbi Taragin intervened and encouraged the child to continue savoring his youth and prioritizing happiness. This story, like many others recounted in the book, highlights Rabbi Taragin’s gift for translating Rav Amital’s timeless wisdom into real-world guidance.  

Rabbi Taragin’s writing is neither defensive nor apologetic. Instead, it invites the reader to explore, question and sit with discomfort, much like Rav Amital did. The result is a compelling framework for spiritual growth that feels rooted, deeply authentic and undoubtedly relevant to the modern reader. While the stories relayed have aged, the lessons imparted in this book remain applicable as the world changes.

Ultimately, “To Be Holy but Human” is not only a tribute to Rav Amital’s life and legacy; it is a spiritual guide for anyone striving to live an honest Jewish life in a world teeming with contradiction. For readers in the beit midrash, in academia or simply in search of religious inspiration, the book offers a path forward grounded in truth and courage. As the title of the book suggests, “To Be Holy but Human” invites us to lean into our human fragility without compromising our desires to be holy like our Creator. 

Photo Caption: Rabbi Moshe Taragin’s book “To Be Holy but Human”

Photo Credit: Daniella Karp