Isaac Unbound: A Life of Reconciliation

Paul J. Citrin

Jul 2023 · Wipf and Stock Publishers

About this eBook

Isaac Unbound is a work of fiction that fills in the details of the life and character of biblical Isaac. People read about Isaac in Gen 17:4—28:9, and conclude he is passive and not an independent thinker. Isaac is not the iconoclast or spiritual pioneer as was his father, Abraham. He is not the scheming activist that his son, Jacob, became. As a result of his near sacrifice by his father, he evolves into a sensitive, caring, understanding person who reaches out to reconcile with his brother Ishmael, with the Philistine king Abimelech, and works to align his values with his actions. Isaac Unbound develops out of the author’s imagination as well as drawing on interpretations of ancient rabbis. The book raises questions about interpersonal reconciliation in a non-didactic way. It encourages heartfelt seeking by contemporary readers.

About the author

Paul J. Citrin is a retired rabbi who teaches Jewish history, literature, and philosophy in synagogue and community venues. He is the author of I Am My Prayer (Wipf & Stock, 2021). He has served congregations in New Mexico and on both coasts. He was a cofounder of the Jewish-Catholic Dialogue and has been committed to working for social justice issues. He lives in Albuquerque with his wife, Susan Morrison Citrin.