JL;DR SUMMARY Adam Kirsch's book "The People and the Books" explores the rich tapestry of Jewish literature from Moses to Sholem Aleichem, highlighting key figures like Disraeli, Judah Halevi, and Maimonides who grappled with central themes of God, Torah, the Land of Israel, and the Jewish people. A way out west there was a fella, fella I want to tell you about, fella by the name of Jeff Lebowski. At least, that was the handle his lovin' parents gave him, but he never had much use for it himself. This Lebowski, he called himself the Dude. Now, Dude, that's a name no one would self-apply where I come from. But then, there was a lot about the Dude that didn't make a whole lot of sense to me. And a lot about where he lived, likewise. But then again, maybe that's why I found the place s'durned innarestin'.