Jewish cultural history defies the common narrative of unbroken continuity, revealing instead seven distinct cultural phases that fundamentally reshaped Jewish thought and practice. In *Seven Jewish Cultures: A Reinterpretation of Jewish History and Thought*, Efraim Shmueli maps these transformative periods—Biblical, Talmudic, Rabbinic, Philosophic-Poetic, Mystical, Emancipation, and Israeli-National—each defined by its unique conception of redemption. Through a masterful analysis of the Song of Songs' varying interpretations across these periods, Shmueli demonstrates how "creative interpretation" enabled cultural evolution while preserving core Jewish concepts and archetypal experiences. However, his assertion that pre-modern Jewish scholars worked unconsciously in their reinterpretive activities faces challenge from historical evidence showing the Sages' deliberate engagement with change and innovation. The work ultimately affirms creative interpretation's essential role in Jewish cultural development, illuminating how interpretive processes drive cultural adaptation and renewal in contemporary Jewish life.