Saul Bellow's *Herzog* occupies a paradoxical position in American Jewish literature, embracing Jewish identity while simultaneously rejecting its core values. Through close textual analysis and cultural criticism, this examination reveals how the novel's protagonist, Moses Herzog, embodies a "commitment to non-commitment"—eschewing meaningful action in favor of intellectual posturing. While the novel showcases Bellow's literary virtuosity and offers authentic depictions of Jewish family life in Montreal, it ultimately perpetuates problematic literary traditions that force Jewish characters into ill-fitting rebellious roles. Herzog's characterization falls prey to established American literary dichotomies of "Palefaces" and "Redskins," creating fundamental contradictions in its portrayal of Jewish experience and intellectual engagement. Despite generating significant critical attention, the novel proves fundamentally flawed as a "Jewish" work because it accepts Jewish cultural experience only superficially, while denying the essential commitments to growth, learning, and ethical action that define authentic Jewish life.