The special status of commentary in Jewish modernity and its significance for the philosophy and critique that questions the authority of an origin and foundational text. A commentary always seems to refer to an already existing statement, to a text that is already in existence. It acts as a subsequent accompanying text to a primary foundational text. However, at times the commentary also takes on a dialogical form, which is characteristic of the rabbinic tradition of Judaism and exemplified in the Talmud. What appears to be subsequent becomes fundamental for Judaism here. The commentary retains its significance for Jewish modernity even beyond rabbinic Judaism and gains even more importance where it emancipates itself from tradition, further develops it, and transforms it. Content: Dominique Bourel: The Commentary as Dialogue.