What questions about Jewish identity did Martin Buber address in Talks on Judaism?

In his work Reden über das Judentum (1923; "Talks on Judaism"), Martin Buber addressed the fundamental question: "Jews, why do we call ourselves Jews?"1

Delivered between 1909 and 1911 to Zionist student audiences in Prague, these speeches were intended for half-assimilated Zionists who were searching for a rationale for their Jewish existence. To address this, Buber offered his theories regarding the essence of Judaism, grounding his exploration in the assumed identity of his listeners as Jews. Through these talks, Buber sought to provide a meaningful basis for their connection to their heritage and identity.1