DOCSLIB.ORG

From Ancient Israel to Modern Judaism

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
From Ancient Israel to Modern Judaism FROM ANCIENT ISRAEL TO MODERN JUDAISM Intellect in Quest of Understanding Program in Judaic Studies Brown University BROWN JUDAIC STUDIES Edited by Jacob Neusner Wendell S. Dietrich, Ernest S. Frerichs, William Scott Green, Calvin Goldscheider, David Hirsch, Alan Zuckerman Project Editors (Projects) David Blumenthal, Emory University (Approaches to Medieval Judaism) William Brinner (Studies in Judaism and Islam) Ernest S. Frerichs, Brown University (Dissertations and Monographs) Lenn Evan (joodman. University of Hawaii (Studies in Medieval Judmsm) William Scott Green, University of Rochester (Approaches to Ancient Judaism) Norbert Samuelson, Temple University (Jewish Philosophy) Jonathan Z, Smith, University of Chicago (Studia Philonica) Number 174 FROM ANCIENT ISRAEL TO MODERN JUDAISM Intellect in Quest of Understanding Edited by Jacob Neusner Ernest S. Frerichs Nahum M. Sama FROM ANCIENT ISRAEL TO MODERN JUDAISM Intellect est Quest of Understanding Essays in Honor of Marvin Fox Volume Three Judaism in the Middle Ages: Philosophers Hasidism. Messianism in Modem Times The Modern Age: Philosophy Edited by Jacob Neusner Ernest S. Frerichs Nahum M. Sarna Managing Editor Joshua Bell Scholars Press Atlanta, Georgia FROM ANCIENT ISRAEL TO MODERN .nJDAISM INTELLECT IN QUEST OF UNDERSTANDING © 1989 Brown University The editors acknowledge with thanks the support of the Tisch Family Foundation in the publication of this volume. Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data From ancient Israel to modern Judaism : intellect in quest of understanding: essays in honor of Marvin Fox I edited by Jacob Neusner, Ernest S. Frerichs, Nahum M. Sarna. p. em. -- (Brown Judaic studies; no. 159, 173-175) Contents: Y. 1. What is at stake in the Judaic quest for understanding. Judaic learning and the locus of education. Ancient Israel. Formative Christianity. Judaism in the fonnativc age; religion -- v. 2. Judaism in the formative age: theology and literature. Judaism in the Middle Ages: the encounter with Christianity, the encounter with Scripture, philosophy, and theology - - Y. 3. Judaism in the Middle Ages: philosophers. Hasidism, Messianism in modern times. The modern age: philosophy -- v. 4. The modern age: theology, literature, history. ISBN 1-55540-342-5 (y.3 : alk. paper) 1. Judaism--History. 2. Philosophy, J ewish. 3. Fox, Marvin. I. Fox, Marvin. II. Neusner, J acob, 1932- . III. Frerichs, Ernest S. IV. Sarna, Nahum M. V. Series: Brown Judaic studies no. 159, ctc. BM157.F76 1989 296'.09--dc20 89-6111l Printed in the United States of America on acid-free paper § TABLE OF CONTENTS Preface xiii Bibliography of the Works of Marvin Fox xvii Part Eleven: JUDAISM IN THE MIDDLE AGES: PHILOSOPHERS: MAIMONIDES AND HIS HEIRS 31. Aspects of Maimonidean Epistemology: Halakah and Science 3 Isadore Twersky, Harvard University 32. Intellectual Perfection and the Role of the Law in the Philosophy of Maimonides 25 Howard Kreisel, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev 33. Maimonides and the Alternatives Concerning the World's Being Everlasting 47 Keith E. Yandell, University of Wisconsin 34. Maimonides' Fundamental Principles Redivivus 77 Charles M. Raffel, American Jewish Committee 35. Another More Nevukhim: The Italian Background and the Educational Program of Leon Modena's More Nevukhim Bikhtivah Bilshonenu Hakodosh 89 Howard Adelman, Smith College Part Twelve: JUDAISM IN THE MIDDLE AGES: PHILOSOPHERS: JUDAH HALEVI 36. Judah Halevi and Karaism Ill Daniel J. Lasker, Ben Gurion University of the Negev 37. The Superiority of Oral over Written Communication: Judah Ha-Levi's Kuzari and Modern Jewish Thought 127 Raphael Jospe, The Open University of Israel Part Thirteen: HASIDISM.: MESSIANISM IN MODERN TIMES 38. Hasidism as the Image of Demonism: The Satiric Writings ofJudahLeibMises 159 Yehudah Friedlai\der, Bar Ilan Ur\iversity 39. When a Rabbi Is Accused of Heresy: R. Ezekiel Landau's Attitude toward R. Jonathan Eibeschuetz in the Emden- Eibeschuetz Controversy 179 Sid Z. Leiman, Brooklyn College Part Fourteen: THE MODERN AGE: PHILOSOPHY 40. The Character and Status of the Concept of History in Three Twentieth Century Systems of Judaic Thought: Cohen, Rosenzweig, Levinas 197 Wendell S. Dietrich, Brown University 41. Heschel's Critique of Kant 213 Lawrence Perlman, Vassar College 42. Ararat and its Fortress: Excerpts from the Rawidowicz- Margulies Correspondence 227 Benjamin Ravid, Brandeis University Index 249 VOLUME ONE Preface xui Bibliography of the Works of Marvin Fox xvii PART ONE: WHAT IS AT STAKE IN THE JUDAIC QUEST FOR UNDERSTANDING 1. History as a Jewish Problem 3 Ben Halpem, Brandeis University PART TWO: JUDAIC LEARNING AND THE LOCUS OF EDUCATION 2. Judaic Studies and the College Curriculum 25 William Scott Green, University of Rochester 3. The University as a Locus for the Judaic Life of Intellect: Why the New Is Not Necessarily Better than the Old, but Only Different 41 Jacob Neusner, Brown University PART THREE: ANCIENT ISRAEL AND THE ANCIENT NEAR EAST 4. The Role of Inspiration Relative to Other Explanations of the Formation of the Hebrew Bible 59 Ernest S. Frerichs, Brown University 5. Genesis 21:33: A Study in the Development of a Biblical Text and its Rabbinic Transformation 69 Nahum M. Sama, Brandeis University 6. "He Should Continue to Bear the Penalty of That Case:" An Interpretation of Codex Hammurabi Paragraphs 3-4 and 13 77 Tsvi Abush, Brandeis University 7. Dealing with Fundamental Regime Change: The Biblical Paradigm of the Transition from Tribal Federation to Federal Monarchy under David 97 Daniel J. Elazar, Bar Ilan and Temple Universities PART FOUR: FORMATIVE CHRISTIANITY 8. The Transformation of a Religious Document: From Early Christian Writings to Canon 133 Mauro Pesce, University of Bologna 9. Anti-Semitism in John's Gospel 149 William A. Johi\son, Brandeis University 10. The New Testament, the Early Church, and Anti-Semitism 171 John T. Townsend, Episcopal Divinity School 11. Four Christian Writers on Jews and Judaism in the Second Century 187 Robert MacLennon, Hitchcock Presbyterian Church, Scarsdale PART FIVE: FORMATIVE JUDAISM: RELIGION 12. "Teach Us to Count Our Days:" A Note on Sefirat HaOmer 205 Harold Fisch, Bar Ilan University 13. Are Women Property in the System of the Mishnah? 219 Paul V. M. Flesher, Northwestern University 14. Three Stages in the Development of Early Rabbinic Prayer 233 Tzvee Zahavy, University of Minnesota 15. Architecture and Laws: The Temple and its Courtyards in the Temple Scroll 267 Lawrence H. Schiffman, New York University Index 285 VOLUME TWO Preface xiii Bibliography of the Works of Marvin Fox xvii PART SIX: FORMATIVE JUDAISM: THEOLOGY 16. Judaism in Crisis? Institutions and Systematic Theology in Rabbinism 3 Roger Brooks, Univ'^rsity of Notre Dame 17. The Problem of On^inahty in Talmudic Thought 19 Robert Goldenberg, State University of New York at Stony Brook 18. On Man's Role in Revelation 29 David Weiss Halivni, Columbia University PART SEVEN: FORMATIVE JUDAISM: LITERATURE 19. Did the Talmud's Authorship Utilize Prior "Sources"? A Response to Halivni's Sources and Traditions 53 Jacob Neusner, Brown University 20. The Rabbis of the Babylonian Talmud: A Statistical Analysis 81 Harold Goldblatt, University of Maryland 21. Matching Patterns at the Seams: A Literary Study 95 Herbert Basser, Queens University 22. Recent and Prospective Discussion of Memra 119 Bruce Chilton, Bard College 23. The Am Ha'Arets as Literary Character 139 Peter Haas, Vanderbilt University PART EIGHT: JUDAISM IN THE MIDDLE AGES: THE ENCOUNTER WITH CHRISTIANITY 24. The Christian Position in Jacob Ben Reuben's Milhamot Ha-Shem 157 Robert Chazan, New York University PART NINE: JUDAISM IN THE MIDDLE AGES: THE ENCOUNTER WITH SCRIPTURE 25. Tradition or Context: Two Exegetes Struggle with Peshat 173 Martin 1. Lockshin, York University 26. "Introduction to the Commentary on Song of Songs Composed by the Sage Levi Ben Gershom" - An Annotated Translation 187 Menachem Kellner, University of Haifa 27. Late-Fourteenth Century Perception of Classical Jewish Lore: Shem Tob ben Isaac Shaprut's Aggadic Exegesis 207 Lester A. Segal, University of Massachusetts-Boston PART TEN: JUDAISM IN THE MIDDLE AGES: PHILOSOPHY AND THEOLOGY 28. Creation in Medieval Philosophical, Rabbinic Commentaries 231 Norbert M. Samuelson, Temple University 29. Some Forms of Divine Appearance in Ancient Jewish Thought 261 Michael Fishbane, Brandeis University 30. Female Imaging of the Torah: From Literary Metaphor to Religious Symbol 271 Elliot Wolfson, New York University Index 309 VOLUME FOUR Preface xiii Bibliography of the Works of Marvin Fox xvii PART FIFTEEN: THE MODERN AGE: THEOLOGY AND TOEOLOGY 43. Samson Raphael Hirsch's Doctrine of Inner Revelation 3 Walter S. Wurzburger, Yeshiva University 44. Non-Jews in a Jewish Polity: Subject or Sovereign? 13 David Novak, University of Virginia 45. Tikkun: A Lurianic Motif in Contemporary Jewash Thought 35 Lawn-ence Fine, Mount Holyoke College 46. FromTanakh to Modern Times: Aspects of Jewish Religion 55 Moshe Goshen-Gottstein, Hebrew University of Jerusalem 47. Universal Mission and Jewish Survivalism in American Zionist Ideology 61 Allon Gal, Ben Gurion University of the Negev PART SIXTEEN: THE MODERN AGE: LITERATURE 48. Paradise Lost as a Midrash on the Biblical Bride of God 87 Sylvia Barack Fishman, Brandeis University 49. "Sacred Sriptures or Bibles of Mankind" in Walden by Henry David Thoreau 105 Pier Cesare Bori, University of Bologna 50. L. A. Arieli and the Literature of the Second Aliyah 115 Gila Ramras-Rauch, Hebrew College 51. In Search of "Authentic" Anglo-Jewish Poetry: The Debate over A. M. Klein's Poems (1944) 125 Jonathan D. Sarna, Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, Cincinnati 52. Tadeusz Rozewicz Faces the Holocaust Past 137 David H. Hirsch, Brown University PART SEVENTEEN: THE MODERN AGE: HISTORY 53. The Politics of Yiddish in Tsarist Russia 155 David E. Fishman, Jewish Theological Seminary of America and YIVO Institute for Jewdsh Research 54. From Yishuv to Sovereign State: Changes in the Social Structure of the Jewish State in the 1940s 173 Jehuda Reinharz, Brandeis University 55. The Ideology of Antisemitism: The American Jewish View 189 Gary A.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • History of the Jews Vol. V
    History of the Jews Vol. V By Heinrich Graetz HISTORY OF THE JEWS CHAPTER I CHMIELNICKI AND THE PERSECUTION OF THE JEWS OF POLAND BY THE COSSACKS Condition of the Jews in Poland before the Outbreak of Persecution— Influence of the Jesuits—Characteristics of Poles and Jews—The Home of the Cossacks—Repression of the Cossacks by the Government—Jews appointed as Tax Farmers—Jurisdiction of the Synods—The Study of the Talmud in Poland—Hebrew Literature in that Country becomes entirely Rabbinical—Character of Polish Judaism—Jews and Cossacks— Chmielnicki—Sufferings of the Jews in consequence of his Successes—The Tartar Haidamaks—Fearful Massacres in Nemirov, Tulczyn, and Homel— Prince Vishnioviecki—Massacres at Polonnoie, Lemberg, Narol, and in other Towns—John Casimir—Lipmann Heller and Sabbataï Cohen—Renewal of the War between Cossacks and Poles—Russians join Cossacks in attacking the Jews—Charles X of Sweden—The Polish Fugitives—"Polonization" of Judaism. 1648–1656 C. E. Poland ceased to be a haven for the sons of Judah, when its short-sighted kings summoned the Jesuits to supervise the training of the young nobles and the clergy and crush the spirit of the Polish dissidents. These originators of disunion, to whom the frequent partition of Poland must be attributed, sought to undermine the unobtrusive power which the Jews, through their money and prudence, exercised over the nobles, and they combined with their other foes, German workmen and trades-people, members of the guilds, to restrict and oppress them. After that time there were repeated persecutions of Jews in Poland; sometimes the German guild members, sometimes the disciples of the Jesuits, raised a hue and cry against them.
    [Show full text]
  • We All Know, the Emancipation Was a Great Turning Point in the History Of
    PROGRESSIVE LITURGIES OF GERMANY AND AMERICA 585 p- John D. Rayner Introduction As we all know, the Emancipation was a great turning point in the history of Judaism, although ‘point' is hardly the right word, since it was a long-drawn- out process extending from the eighteenth century into the twentieth. Nevertheless the initial impact of it was often felt by a single generation, and in Germany by the generation of those born during the Napoleonic era. As we all know; too, the initial impact was for many of the newly emancipated German Jews a negative one so far as their Jewish religious life was concerned because the revolutionary educational, linguistic, cultural and social changes they experienced caused them to feel uncomfortable in the old- style synagogues. And as we all know as well, it is to this problem, of the alienation of emancipated Jewry from the traditional synagogue that the Reformers first and foremost addressed themselves. They believed that if only the synagogue services could be made more attractive, that would halt and perhaps reverse w the drift. 0 . _ {:1 j N In retrospect we can see that they were only partly right. There are other 8E}; factors besides the nature of synagogue worship which determine or influence the extent to which individuals will affirm their Jewish identity \ :8 " and adhere to their Jewish faith, and subsequent generations of Reformers 13E came to recognise that and to address themselves to these other issues also. (3 ‘1‘: Nevertheless the nature of synagogue worship is clearly a factor, and a big one.
    [Show full text]
  • Stewart, the GREATER GOOD DEFENSE: an ESSAY on the RATIONALITY of FAITH
    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Asbury Theological Seminary Faith and Philosophy: Journal of the Society of Christian Philosophers Volume 13 Issue 2 Article 12 4-1-1996 Stewart, THE GREATER GOOD DEFENSE: AN ESSAY ON THE RATIONALITY OF FAITH Jane Mary Trau Follow this and additional works at: https://place.asburyseminary.edu/faithandphilosophy Recommended Citation Trau, Jane Mary (1996) "Stewart, THE GREATER GOOD DEFENSE: AN ESSAY ON THE RATIONALITY OF FAITH," Faith and Philosophy: Journal of the Society of Christian Philosophers: Vol. 13 : Iss. 2 , Article 12. Available at: https://place.asburyseminary.edu/faithandphilosophy/vol13/iss2/12 This Book Review is brought to you for free and open access by the Journals at ePLACE: preserving, learning, and creative exchange. It has been accepted for inclusion in Faith and Philosophy: Journal of the Society of Christian Philosophers by an authorized editor of ePLACE: preserving, learning, and creative exchange. BOOK REVIEWS 293 but they did have the concept of the natural powers of things. So an event which we might describe as transgressing a law of nature they might describe as exceeding the natural powers of the creatures involved. 9. In his fullest example of how a reported miracle might be assessed (on p. 161), he makes use of a pattern of supposed miracles. (The example is contained in the offset material above in the text.) 10. In his example on p. 161, Houston speaks of "well-attested reports" and "reports of some weight." Moreover, part of his reason for discounting miracle reports in other religions is the poor quality of their attestation (204-205).
    [Show full text]
  • Southwestern Journal of Theology 59.1
    CONCERNING HUMANITY Southwestern Journal of Theology EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Paige Patterson, President and Professor of Theology MANAGING EDITOR W. Madison Grace II, Assistant Professor of Baptist History and Theology and Director of the Oxford Study Program BOOK REVIEW EDITOR Joshua E. Williams, Associate Professor of Old Testament EDITORIAL BOARD Keith E. Eitel, Professor of Missions and World Christianity, Dean of the Roy Fish School of Evangelism and Missions, and Director of the World Missions Center Mark A. Howell, Senior Pastor, Hunters Glen Baptist Church, Plano, Texas Evan Lenow, Associate Professor of Ethics, Bobby L., Janis Eklund Chair of Stewardship, and Director of the Richard Land Center for Cultural Engagement Miles S. Mullin II, Vice President for Academic Administration and Professor of Religious History, Hannibal-LaGrange University Steven W. Smith, Vice President of Student Services and Professor of Communication Jerry Vines, Jerry Vines Ministries Malcolm B. Yarnell III, Research Professor of Systematic Theology EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Cole L. Peck The Southwestern Journal of Theology is indexed in the ATLA Religion Database, the Southern Baptist Periodical Index, and the Christian Periodical Index. Southwestern Journal of Theology invites English-language submissions of original research in biblical studies, historical theology, systematic theology, ethics, philosophy of religion, homiletics, pastoral ministry, evangelism, missiology, and related fields. Articles submitted for consideration should be neither published nor under review for publication elsewhere. The recommended length of articles is between 4000 and 8000 words. For information on editorial and stylistic requirements, please contact the journal’s Editorial Assistant at journal@ swbts.edu. Articles should be sent to the Managing Editor, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, P.O.
    [Show full text]
  • Indische Religionen Als Gegenstand Religionsphilosophischer Entwürfe
    Indische Religionen als Gegenstand religionsphilosophischer Entwürfe. Salomon Formstecher und Samuel Hirsch über indisches „Heidentum“ von Hans-Michael Haußig Abstract During the 19th century, for the first time Jewish thinkers, influenced by philosophi- cal currents of their time, tried to give a new interpretation of Judaism by contextual- izing it in general history. Especially two representatives of Reform Judaism, Salomon Formstecher (1808–1889) and Samuel Hirsch (1815–1889) presented two works pursuing this direction. Both authors aimed for a scientific approach of Judaism and agreed that there exist only two religions in the world: Judaism and Heathenism. Both religions are in fundamental opposition to each other. Within their works, Formstecher and Hirsch dealt in a different manner with Indian religions. The paper will investigate the presenta- tion of Indian religions in both works in the frame of their conceptions on Heathenism. Zusammenfassung Im 19. Jahrhundert erschienen erstmalig grundlegende theologische bzw. religionsphi- losophische Entwürfe, die sich darum bemühten, unter dem Einfluss der maßgeblichen philosophischen Systeme ihrer Zeit das Judentum neu zu deuten und in den Rahmen der allgemeinen Menschheitsgeschichte einzuordnen. Es waren insbesondere zwei Ver- treter des Reformjudentums, Salomon Formstecher (1808–1889) und Samuel Hirsch (1815–1889), die im Abstand von nur einem Jahr (1841 bzw. 1842) zwei dementsprechen- de Entwürfe vorlegten. Beide Autoren streben eine wissenschaftliche Sichtweise auf das Judentum an und weisen darin eine Gemeinsamkeit auf, dass es ihrer Ansicht nach neben diesem als einzige Religion praktisch nur das Heidentum gibt. Judentum und Heidentum stehen in einem grundlegenden Gegensatz zueinander. Im Rahmen der Ausführung ihrer These gehen sowohl Formstecher als auch Hirsch in unterschiedlichem Maße auf die indischen Religionen ein.
    [Show full text]
  • CCAR Journal the Reform Jewish Quarterly
    CCAR Journal The Reform Jewish Quarterly Halachah and Reform Judaism Contents FROM THE EDITOR At the Gates — ohrgJc: The Redemption of Halachah . 1 A. Brian Stoller, Guest Editor ARTICLES HALACHIC THEORY What Do We Mean When We Say, “We Are Not Halachic”? . 9 Leon A. Morris Halachah in Reform Theology from Leo Baeck to Eugene B . Borowitz: Authority, Autonomy, and Covenantal Commandments . 17 Rachel Sabath Beit-Halachmi The CCAR Responsa Committee: A History . 40 Joan S. Friedman Reform Halachah and the Claim of Authority: From Theory to Practice and Back Again . 54 Mark Washofsky Is a Reform Shulchan Aruch Possible? . 74 Alona Lisitsa An Evolving Israeli Reform Judaism: The Roles of Halachah and Civil Religion as Seen in the Writings of the Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism . 92 David Ellenson and Michael Rosen Aggadic Judaism . 113 Edwin Goldberg Spring 2020 i CONTENTS Talmudic Aggadah: Illustrations, Warnings, and Counterarguments to Halachah . 120 Amy Scheinerman Halachah for Hedgehogs: Legal Interpretivism and Reform Philosophy of Halachah . 140 Benjamin C. M. Gurin The Halachic Canon as Literature: Reading for Jewish Ideas and Values . 155 Alyssa M. Gray APPLIED HALACHAH Communal Halachic Decision-Making . 174 Erica Asch Growing More Than Vegetables: A Case Study in the Use of CCAR Responsa in Planting the Tri-Faith Community Garden . 186 Deana Sussman Berezin Yoga as a Jewish Worship Practice: Chukat Hagoyim or Spiritual Innovation? . 200 Liz P. G. Hirsch and Yael Rapport Nursing in Shul: A Halachically Informed Perspective . 208 Michal Loving Can We Say Mourner’s Kaddish in Cases of Miscarriage, Stillbirth, and Nefel? . 215 Jeremy R.
    [Show full text]
  • * a Journal of Jewish Responsibility "Real" Anti-Semitism in America
    the upper West Side of New York, a wide range Sh'ma set of vignettes from coast to coast (and, occasion- ally from between the coasts) prove to Silberman that there is no significant, no official and no * a journal of Jewish responsibility "real" anti-Semitism in America. They also indi- fc . 16/315, MAY 30, 1986 cate that Jews no longer believe they have to give up their Jewishness to succeed. Alas, as the Yid- dish proverb has it, from "for example" comes no proof. These triumphalist assertions are counter-intuitive. One does not have to do the work of the defense agencies, with their inevitable self-interest in bad news, to offer examples of rishus among us. Last A letter from the editor month the Democratic party in Illinois nominated two La Rouche fanatics to state-wide office. And, Eugene B. Borowitz worse than that, one of them was born a Jew, like We were flattered recendy when Prof. Zeev Falk many in that Fascist cult. Perhaps we Jews do kill of the Hebrew University called to say that he had the messenger of good news. Or, more likely, Sil- established "an Israeli Sh'ma." And indeed, we've berman is high on Neo-Yiddishkeit and has missed now received the second issue of his lively Siah some of the bitter nuances. He quotes Professor Mesharim, which I prefer to understand as Wolfson of Harvard's insistence that being a Jew "Straight Talk." Even if you don't read Hebrew, is a burden. Charles Silberman wants to lay his do send him $10 for a year's subscription, 10 burden down, but it was Jesus and not the Torah Harav Berlin St., Jerusalem, 92503, Israel.
    [Show full text]
  • Tanya Sources.Pdf
    The Way to the Tree of Life Jewish practice entails fulfilling many laws. Our diet is limited, our days to work are defined, and every aspect of life has governing directives. Is observance of all the laws easy? Is a perfectly righteous life close to our heart and near to our limbs? A righteous life seems to be an impossible goal! However, in the Torah, our great teacher Moshe, Moses, declared that perfect fulfillment of all religious law is very near and easy for each of us. Every word of the Torah rings true in every generation. Lesson one explores how the Tanya resolved these questions. It will shine a light on the infinite strength that is latent in each Jewish soul. When that unending holy desire emerges, observance becomes easy. Lesson One: The Infinite Strength of the Jewish Soul The title page of the Tanya states: A Collection of Teachings ספר PART ONE לקוטי אמרים חלק ראשון Titled הנקרא בשם The Book of the Beinonim ספר של בינונים Compiled from sacred books and Heavenly מלוקט מפי ספרים ומפי סופרים קדושי עליון נ״ע teachers, whose souls are in paradise; based מיוסד על פסוק כי קרוב אליך הדבר מאד בפיך ובלבבך לעשותו upon the verse, “For this matter is very near to לבאר היטב איך הוא קרוב מאד בדרך ארוכה וקצרה ”;you, it is in your mouth and heart to fulfill it בעזה״י and explaining clearly how, in both a long and short way, it is exceedingly near, with the aid of the Holy One, blessed be He. "1 of "393 The Way to the Tree of Life From the outset of his work therefore Rav Shneur Zalman made plain that the Tanya is a guide for those he called “beinonim.” Beinonim, derived from the Hebrew bein, which means “between,” are individuals who are in the middle, neither paragons of virtue, tzadikim, nor sinners, rishoim.
    [Show full text]
  • The Order of Nature and Moral Luck: Maimonides on Divine Providence
    The Order of Nature and Moral Luck: Maimonides on Divine Providence Steven Nadler University of Wisconsin-Madison Rationalist Jewish thinkers, just because of their rationalism, faced a particular challenge when approaching the problem of evil. On the one hand, they were committed to the idea that the problem did have an answer, that the humble skepticism or fideism that closes the Book of Job (“God is so great that we cannot know him” [Job 36:26]) is not the last word on the matter. An explanation can indeed be given for the suffering of the virtuous and the prosperity of the vicious. There are accessible reasons why bad things happen to good people and good things to bad people. It is something we can understand. On the other hand, not even the most convinced rationalist of the medieval period was willing to say that God’s reasons are completely transparent to human understanding, that we can know the deepest secrets of divine wisdom and find therein the theodicean answer we seek. Another factor is the rationalist’s need to avoid the anthropomorphization of God. Maimonides, Gersonides, and others were all concerned to explain divine providence without resorting to the portrayal of God as a personal agent, one who regards each particular situation in its particularity and engages in the distribution of reward and punishment in a human-like way – fending off dangers from the righteous and hurling thunderbolts upon the vicious. This overall attitude is well captured by Maimonides’ approach to the problem of evil. He argued, of course, strenuously against the anthropomorphization of God; this is 1 one of the primary themes of the Guide of the Perplexed.
    [Show full text]
  • Arnold Jacob Wolf
    challenge was to find plays that would be both adultery is brought to the Temple and is made to meaningful creatively and appropriate within the drink bitter water in which the name of the norms of the community. We had adapted sig- Divine is dissolved. After she drinks, a grand nificant pieces like S. Y. Agnon’s A Simple Story, drama of the body begins: if she is “guilty,” she Rebbe Nachman of Bratslav’s The Seven Beggars, experiences a brutal change of her body. Some and Yair Lipshitz’s adaptation of The Book of say that this leads to death. If she is innocent Esther, entitled Not of the King Alone. Each one she conceives seed. What a wild drama of the of these works provided the necessary elements Jewish body! In Binding, a pairing between a for crafting a great script; each also posed a chal- woman and the name (or spirit) of God is per- lenge because they included male parts, and the formed by a male dancer, with a masked face, cast consisted only of young women. and naked upper body. An ancient ritual earns Leaning on historic theatrical traditions of a whole new meaning. single-gender casts, I started to investigate op- Facing the challenge of working in single- tions for dramatic reversal. My favorite form for gender casts years ago created for me an oppor- reversal has always been drag, which offers ex- tunity to examine and challenge the traditional aggerated theatricality through charade. The templates in which I saw male and female and to essence of drag is the grotesque depiction of the create alternatives that might, through a narrow body.
    [Show full text]
  • A Biographical Sketch POPULAR Imagination Often Creates Legends
    CYRUS ADLER A Biographical Sketch By ABRAHAM A. NEUMAN I POPULAR imagination often creates legends about the lives of great personalities. These legends are not whimsical fancies. They are the language of folk psychology. They reveal the traits of character in the heroes which fascinated the popular mind. In Jewish literature the legends usually cluster around the birth of its great characters. Strange omens or miracles are associated with the time or place of the hero's birth that seem to forecast the destiny of the life that follows. At times, Fate anticipates legend. It operates with true facts to produce the effect of legendary symbolism. Such is the impression created by the simple record that Cyrus Adler was born in Van Buren, Arkansas, on September 13, 1863. A small town in a border-line state between the North and the South, Van Buren, Adler's birthplace, may be said to have typified a normal American community. During the Civil War, it formed a battleground for the opposing armies. It experienced in full measure the tragic sacrifices of the struggle which was destined to end in a new cove- nant of union and freedom in America. The time and place were ideally propitious for the rise of a character to whom patriotism and freedom were the essence of religion, to whom the ideal of union had a profoundly mystic appeal, whether it was political union to preserve the republic or religious unity to preserve the faith into which he was born. A restless spirit and a mood of adventure impelled Samuel Adler, the father of Cyrus, as a young immigrant lad from Mannheim, Germany, to strike out for far-off Van Buren in Arkansas.
    [Show full text]
  • Canada Archives Canada Published Heritage Direction Du Branch Patrimoine De I'edition
    A MONERGISTIC THEOLOGICAL ACCOUNT OF MORAL EVIL by C. Elmer Chen A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of PROVIDENCE THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree MASTER OF ARTS 2008 Library and Bibliotheque et 1*1 Archives Canada Archives Canada Published Heritage Direction du Branch Patrimoine de I'edition 395 Wellington Street 395, rue Wellington Ottawa ON K1A 0N4 Ottawa ON K1A0N4 Canada Canada Your file Votre reference ISBN: 978-0-494-37195-4 Our file Notre reference ISBN: 978-0-494-37195-4 NOTICE: AVIS: The author has granted a non­ L'auteur a accorde une licence non exclusive exclusive license allowing Library permettant a la Bibliotheque et Archives and Archives Canada to reproduce, Canada de reproduire, publier, archiver, publish, archive, preserve, conserve, sauvegarder, conserver, transmettre au public communicate to the public by par telecommunication ou par I'lnternet, preter, telecommunication or on the Internet, distribuer et vendre des theses partout dans loan, distribute and sell theses le monde, a des fins commerciales ou autres, worldwide, for commercial or non­ sur support microforme, papier, electronique commercial purposes, in microform, et/ou autres formats. paper, electronic and/or any other formats. The author retains copyright L'auteur conserve la propriete du droit d'auteur ownership and moral rights in et des droits moraux qui protege cette these. this thesis. Neither the thesis Ni la these ni des extraits substantiels de nor substantial extracts from it celle-ci ne doivent etre imprimes ou autrement may be printed or otherwise reproduits sans son autorisation. reproduced without the author's permission.
    [Show full text]