Tzfat & Kabbalah
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Inventory of the William A. Rosenthall Judaica Collection, 1493-2002
Inventory of the William A. Rosenthall Judaica collection, 1493-2002 Addlestone Library, Special Collections College of Charleston 66 George Street Charleston, SC 29424 USA http://archives.library.cofc.edu Phone: (843) 953-8016 | Fax: (843) 953-6319 Table of Contents Descriptive Summary................................................................................................................ 3 Biographical and Historical Note...............................................................................................3 Collection Overview...................................................................................................................4 Restrictions................................................................................................................................ 5 Search Terms............................................................................................................................6 Related Material........................................................................................................................ 5 Separated Material.................................................................................................................... 5 Administrative Information......................................................................................................... 7 Detailed Description of the Collection.......................................................................................8 Postcards.......................................................................................................................... -
The Baal Shem-Toy Ballads of Shimshon Meltzer
THE BAAL SHEM-TOY BALLADS OF SHIMSHON MELTZER by SHLOMO YANIV The literary ballad, as a form of narrative metric composition in which lyric, epic, and dramatic elements are conjoined and whose dominant mood is one of mystery and dread, drew its inspiration from European popular ballads rooted in oral tradition. Most literary ballads are written in a concentrated and highly charged heroic and tragic vein. But there are also those which are patterned on the model of Eastern European popular ballads, and these poems have on the whole a lyrical epic character, in which the horrific motifs ordinarily associated with the genre are mitigated. The European literary ballad made its way into modern Hebrew poetry during its early phase of development, which took place on European soil; and the type of balladic poem most favored among Hebrew poets was the heroico-tragic ballad, whose form was most fully realized in Hebrew in the work of Shaul Tchernichowsky. With the appearance in 1885 of Abba Constantin Shapiro's David melek yifrii.:>e/ f:tay veqayyii.m ("David King of Israel Lives"), the literary ballad modeled on the style of popular ballads was introduced into Hebrew poetry. This type of poem was subsequently taken up by David Frischmann, Jacob Kahan, and David Shimoni, although the form had only marginal significance in the work of these poets (Yaniv, 1986). 1 Among modern Hebrew poets it is Shimshon Meltzer who stands out for having dedicated himself to composing poems in the style of popular balladic verse. These he devoted primarily to Hasidic themes in which the figure and personality of Israel Baal Shem-Tov, the founder of Hasidism, play a prominent part. -
Tehillat Hashem and Other Verses Before Birkat Ha-Mazon
301 Tehillat Hashem and Other Verses Before Birkat Ha-Mazon By: ZVI RON In this article we investigate the origin and development of saying vari- ous Psalms and selected verses from Psalms before Birkat Ha-Mazon. In particular, we will attempt to explain the practice of some Ashkenazic Jews to add Psalms 145:21, 115:18, 118:1 and 106:2 after Ps. 126 (Shir Ha-Ma‘alot) and before Birkat Ha-Mazon. Psalms 137 and 126 Before Birkat Ha-Mazon The earliest source for reciting Ps. 137 (Al Naharot Bavel) before Birkat Ha-Mazon is found in the list of practices of the Tzfat kabbalist R. Moshe Cordovero (1522–1570). There are different versions of this list, but all versions include the practice of saying Al Naharot Bavel.1 Some versions specifically note that this is to recall the destruction of the Temple,2 some versions state that the Psalm is supposed to be said at the meal, though not specifically right before Birkat Ha-Mazon,3 and some versions state that the Psalm is only said on weekdays, though no alternative Psalm is offered for Shabbat and holidays.4 Although the ex- act provenance of this list is not clear, the parts of it referring to the recitation of Ps. 137 were already popularized by 1577.5 The mystical work Seder Ha-Yom by the 16th century Tzfat kabbalist R. Moshe ben Machir was first published in 1599. He also mentions say- ing Al Naharot Bavel at a meal in order to recall the destruction of the 1 Moshe Hallamish, Kabbalah in Liturgy, Halakhah and Customs (Ramat Gan: Bar Ilan University Press, 2000), pp. -
Judaism, Reincarnation, and Theodicy
Faith and Philosophy: Journal of the Society of Christian Philosophers Volume 30 Issue 4 Article 2 10-1-2013 Judaism, Reincarnation, and Theodicy Tyron Goldschmidt Beth Seacord Follow this and additional works at: https://place.asburyseminary.edu/faithandphilosophy Recommended Citation Goldschmidt, Tyron and Seacord, Beth (2013) "Judaism, Reincarnation, and Theodicy," Faith and Philosophy: Journal of the Society of Christian Philosophers: Vol. 30 : Iss. 4 , Article 2. DOI: 10.5840/faithphil201330436 Available at: https://place.asburyseminary.edu/faithandphilosophy/vol30/iss4/2 This Article 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. JUDAISM, REINCARNATION, AND THEODICY Tyron Goldschmidt and Beth Seacord The doctrine of reincarnation is usually associated with Buddhism, Hindu- ism and other Eastern religions. But it has also been developed in Druzism and Judaism. The doctrine has been used by these traditions to explain the existence of evil within a moral order. Traversing the boundaries between East and West, we explore how Jewish mysticism has employed the doctrine to help answer the problem of evil. We explore the doctrine particularly as we respond to objections against employing it in a theodicy. We show how it supplements traditional punishment, free will and soul-building theodicies, and helps these theodicies avoid various objections. Why is there a righteous person who has good, and [another] righteous person who has evil? This is because the [second] righteous person was wicked previously, and is now being punished. -
A Fresh Perspective on the History of Hasidic Judaism
eSharp Issue 20: New Horizons A Fresh Perspective on the History of Hasidic Judaism Eva van Loenen (University of Southampton) Introduction In this article, I shall examine the history of Hasidic Judaism, a mystical,1 ultra-orthodox2 branch of Judaism, which values joyfully worshipping God’s presence in nature as highly as the strict observance of the laws of Torah3 and Talmud.4 In spite of being understudied, the history of Hasidic Judaism has divided historians until today. Indeed, Hasidic Jewish history is not one monolithic, clear-cut, straightforward chronicle. Rather, each scholar has created his own narrative and each one is as different as its author. While a brief introduction such as this cannot enter into all the myriad divergences and similarities between these stories, what I will attempt to do here is to incorporate and compare an array of different views in order to summarise the history of Hasidism and provide a more objective analysis, which has not yet been undertaken. Furthermore, my historical introduction in Hasidic Judaism will exemplify how mystical branches of mainstream religions might develop and shed light on an under-researched division of Judaism. The main focus of 1 Mystical movements strive for a personal experience of God or of his presence and values intuitive, spiritual insight or revelationary knowledge. The knowledge gained is generally ‘esoteric’ (‘within’ or hidden), leading to the term ‘esotericism’ as opposed to exoteric, based on the external reality which can be attested by anyone. 2 Ultra-orthodox Jews adhere most strictly to Jewish law as the holy word of God, delivered perfectly and completely to Moses on Mount Sinai. -
The Participation of God and the Torah in Early Kabbalah
religions Article The Participation of God and the Torah in Early Kabbalah Adam Afterman 1,* and Ayal Hayut‑man 2 1 Department of Jewish Philosophy and Talmud, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel 2 School of Jewish Studies and Archaeology, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected] Abstract: All Abrahamic religions have developed hypostatic and semi‑divine perceptions of scrip‑ ture. This article presents an integrated picture of a rich tradition developed in early kabbalah (twelfth–thirteenth century) that viewed the Torah as participating and identifying with the God‑ head. Such presentation could serve scholars of religion as a valuable tool for future comparisons between the various perceptions of scripture and divine revelation. The participation of God and Torah can be divided into several axes: the identification of Torah with the Sefirot, the divine grada‑ tions or emanations according to kabbalah; Torah as the name of God; Torah as the icon and body of God; and the commandments as the substance of the Godhead. The article concludes by examining the mystical implications of this participation, particularly the notion of interpretation as eros in its broad sense, both as the “penetration” of a female Torah and as taking part in the creation of the world and of God, and the notion of unification with Torah and, through it, with the Godhead. Keywords: Kabbalah; Godhead; Torah; scripture; Jewish mysticism; participation in the Godhead 1. Introduction Citation: Afterman, Adam, and Ayal The centrality of the Word of God, as consolidated in scripture, is a central theme in Hayut‑man. -
Speaker Materials
Speaker Materials Partnering organizations: The Akdamut – an Aramaic preface to our Torah Reading Rabbi Gesa S. Ederberg ([email protected]) ַאְקָדּמוּת ִמִלּין ְוָשָׁריוּת שׁוָּת א Before reciting the Ten Commandments, ַאְוָלא ָשֵׁקְלָא ַהְרָמןְוּרשׁוָּת א I first ask permission and approval ְבָּבֵבי ְתֵּרי וְּתַלת ְדֶאְפַתְּח בּ ַ ְקשׁוָּת א To start with two or three stanzas in fear ְבָּבֵרְי דָבֵרי ְוָטֵרי ֲעֵדי ְלַקִשּׁישׁוָּת א Of God who creates and ever sustains. ְגּבָוּרן ָעְלִמין ֵלהּ ְוָלא ְסֵפק ְפִּרישׁוָּת א He has endless might, not to be described ְגִּויל ִאְלּוּ רִקיֵעי ְק ֵ ָי כּל חְוּרָשָׁת א Were the skies parchment, were all the reeds quills, ְדּיוֹ ִאלּוּ ַיֵמּי ְוָכל ֵמיְכִישׁוָּת א Were the seas and all waters made of ink, ָדְּיֵרי ַאְרָעא ָסְפֵרי ְוָרְשֵׁמַי רְשָׁוָת א Were all the world’s inhabitants made scribes. Akdamut – R. Gesa Ederberg Tikkun Shavuot Page 1 of 7 From Shabbat Shacharit: ִאלּוּ פִ יוּ מָ לֵא ִשׁיָרה ַכָּיּ ם. וּלְשׁו ֵוּ ִרָנּה כַּהֲמון גַּלָּיו. ְושְפתוֵתיוּ ֶשַׁבח ְכֶּמְרֲחֵבי ָ רִקיַע . וְעֵיֵיוּ ְמִאירות ַכֶּשֶּׁמ שׁ ְוַכָיֵּרַח . וְ יָדֵ יוּ פְ רוּשות כְּ ִ ְשֵׁרי ָשָׁמִי ם. ְוַרְגֵליוּ ַקלּות ָכַּאָיּלות. ֵאין אֲ ַ ְחוּ ַמְסִפּיִקי ם לְהודות לְ ה' אֱ להֵ יוּ וֵאלהֵ י ֲאבוֵתיוּ. וְּלָבֵר ֶאת ְשֶׁמ עַל ַאַחת ֵמֶאֶלף ַאְלֵפי אֲלָ ִפי ם ְוִרֵבּי ְרָבבות ְפָּעִמי ם Were our mouths filled with song as the sea, our tongues to sing endlessly like countless waves, our lips to offer limitless praise like the sky…. We would still be unable to fully express our gratitude to You, ADONAI our God and God of our ancestors... Akdamut – R. Gesa Ederberg Tikkun Shavuot Page 2 of 7 Creation of the World ֲהַדר ָמֵרי ְשַׁמָיּא ְו ַ שׁ ִלְּיט בַּיֶבְּשָׁתּ א The glorious Lord of heaven and earth, ֲהֵקים ָעְלָמא ְיִחָידאי ְוַכְבֵּשְׁהּ בַּכְבּשׁוָּת א Alone, formed the world, veiled in mystery. -
The Tree of Life / ﬠֵץ הַחַיִּים
Jill Rubin – Shabbat “Bereshit” October 25, 2019 ֵﬠץ ַה ַח ִיּים / The Tree of Life The tree of life sits at the center of the Garden of Eden. Next to it, the tree of knowledge of good and evil. They are both pleasing to the eyes and good for food, perfectly suited to the first human beings, Adam and Eve. We know a great deal about the tree of knowledge of good and evil from this week’s Torah portion, Bereishit. We know that God says to Adam: You can eat from every tree, except for this one. If you eat from it, you will surely die. We know that Eve takes fruit from the tree, after the serpent cunningly tricks her. We know that God, in an angry wrath, condemns both Adam and Eve to a life outside of paradise. But what do we know about the tree of life, ? ֵﬠץ ַה ַח ִיּים Why does it sit at the center of the Garden of Eden? Our parsha suggests that the tree of life has the power to immortalize man. For when God discovers 1 Jill Rubin – Shabbat “Bereshit” October 25, 2019 what the humans have done, God speaks to the angels and the animals: Now that man has become like one of us, knowing good and bad, what if he should stretch out his hand and also take from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever! God not only banishes Adam and Eve from the garden, but places angelic beings and a fiery sword to guard the path to the tree of life.1 The etz chaim has magical powers. -
Monatsschrift Für Geschichte Und Wissenschaft Des Judenthums
'^i^fiti 100 =00 iOO =o IS ico M^i^ Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2010 with funding from University of Toronto littp://www.archive.org/details/monatsschriftf59gese Monatsschrift FÜR GESCHICHTE UND WISSENSCHAFT DES JUDENTUMS BEGRÜNDET VON Z. FRANKEL. Organ der Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Wissenschaft des Judentums Herausgegeben von Prof. Dr. M. BRANN. Neunundfünfzigster Jahrgang. NEUE FOLGE, DREIUNDZWANZIGSTEB JAHRGANG. BRESLAU. KOEBNER'SCHE VERLAGSBUCHHANDLUNG. (BARASCH UND RIESENFELD.) 1915. Der jetzige Weltkrieg und die Bibel. Vortrag gehalten in der Wiener »Urania« am g. Januar 1915 von M. Güdemann. I. Nichts wird in der Bibel als so erstrebenswert hingestellt, kein Gut wird mit so warmen, eindringlichen Worten als der Güter höchstes gepriesen, wie der Friede. Der Priestersegen, der in allen Gotteshäusern, welcher Konfession sie dienen mögen, in verehrungsvoller Übung steht, lautet in seiner Kürze und Einfach- heit: »Der Herr segne dich und behüte dich. Der Herr lasse dir sein Antlitz leuchten und sei dir gnädig. Der Herr wende dir sein Antlitz zu und gebe dir Frieden.« Der ganze Satz ist bild- haft, nur ein Gut wird ausdrücklich namhaft gemacht und er- beten: das ist nicht Reichtum, nicht Ehre, Herrschaft, Macht und Größe, sondern dasjenige Gut, um das der Mächtigste, der es nicht besitzt, den Ärmsten beneidet, der es besitzt — der Friede. Wir werden diese hohe Veranschlagung des Friedens heute mehr als je begreifen, weil wir uns in einem Weltkriege, in einem Welt- brande befinden. Denn was heute alle im tiefsten Innern bewegt, was alle Herzen ausfüllt, alle Gemüter beseelt, das läßt sich unter Anwendung und entsprechender Umänderung eines be- kannten Goetheschen Satzes in die Worte zusammenfassen: »Nach Frieden drängt, am Frieden hängt doch alles«. -
Talmudic Reasoning
Texts and Studies in Ancient Judaism Texte und Studien zum Antiken Judentum Edited by Martin Hengel and Peter Schäfer 89 Leib Moscovitz Talmudic Reasoning From Casuistics to Conceptualization Mohr Siebeck Leib Moscovitz, born 1955; 1977 B.A. at Yeshiva University (NY); 1979 M.A. at Yeshiva University; 1988 Ph.D. (Hebrew University of Jerusalem); doctoral and postdoctoral fellowship from Memorial Foundation for Jewish Studies; 1985-89 Lecturer at Hebrew University Talmud Department; since 1997 Senior Lecturer at Bar-Ilan University, Talmud Department. Die Deutsche Bibliothek - CIP-Einheitsaufnahme Moscovitz, Leib: Talmudic reasoning : from casuistics to conceptualization / Leib Moscovitz. - Tübingen : Mohr Siebeck, 2002 (Texts and studies in ancient Judaism ; 89) ISBN 3-16-147726-X © 2002 by J. C. B. Möhr (Paul Siebeck), P. O. Box 2040,72010 Tübingen. This book may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, in any form (beyond that permitted by copyright law) without the publisher's written permission. This applies particularly to reproductions, translations, microfilms and storage and processing in electronic systems. The book was printed by Guide-Druck in Tübingen on non-aging paper and bound by Heinr. Koch in Tübingen. ISSN 0721-8753 To Mom and Dad Preface Most legal rulings in the earlier strata of rabbinic literature, like the rulings in other ancient legal systems, are formulated as case law, and deal with mundane, physical objects - cows, doors, spoons, and the like. With the passage of time, however, we are witness to the increasing use of explicit concepts and general principles in rabbinic literature. Many of these concepts and principles are abstract, and address philosophical or quasi-philosophical issues such as the legal status of change, causation, and potentiality. -
Fall 2012 - Tishri 5773 Thexsrpv Orchard Chair the Jewish Federations of North America Rabbinic Cabinet
Thexsrpv Orchard Published by The Jewish Federations of North America Rabbinic Cabinet FALL 2012 - TISHRI 5773 Thexsrpv Orchard Chair The Jewish Federations of North America Rabbinic Cabinet ................................3 Rabbi Stuart Weinblatt Rosh Hashanah Family Dinner Reading .............................................................4 From the JFNA Chair of the Board of Trustees and President and CEO ...............5 Vice Chairs Kathy Manning and Jerry Silverman Rabbi Les Bronstein Rosh Hashanah Greetings from the Director of the Rabbinic Cabinet ...................6 Rabbi Frederick Klein Rabbi Gerald Weider Rabbi Larry Kotok Rosh Hashanah Greetings from the Chair of the Rabbinic Cabinet .......................7 Rabbi Steven Lindeman Rabbi Stuart Weinblatt Rabbinic Cabinet Activities .................................................................................8 President Rabbinic Cabinet Calendar ...........................................................................8 Rabbi Steven Foster Rabbinic Cabinet Annual Meeting Report .....................................................9 Honorary Chair Rabbis Hold Series of Unprecedented Meetings at the U.N. ........................10 Rabbi Matthew H. Simon HIGH HOLY DAY SERMONIC AND POETIC THOUGHTS Open Your Eyes .......................................................................................12 Director Rabba Sara Hurwitz JFNA Rabbinic Cabinet Low Tide Of The Year ...............................................................................14 Rabbi Gerald I. Weider -
The Rebbe and the Yak
Hillel Halkin on King James: The Harold Bloom Version JEWISH REVIEW Volume 2, Number 3 Fall 2011 $6.95 OF BOOKS Alan Mintz The Rebbe and the Yak Ruth R. Wisse Yehudah Mirsky Adam Kirsch Moshe Halbertal The Faith of Reds On Law & Forgiveness Yehuda Amital Elli Fischer & Shai Secunda Footnote: the Movie! Ruth Gavison The Nation of Israel? Philip Getz Birthright & Diaspora PLUS Did Billie Holiday Sing Yo's Blues? Sermons & Anti-Sermons & MORE Editor Abraham Socher Publisher Eric Cohen The history of America — Senior Contributing Editor one fear, one monster, Allan Arkush Editorial Board at a time Robert Alter Shlomo Avineri “An unexpected guilty pleasure! Poole invites us Leora Batnitzky into an important and enlightening, if disturbing, Ruth Gavison conversation about the very real monsters that Moshe Halbertal inhabit the dark spaces of America’s past.” Hillel Halkin – J. Gordon Melton, Institute for the Study of American Religion Jon D. Levenson Anita Shapira “A well informed, thoughtful, and indeed frightening Michael Walzer angle of vision to a compelling American desire to J. H.H. Weiler be entertained by the grotesque and the horrific.” Leon Wieseltier – Gary Laderman, Emory University Ruth R. Wisse Available in October at fine booksellers everywhere. Steven J. Zipperstein Assistant Editor Philip Getz Art Director Betsy Klarfeld Business Manager baylor university press Lori Dorr baylorpress.com Interns Kif Leswing Arielle Orenstein The Jewish Review of Books (Print ISSN 2153-1978, An eloquent intellectual Online ISSN 2153-1994) is a quarterly publication of ideas and criticism published in Spring, history of the human Summer, Fall, and Winter, by Bee.Ideas, LLC., 745 Fifth Avenue, Suite 1400, New York, NY 10151.