DOCSLIB.ORG

Jewish Philosophy: Rebirth Or in Crisis?

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Jewish Philosophy: Rebirth Or in Crisis? Raphael Jospe, Dov Shwartz, eds.. Jewish Philosophy: Perspectives and Retrospectives. Emunot: Jewish Philosophy and Kabbalah Series. Brighton: Academic Studies Press, 2012. 330 pp. $105.00, cloth, ISBN 978-1-61811-160-9. Reviewed by David B. Levy Published on H-Judaic (December, 2013) Commissioned by Jason Kalman (Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion) Are we experiencing a renaissance of Jewish general terms liberalism. A stated purpose of this philosophy or must Jewish philosophers be put on part involves asking these academics to “reflect the endangered species list? This is a question on the meaning of their own work, as well as on that the contributors to this edited collection ad‐ how their work relates to contemporary Ameri‐ dress. This book, edited by Raphael Jospe and Dov can philosophical and moral concerns. The essays Schwartz, is a welcome, insightful, intelligent, and address what these writers view as what counts well-written collection of essays that makes a con‐ as Jewish philosophy and what they think the tribution to the state of the feld of Jewish philoso‐ most important issues and most fruitful ways of phy in the university setting as practiced in reli‐ pursuing them are, and how their projects relate gious and Jewish studies departments. In a broad‐ to broad civic or public concerns” (p. 16). In the er context, it joins a growing number of recent introduction to part 1, Alan Mittelman gives a books on Jewish philosophy very different in or‐ good summary of these eight contributions by: ganization, content, method, and approach.[1]. Leora Batnitzky, William Galston, Lenn Goodman, The scope of the book is divided into two parts Steven Kepnes, Michael Morgan, David Novak, based on the fndings of two symposia entitled Norbert M. Samuelson, and Martin Yaffe. Part 1 “The Renaissance of Jewish Philosophy in Ameri‐ wraps up with where it began; Paul Mendes-Flohr ca” and “Maimonides on the Eternity of the asks if we are in the midst of a rebirth of Jewish World,” as well as other studies in medieval Jew‐ philosophy or if his earlier warning, that current ish philosophy and modern Jewish thought. American culture disregards Jewish philosophies, Part 1 consists of eight essays by American risks proving Jewish philosophy irrelevant for the Jewish professors of Jewish philosophy who take life of the nation?[2] seriously the American traditions of pragmatism, Part 2 focuses on Maimonides’s position on analytic philosophy, philosophy of science, and in creationism, the subject of a previous book by H-Net Reviews Kenneth Seeskin (Maimonides on the Origin of the understand the evolution of Rambam’s position World [2005]). This is also the focus of such schol‐ on creation in works written after the Guide, in‐ ars as Alfred Ivry, Herbert Davidson, Joel Krae‐ cluding the Treatise on Resurrection, The Letter mer, and Klein-Braslavy. This section responds to on Astrology to the Sages of Montpellier, The Let‐ Howard Kreisel’s contribution "Maimonides on ter to R. Hisda HaLevy, Medical Aphorisms, and the Eternity of the World", which assumes Mai‐ “the revised version” of the fourth of the thirteen monides’s esotericism, i.e, that the Rambam con‐ formulations of the law in the Commentary on the tradicts himself intentionally to keep from the Mishnah. Manekin notes that “nothing in the writ‐ many controversial Aristotelian positions for ings of his translator Samuel ibn Tibbon, includ‐ which he may have been persecuted. Thus as Ken‐ ing the newly edited notes to the Guide, suggests neth Hart Green writes, the Rambam surrounded that ibn Tibbon considered Rambam’s adherence himself in a “body-guard of lies” in order to write to creationism to be disingenuous” (p. 217). esoterically in the vein of Leo Strauss’s thesis of Manekin solves the conundrum of Maimonides’s Persecution and the Art of Writing (1952).[3] position on creation by noting the frst denial of What was the purpose of Rambam’s Ecclesiastes- this position in the medieval writings of Jewish like internal contradictions? In the course of in‐ Averroists, including Joseph ibn Kaspi, Moses of quiring about Maimonides’s true position on cre‐ Narbonne, and Isaac Albalag. Manekin traces how ationism, the philosophers who respond to this denial of creationism ascribed to Mai‐ Kreisel’s paper consider if the Rambam was more monides’s writings is fallacious, thereby rejecting of a Platonist than an Aristotelian, a theme also in a Straussian esoteric reading of the Guide. While Al-Farabi’s The Attainment of Happiness.[4] These admitting that Strauss considers the Guide a contributions give a greater depth of understand‐ deeply esoteric work that conceals its religiously ing of controversial positions regarding the Ram‐ complex and problematic Aristotelian ideas from bam’s esoteric vs. exoteric teachings. While the many, he shows that with regard to creation‐ Strauss had argued that the Guide for the Per‐ ism, “Strauss exoterically was no Straussian” (p. plexed was Rambam’s esoteric work, Isidore 219). Twersky argued that the Mishneh Torah was Manekin’s essay is preceded by an excellent Rambam’s esoteric work. Part 2 of this volume re‐ essay by Roslyn Weiss, “Comments on Seeskin and casts the esoteric/exoteric dynamic with specific Kreisel’s Essays on Maimonides and Creation,” reference to an understanding of creation. which illustrates the complexity of Maimonides’s Charles Manekin’s outstanding essay demon‐ position and lays out the structure or anatomy of strates Rambam’s commitment to the traditional the Guide’s apparently contradictory examination Jewish understanding of creatio ex nihilo proven of creation in the context of debates about Mai‐ by overwhelming textual evidence from Ram‐ monides’s views on miracles, prophecy, provi‐ bam’s later writings, that the world was created dence, free will, resurrection, and angelology “after absolute nonexistence,” “out of nonexis‐ (Guide 3.43, 570). Weiss concedes that the secrets tence,” or “not from a thing.” That is to say, Mai‐ Maimonides may have been exceedingly careful monides departed from Aristotle in the Eight to keep hidden are those that most threaten the Chapters and Hilchot Deot not only with regard to piety of all but a few. Maimonides was cautious not adhering to the mean by striving to never get about the potential of his understanding of eterni‐ angry and showing that one should be exceeding‐ ty to erode the piety of ordinary people, untrained ly humble as Moses was very humble, but also in philosophical method. Weiss shows how Mai‐ with regard to ultimately rejecting Aristotle’s view monides deployed arguments about eternity to on creation. Manekin demonstrates that one must confirm his case for divine existence, unity, and 2 H-Net Reviews incorporeality, and shows that creation enabled philosophers, because we are but “dwarfs stand‐ Maimonides to embrace revelation, command‐ ing on the shoulders of giants.”[5 ]Yes, Jewish phi‐ ments, and miracles. Weiss concludes her essay in losophy has evolved since the time of Harry A. noting, “It is truth, after all, that pleases God; Wolfson, Julius Guttman, and Strauss.[6] Wolfson falsehood only angers Him” (Guide, 2.47, 409, cit‐ was the frst professor of Jewish philosophy at ed by Weiss on p. 214), alluding to the biblical Harvard University at a time before the founding verses that there is only truth before the throne of of the State of Israel in 1948 and when the centers God and God is near to all who call upon Him in of Wissenschaft des Judentums were in central truth. Part 2 also contains essays by Haggai Europe. In the last decade of Wolfson’s life, there Mazuz, Ottfried Fraisse, Dov Schwartz, James was a rapid expansion of Jewish studies programs Robinson, and Yossef Schwartz. in keeping with the rise of trends in the 1960s of Mittelman, following Mendes-Flohr, writes ethnic studies. New library resources, including that “philosophy serves to secure Israel from idol‐ databases, social media, and digitization post-mi‐ atry and a tribalization of God and Torah. Woe crofilm, have since the time of Wolfson revolu‐ unto the generation, then, for which philosophy tionized scholars’ access to and analysis of prima‐ has become marginalized” (p. 10). There has been ry sources.[7] It is thus perhaps especially ger‐ a decline in philosophy because of the annihila‐ mane to reflect on the state of Jewish philosophy tion of German Jewry, for whom philosophy was in the university at this juncture in history. A lot an essential component of intellectual life and has changed and some things have remained the culture. There is also an unstated factor why phi‐ same but only time will tell if we are to witness a losophy may appear to be in decline and that is do new renaissance in Jewish philosophy, following to with the confusion of what philosophy is, forc‐ in the Solomonic tradition of lovers of wisdom. ing metaphysics to “go underground,” as noted by In general, this book is a welcome addition Strauss (in the footsteps of Al-Farabi). and makes a positive contribution to the state of Strauss argued that there are very few the feld of Jewish philosophy in the university philosophers in each generation. Why are true setting as practiced in religious studies and Jewish philosophers so rare? According to Rambam, studies departments. Although I do not consider Adam in Paradise contemplated the attributes of the book a “renaissance of Jewish philosophy” ac‐ God, i.e., he philosophized. Straussians under‐ cording to Straussian criteria, the book has many stand that real thinking is so extraordinarily awe‐ strengths, such as part 2 which contains two ex‐ some, sublime, magnificent, and transcendent, cellent essays by Manekin and Weiss. The audi‐ that it returns one to an ontological Edenic begin‐ ences of this book will be scholars and educated ning of truth.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • The Theology of Nahmanides Systematically Presented
    The Theology of Nahmanides Systematically Presented DAVID NOVAK THE THEOLOGY OF NAHMANIDES SYSTEMATICALLY PRESENTED Program in Judaic Studies Brown University BROWN JUDAIC STUDIES Edited by Shaye J. D. Cohen, Ernest S. Frerichs, Calvin Groldscheider Editorial Board Vicki Caron, Lynn Davidman, Wendell S. Dietrich, David Hirsch, David Jacobson, Saul M. Olyan, Alan Zuckerman Number 271 THE THEOLOGY OF NAHMANIDES SYSTEMATICALLY PRESENTED by David Novak THE THEOLOGY OF NAHMANIDES SYSTEMATICALLY PRESENTED by DAVID NOVAK University of Virginia Scholars Press Atlanta, Georgia THE THEOLOGY OF NAHMANIDES SYSTEMATICALLY PRESENTED By David Novak Copyright © 2020 by Brown University Library of Congress Control Number: 2019953676 Open access edition funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities/Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Humanities Open Book Program. The text of this book is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDeriva- tives 4.0 International License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/. To use this book, or parts of this book, in any way not covered by the license, please contact Brown Judaic Studies, Brown University, Box 1826, Providence, RI 02912. STUDIES IN MEDIEVAL JUDAISM Edited by Lenn E. Goodman To the Memory of Harry H. Ruskin (1905-1989) The righteous man lives in his faith. - Habakkuk 2:4 other works by David Novak Law and Theology in Judaism (2 volumes) Suicide and Morality The Image of the Non-Jew in Judaism Halakhah in a Theological Dimension Jewish Christian Dialogue Contents Editor's Foreword ix Preface xi Introduction 1 Notes 17 Chapter 1 The Human Soul 25 Chapter 2 Faith 31 Chapter 3 Tradition 51 Chapter 4 Miracles 61 Chapter 5 Natural and Supernatural 77 Chapter 6 The Land of Israel 89 Chapter 7 The Commandments 99 Chapter 8 Eschatology 125 Bibliography 135 List of Abbreviations 136 Index of Names and Subjects 137 Index of Passages 141 Publishers’ Preface Brown Judaic Studies has been publishing scholarly books in all areas of Ju- daic studies for forty years.
    [Show full text]
  • KHM Academic Jewish Studies
    Volume III, Issue 3 December 11, 2009/24 Kislev 5770 KOL HAMEVASER The Jewish Thought Magazine of the Yeshiva University Student Body Academic Interviews with, and Jewish Studies Articles by: Dr. David Berger, R. Dr. Richard Hidary, R. Dr. Joshua Berman, and Dr. Shawn-Zelig Aster p. 6, 8, 9, and 13 Jewish Responses to Wellhausen’s Docu- mentary Hypothesis AJ Berkovitz, p. 14 Tsiluta ke-Yoma de-Is- tana: Creating Clarity in the Beit Midrash Ilana Gadish, p. 18 Bible Study: Interpre- tation and Experience Ori Kanefsky, p. 19 Religious Authenticity and Historical Con- sciousness Eli Putterman on p. 20 Kol Hamevaser Contents Kol Hamevaser Volume III, Issue 3 The Student Thought Magazine of the Yeshiva December 11, 2009 24 Kislev 5770 University Student body Editorial Shlomo Zuckier 3 Academic Jewish Studies: Benefits and Staff Dangers Editors-in-Chief Letter-to-the-Editor Sarit Bendavid Shaul Seidler-Feller Mordechai Shichtman 5 Letter-to-the-Editors Associate Editor Academic Jewish Studies Shlomo Zuckier Staff 6 An Interview with Dr. David Berger Layout Editor Rabbi Dr. Richard Hidary 8 Traditional versus Academic Talmud Menachem Spira Study: “Hilkhakh Nimrinhu le-Tarvaihu” Editor Emeritus Shlomo Zuckier 9 An Interview with Rabbi Dr. Joshua Alex Ozar Berman Staff Writers Staff 13 An Interview with Dr. Shawn-Zelig Aster Yoni Brander Jake Friedman Abraham Jacob Berkovitz 14 Jewish Responses to Wellhausen’s Doc- Ilana Gadish umentary Hypothesis Nicole Grubner Nate Jaret Ilana Gadish 18 Tsiluta ke-Yoma de-Istana: Creating Clar- Ori Kanefsky ity in the Beit Midrash Alex Luxenberg Emmanuel Sanders Ori Kanefsky 19 Bible Study: Interpretation and Experi- Yossi Steinberger ence Jonathan Ziring Eli Putterman 20 Religious Authenticity and Historical Copy Editor Consciousness Benjamin Abramowitz Dovid Halpern 23 Not by Day and Not by Night: Jewish Webmaster Philosophy’s Place Reexamined Ben Kandel General Jewish Thought Cover Design Yehezkel Carl Nathaniel Jaret 24 Reality Check?: A Response to Mr.
    [Show full text]
  • Comparative Theology and Scriptural Reasoning: a Muslim’S Approach to Interreligious Learning
    religions Article Comparative Theology and Scriptural Reasoning: A Muslim’s Approach to Interreligious Learning Betül Avcı Department of Religious Studies & School of Islamic Studies, Ibn Haldun University, Ba¸sak¸sehirMahallesi, Ulubatlı Hasan Cd. No: 2, 34494 Ba¸sak¸sehir/Istanbul,˙ Turkey; [email protected] Received: 8 August 2018; Accepted: 13 September 2018; Published: 2 October 2018 Abstract: In this paper, I examine Comparative Theology (CT) and Scriptural Reasoning (SR), two distinctive interreligious learning practices, in relation to each other. I propose that these practices, with respect to their dialogical features and transformative power, represent two of the most noteworthy current modes of interreligious dialogue. They achieve this by their ability to explicitly understand the “other.” This is also because they serve not only as tools in service of understanding in academic circles, but also as existentially/spiritually transformative journeys in the exotic/familiar land of the “other.” In respect to religious particularity and (un)translatability, I argue that both CT and SR have certain liberal and postliberal features, as neither of them yields to such standard taxonomies. Finally, I deal with Muslim engagement with CT and SR and present some initial results of my current comparative questioning/learning project. Consequently, I plan for this descriptive work to stand as a preliminary to, first, an SR session that focuses on some Qur’anic verses and biblical accounts with a probable progressivist view of history and, second, an in-depth study of the Islamic tradition in that light. Keywords: scriptural reasoning; comparative theology; interreligious learning; interreligious dialogue; liberal theology; postliberal theology; particularity; (un)translatability 1.
    [Show full text]
  • Berlin Diary: Jewish Legal History in Germany’S Capital
    Fordham International Law Journal Volume 24, Issue 5 2000 Article 3 Berlin Diary: Jewish Legal History in Germany’s Capital Jeffery I. Roth∗ ∗ Copyright c 2000 by the authors. Fordham International Law Journal is produced by The Berke- ley Electronic Press (bepress). http://ir.lawnet.fordham.edu/ilj Berlin Diary: Jewish Legal History in Germany’s Capital Jeffery I. Roth Abstract This Essay chronicles the author’s activities in Berlin. It includes the contents of the seminar, detailed on a class-by-class basis, which he hopes may serve others as a useful outline for a Jewish legal history course. In addition, in our era of increasingly globalized legal education, some may find accounts of American law professors’ visits abroad useful in their own right. The Essay also includes the author’s observations of a reunited but still divided city and its people. In the broader context, he offers the diary of his visit as a window into the process of German-Jewish rapprochement, a process to which courses like the one at Humboldt’s Law Faculty, the author came to believe, contribute in a significant way. BERLIN DIARY: JEWISH LEGAL HISTORY IN GERMANY'S CAPITAL Jeffrey I. Roth* TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction ............................................... 1549 En Route To Berlin ....................................... 1551 A H ard Landing .................................. ......... 1551 A Shortened H ike ......................................... 1553 Preparing for Class ........................................ 1554 The First Class: On Biblical Law and Jewish Law ........... 1554 A Visit to the Stasi Museum ............................... 1558 Liaising with the Jewish Community ....................... 1560 In Re: The Scepter of Gold ............................... 1563 The Second Class: The Second Temple Period ..............
    [Show full text]
  • David Novak and the Crisis of Modern Jewish Thought
    Hava Tirosh-Samuelson, Aaron W. Hughes, eds.. David Novak: Natural Law and Revealed Torah. Leiden: Brill, 2013. 150 pp. $141.00, paper, ISBN 978-90-04-25820-4. Reviewed by Steven Frankel Published on H-Judaic (March, 2016) Commissioned by Matthew A. Kraus (University of Cincinnati) The Library of Contemporary Jewish Philoso‐ language and obscure arguments. The causes, phers series edited by Hava Tirosh-Samuelson however, may run deeper. The editors suggest and Aaron W. Hughes has already accumulated that Jewish studies may not have been completely more than a dozen volumes, with several more successful in establishing its place in the secular volumes in progress. Each text focuses on a single, university. Other academics, such as philosophers, contemporary Jewish thinker, presenting an over‐ refuse to recognize “the philosophical merits of view of their work, several of their important es‐ Jewish Philosophy” in part because they perceive says, and an interview. The editors note in their it as “too particularlistic” (p. xiii). Religious devo‐ introduction to the series that the project was mo‐ tion too is suspect as consisting of little more than tivated by the paradoxical situation of contempo‐ prerational commitment to a particular tradition. rary Jewish studies: as Jewish studies has succeed‐ In contrast, philosophy aims to transcend the par‐ ed in establishing itself as a legitimate feld of ticular and focus on the universal, a project which study in academia, it has become increasingly “in‐ appears to preclude Jewish studies. accessible” and “irrelevant to the public at large” In response to these challenges, the third vol‐ (p.
    [Show full text]
  • Religious Particularity and Moral Universality Faith, Reason, and Natural Law
    Religious Particularity and Moral Universality Faith, Reason, and Natural Law The Annual Robert J. Giuffra ’82 Conference Cosponsored by the Association for the Study of Free Institutions at Texas Tech University TUESDAY-WEDNESDAY, MAY 14-15, 2019 Frist Campus Center 301 This conference is dedicated to the memory of Daniel N. Robinson, a treasured member of the James Madison Society. Religious Particularity and Moral Universality Faith, Reason, and Natural Law The Annual Robert J. Giuffra ’82 Conference How are we to understand the Addressing these important questions, relationship between religion and the the James Madison Program in free society? On the one hand, it might American Ideals and Institutions and seem that religion was necessary to the the Association for the Study of Free rise of freedom in the modern world. Free Institutions are pleased to announce societies emerged first in nations that had been influenced for generations by a conference entitled “Religious biblical religion. Moreover, the biblical Particularity and Moral Universality: claim that each human being is created in Faith, Reason, and Natural Law.” The the image and likeness of God may be a program includes scholars from a variety necessary foundation of the belief in the of disciplines in the social sciences and dignity of each individual, on which the humanities. We address a number of free society is based. On the other hand, questions. What are the foundations of religion has sometimes been a tool of and the requirements of the natural law? oppression, and many of the intellectual What does natural law teach us about architects of modern free societies the role of religion in the free society? understood themselves as limiting the role What is the state of contemporary Jewish- of religion in politics, seeking to establish political communities based primarily or Christian relations? What contributions exclusively on reason and rational self- can Judaism and Christianity make interest.
    [Show full text]
  • CONTENTS Responsa and Rulings Reflecting Some South African
    VOLUME XXXVI NUMBER 1 JUNE 1994 CONTENTS Responsa and Rulings Reflecting Some South African Issues JOHN SIMON The Incorporation of a Stranger: Analysis of a Social Si tu a tion in a Welsh Valley LEONARD MARS Englishmen and Jews: A New Look MAX BELOFF The Aliyah ofJews from Ethiopia and the Reactions of Absorption Agencies MOSHE LISSAK Howard Brotz: I 922-I 993 Interpreting Adversity: Dynamics of Commitment in a Messianic Redemption Campaign WILLIAM SHAFFIR Book Reviews Chronicle Editor:Judith Freedman OBJECTS AND SPONSORSHIP OF THE JEWISH JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY The Jewish journal ofSociology was sponsored by the Cultural Department of the World Jewish Congress from its inception in 1959 until the end of 1980. Thereafter, from the first issue of1981 (volume 23, no. 1), the Journal has been sponsored by Maurice Freedman Research Trust Limited, which is registered as an educational charity by the Charity Commission of England and Wales (no. 326077). It has as its main purposes the encouragement of research in the sociology of the Jews and the publication of The J ewishJ ournal of Sociology. The objects of the Journal remain as stated in the Editorial of the first issue in 1959' 'This Journal has been brought into being in order to provide an international vehicle for serious writing on Jewish social affairs ... Academically we address ourselves not only to sociologists, but to social scientists in general, to historians, to philosophers, and to students of comparative religion .... We should like to stress both that the journal is editorially independent and that the opinions expressed by authors are their own responsibility.' The founding Editor of the JJS was Morris Ginsberg, and the founding Managing Editor was Maurice Freedman.
    [Show full text]
  • David Novak and the Crisis of Modern Jewish Thought Steven Frankel Xavier University - Cincinnati
    Xavier University Exhibit Faculty Scholarship Philosophy 3-2016 David Novak and the Crisis of Modern Jewish Thought Steven Frankel Xavier University - Cincinnati Follow this and additional works at: http://www.exhibit.xavier.edu/philosophy_faculty Part of the Ethics and Political Philosophy Commons, Feminist Philosophy Commons, and the History of Philosophy Commons Recommended Citation Frankel, Steven, "David Novak and the Crisis of Modern Jewish Thought" (2016). Faculty Scholarship. Paper 8. http://www.exhibit.xavier.edu/philosophy_faculty/8 This Book Review is brought to you for free and open access by the Philosophy at Exhibit. It has been accepted for inclusion in Faculty Scholarship by an authorized administrator of Exhibit. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Hava Tirosh-Samuelson, Aaron W. Hughes, eds. David Novak: Natural Law and Revealed Torah. Leiden: Brill, 2013. 150 pp. $141.00 (paper), ISBN 978-90-04-25820-4. Reviewed by Steven Frankel (Xavier University) Published on H-Judaic (March, 2016) Commissioned by Matthew A. Kraus David Novak and the Crisis of Modern Jewish Thought The Library of Contemporary Jewish Philosophers In response to these challenges, the third volume in series edited by Hava Tirosh-Samuelson and Aaron W. the collection, David Novak: Natural Law and Revealed Hughes has already accumulated more than a dozen vol- Torah, presents the sober and insightful reflections of a umes, with several more volumes in progress. Each text scholar who has devoted his career to sorting them out. focuses on a single, contemporary Jewish thinker, pre- Novak, the Schiff Professor of Jewish Studies and Pro- senting an overview of their work, several of their impor- fessor of Philosophy at the University of Toronto, has tant essays, and an interview.
    [Show full text]
  • Should Jews Proselytize: a Rejoinder Theology of Rabbi Eliezer, Namely, Other-Worldly Sanford Seltzer Salvation Is for Jews Only
    wicked gentiles have no portion in the world-to- Theological Concerns Outweigh Demography come . Rabbi Joshua said to him . On sociological grounds, too, it should be re- there are righteous (tzadikim) among the gentiles membered that only fundamentalist, Evangelical who do have a portion in the world-to-come" (T. Christianity has been successful in its proselytizing San. 13.2 and San. 105a). In comparing these two efforts. The more liberal forms of Christianity, texts we see that Rabbi Eliezer's exclusivistic those which affirm some sort of theological plur- view is the theological basis for the prescription alism, are not only not gaining very many con- of what is to be told the prospective Jewish con- verts, they are actually shrinking in membership. vert (a Jewish version of the later patristic dictum, extra ecclesiam nulla salus, outside the church there Rabbi Schindler's proposal, then, is neither good is no salvation). Nevertheless, the view of Rabbi for the Jews nor is it justifiable on Jewish grounds. Joshua that conversion to Judaism is not a prere- It is not good for the Jews because it will not quisite for eternal other-worldly bliss became the increase our numbers and, I suspect, those con- normative Jewish view. (See Maimonides, Melachim, verts attracted by such proselytizing, will largely 8.11.) be religious dilettantes. And it is not Jewishly justifiable by either traditional or Liberal Jewish The point that merges from all of this is that criteria, both of which recognize Judaism as a his- subsequent to the Christian schism, rabbinic torical continuum into which Jews must place Judaism began to espouse the notion that themselves.
    [Show full text]
  • Uva-DARE (Digital Academic Repository)
    UvA-DARE (Digital Academic Repository) Judaism, environmentalism and the environment: Mapping and analysis Gerstenfeld, M. Publication date 1999 Link to publication Citation for published version (APA): Gerstenfeld, M. (1999). Judaism, environmentalism and the environment: Mapping and analysis. The Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies; Rubin Mass. General rights It is not permitted to download or to forward/distribute the text or part of it without the consent of the author(s) and/or copyright holder(s), other than for strictly personal, individual use, unless the work is under an open content license (like Creative Commons). Disclaimer/Complaints regulations If you believe that digital publication of certain material infringes any of your rights or (privacy) interests, please let the Library know, stating your reasons. In case of a legitimate complaint, the Library will make the material inaccessible and/or remove it from the website. Please Ask the Library: https://uba.uva.nl/en/contact, or a letter to: Library of the University of Amsterdam, Secretariat, Singel 425, 1012 WP Amsterdam, The Netherlands. You will be contacted as soon as possible. UvA-DARE is a service provided by the library of the University of Amsterdam (https://dare.uva.nl) Download date:05 Oct 2021 Chapter Three Environmental Attitudes in Halakha A broad perspective on how classical Judaism relates to environ­ mental issues can be obtained principally through reviewing the Halakha. This is the body of Jewish laws which prescribes rules to be followed by Jews in many areas of life, and relates to the actions of both the community and the individual. For the observant Jew, these laws are normative.
    [Show full text]
  • Ochsp.CV.15-16 1
    OchsP.CV.15-16 Peter Warren Ochs 2016 Department of Religious Studies 1617 St. Anne’s Rd. 434 Gibson Hall, University of Virginia Charlottesville, VA 22901 Charlottesville, VA 22904 434 984-6145; [email protected] 434 924-6718 EMPLOYMENT Edgar Bronfman Professor of Modern Judaic Studies , University of Virginia, 1997- Global Covenant of Religions: Co-founder, Steering Committee: 2015- Research Director: 2015- U.S. Department of State, Religion and Foreign Policy Working Group, Sub-Working Group on Conflict Mitigation: Chair, “Interreligious Relations,” 2014-2015 U.S. Department of State, Academic Consultant on Religion and Violence, 2012-2014 École des Hautes Études, Paris: Visiting Faculty Member, Summer 2007 Member, The Center of Theological Inquiry, Princeton, 2003. Wallerstein Professor of Jewish Studies, Drew University, 1995-7. Visiting Professor, Hebrew Union College/Jewish Inst. of Religion, 1997. Wallerstein Associate Professor of Jewish Studies, Drew University, 1990-94. Member, The Center of Theological Inquiry, Princeton, 1992-3. Wallerstein Visiting Assoc. Prof. of Jewish Studies, Drew University, 1988-1990. Fulbright Senior Lecturer, Department of Philosophy, Hebrew University. Spring, 1988. Post-Doctoral Fellow, Department of Philosophy, Yale U. 1986-8. Assistant Professor, Dept. of Philosophy and Religion and Counselor to Jewish Students. Colgate University. l979-86. Colgate Jerusalem Study Session Director. January l982,83,84,86. Lecturer in Anthropology, Philosophy, Religion, the University of Maryland, European Division. l978-79. EDUCATION Ph.D. in Philosophy, Yale University. Dissertation Title: Charles Peirce's Metaphysical Conviction. Advisor: John E. Smith. January l980. M.A. in Jewish Thought, The Jewish Theological Seminary. l975. B.A. summa cum laude in Anthropology with Honors with Exceptional Distinction, Yale College.
    [Show full text]
  • Meorot 8 Marc B
    M e o r o t A Forum of Modern Orthodox Discourse Tishrei 5771 CONTENTS Introduction to Tishrei 5771 Edition: Whither the Orthodox Rabbinate? Eugene Korn ARTICLES On Women in Rabbinic Leadership Positions Daniel Sperber Non-Halakhic Considerations of Women’s Roles in Orthodoxy Nathaniel Helfgot, Erica Brown, Gidon Rothstein, Dena Najman The Challenge of Halakhic Innovation Benjamin Lau Rabbi, Make a Fence for Yourself Rael Strous Conceptual and Logical Problems Arising from Defining Life and Death by the Presence or Absence of Circulation Noam Stadlan THE DALED AMOT OF HALAKHAH: The Halakhic Parameters of Delaying Procreation Moshe Kahn REVIEW ESSAYS Transforming Identity: The Ritual Transformation from Gentile to Jew— Structure and Meaning by Avi Sagi and Zvi Zohar Meorot 8 Marc B. Shapiro Tishrei 5771 A Publication of Yeshivat Chovevei Torah Windows on the World: Abraham’s Journey by Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik, and Rabbinical School © 2010 Future Tense by Jonathan Sacks Eugene Korn A Forum of Modern Orthodox Discourse Orthodox Modern of Forum A M e o r o t STATEMENT OF PURPOSE Meorot: A Forum of Modern Orthodox Discourse (formerly The Edah Journal) Statement of Purpose Meorot is a forum for discussion of Orthodox Judaism‘s engagement with modernity, published by Yeshivat Chovevei Torah Rabbinical School. It is the conviction of Meorot that this discourse is vital to nurturing the spiritual and religious experiences of Modern Orthodox Jews. Committed to the norms of halakhah and Torah, Meorot is dedicated to free inquiry and will be ever mindful that ―Truth is the seal of the Holy One, Blessed be He.‖ Editors Eugene Korn, Editor Nathaniel Helfgot, Associate Editor Joel Linsider, Text Editor Editorial Board Dov Linzer (YCT Rabbinical School), Chair Saul Berman Naftali Harcsztark Norma Baumel Joseph Simcha Krauss Barry Levy Adam Mintz Tamar Ross (Israel) Meorot publishes one online edition per year, and will be available periodically in hard-copy editions.
    [Show full text]