liturgy, reception and culture-forming philosophy, legal influence of the attract THE ENCYCLOPEDIA texts, , and considerable attention. As a now other religions and well-established branch of biblical OF THE BIBLE AND modern religious studies, the history of exegesis movements (e.g., for continues to contribute to the Jesus), as well as the arts. debate about the meanings of the ITS RECEPTION At present there is no biblical texts as they have been Barry Dov Walfish encyclopedia that summarizes and expounded throughout the histories synthesizes the current state of of and . In hat role does the Aqedah knowledge in biblical studies and addition, there is increasing play in modern Israeli art allied disciplines while creating attention among scholars to the W and literature? How are links, identifying problematic areas reception and adaptation of biblical Abraham and the Aqedah portrayed and lacunae in scholarship, and themes, motifs, and characters in in the Koran and hadith literature? stimulating new research. Nor has music, art, literature, and film, as How was the image of Abigail any encyclopedic effort been made well as in Islam and various non- transformed in medieval and early to take stock of the major shift that monotheistic religious traditions modern halakhic texts? What have has occurred in most disciplines of and new religious movements. Such been the Jewish interpretations of the humanities over the last thirty studies have shown how biblical the rite of throughout years to an orientation informed by traditions have transcended the the ages? What are the Jewish views what has come to be called cultural realms of church and on the afterlife and how do these studies. and entered the cultural compare with consciousness not Christian and only of Western Muslim views? societies but of What role do WHAT ARE THE JEWISH VIEWS ON THE AFTERLIFE AND other cultures as angels play in well. Jewish religious HOW DO THESE COMPARE WITH CHRISTIAN AND thought and how EBR’s two major does it compare MUSLIM VIEWS? WHAT ROLE DO ANGELS PLAY IN JEWISH foci—the Bible and with their role in its reception—are Christianity and RELIGIOUS THOUGHT AND HOW DOES IT COMPARE WITH reflected in the five Islam? main domains THEIR ROLE IN CHRISTIANITY AND ISLAM? under EBR’s These are only a purview, each of few of the which is overseen questions to by its own main which you will soon be able to find Biblical studies have participated in editor and comprises five or six answers in the Encyclopedia of the this interdisciplinary exchange and specific areas managed in turn by Bible and Its Reception (EBR), a have been further enhanced by a their own area editors. One domain groundbreaking new reference work burgeoning interest in reception is dedicated to the formation of the in biblical studies to be published history, a scholarly enterprise whose Hebrew Bible/Old Testament and by Walter de Gruyter. EBR aims not literary-historical roots extend back the New Testament, including the only to provide up-to-date to late nineteenth-century contextual history of surrounding information on the state of research Stoffgeschichte (the study of themes) events, society, religion, culture, and in biblical and cognate studies but and its expansion into twentieth- economy. Two more domains cover also to document the impact that century Wirkungsgeschichte (the the influence of the Bible in the the Bible has had on the post- study of effects), and whose Judaic and Christian traditions biblical religious civilizations that development was abetted by the respectively. The Judaism domain is drew upon it as well as on other popularity of reader-response theory divided into four periods: Second civilizations and cultures. It will in literary studies during the closing Temple and Hellenistic, Rabbinic, trace the history and development decades of the twentieth century. Medieval, and Modern. The fifth of biblical interpretation in Judaism Today, aside from the classic domain encompasses biblical and Christianity as well as the historical questions about the reception and influence in literature, reception of biblical characters, conditions and circumstances of the art, music, and film, as well as in themes, concepts, and motifs in Bible’s origins, inquiries into the Islam and in other religions that do

12 not ascribe exclusive authority to or character the Bible but in some way draw through the upon its traditions. While not history of Judaism knowingly omitting anything that and Christianity as may shed light upon biblical well as Islam and traditions, EBR aspires to the arts. Some completeness only in its coverage of examples from the the scriptures themselves and their A’s are abortion, formation. Bearing in mind that Abraham, Adam comprehensive coverage of the (Person), Adam global history of the reception and and Eve (Story influence of the Bible over two of), adultery, millennia is impossible, EBR seeks angels and angel- to document that history in ways like beings, that outline the major themes and anthropomorphism, issues and provide the necessary the Aqedah, and guidance for further research. atonement. This juxtaposition of EBR is edited by an international material from team of scholars representing a wide various religious variety of religious, denominational, traditions and disciplinary perspectives, none facilitates privileged above the others. The comparative study work is produced in English to and promises to facilitate global accessibility and stimulate further reception, and scholars from around research. Another the world are being invited to type of synthetic contribute. article will trace the reception of Cover, The Encyclopedia of the Bible and Its Reception. The size and scope of the project is the Bible in various Berlin: Walter de Gruyter, forthcoming. very ambitious. It is projected to countries or regions. It is in the area of reception that the encompass thirty volumes, each six Of interest in the A’s for Jewish greatest challenges and potential for hundred pages, to be published studies are the articles on al-Andalus innovation reside. The editors of over the next ten years or so, with a and Ashkenaz. EBR and the publisher have been parallel online version. unequivocal in expressing their This project should prove to be a willingness to be as inclusive as There are two main types of articles great boon for Jewish studies. Not possible in terms of coverage of all in EBR: the stand-alone articles on only will biblical and Near Eastern religions and cultures. But on the specific biblical characters or places studies—including archaeology—be Jewish side the challenge is to for whom there is no post-biblical given their due, but so will the identify and locate authors who are reception, or on biblical exegetes, history of Judaism from the Second able to write on these topics, some philosophers, literary figures, or Temple period to the modern, of which have never been written artists who were heavily influenced insofar as biblical origins, about before. by the Bible. Of interest to people connections, or influence can be engaged in Jewish studies will be identified. The EBR will provide the I would thus like to appeal to the the articles on individual exegetes, opportunity to document the role AJS community to contribute to as well as philosophers, mystics, that various biblical books played in this project. If anyone has expertise authors, and poets, with the the lives of Jewish communities in a topic of biblical interest and emphasis on the biblical influences throughout the ages. Furthermore, would like to write for EBR, please on their work. In addition there will there is the potential to explore and be in touch with me be articles on topics with biblical document the use and development ([email protected]) or connections, e.g., Abayudaya and of biblical themes in Hebrew and one of the other area editors. For the Canaanite Movement. Of special Yiddish literature, Jewish and Israeli their contact information and to get interest and importance will be the art, and Jewish and Israeli music, an idea of the scope of the synthetic articles that trace the film, and popular culture. encyclopedia’s coverage, please history of the reception of a theme consult the EBR website at: 13 and be of the greatest benefit to THE EBR WILL PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DOCUMENT Jewish studies, the cooperation and contributions of the Jewish studies THE ROLE THAT VARIOUS BIBLICAL BOOKS PLAYED IN THE community of scholars are essential. LIVES OF EWISH COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE AGES We look forward to hearing from J . you. FURTHERMORE, THERE IS THE POTENTIAL TO EXPLORE AND Barry Dov Walfish is the Judaica DOCUMENT THE USE AND DEVELOPMENT OF BIBLICAL Specialist at the University of Toronto Libraries. He is the author of THEMES IN HEBREW AND YIDDISH LITERATURE, JEWISH AND Bibliographia Karaitica: An Annotated Bibliography of Karaites ISRAELI ART, AND JEWISH AND ISRAELI MUSIC, and Karaism (Jerusalem: Ben-Zvi Institute, forthcoming). FILM, AND POPULAR CULTURE. www.degruyter.com/cont/fb/th/ be a long, challenging but thEbrEn.cfm. We are only at the intriguing and stimulating journey. early stages of what will doubtless For EBR to realize its full potential

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