Moshe Idel
- Published in print:
- 2002
- Published Online:
- October 2013
- ISBN:
- 9780300083798
- eISBN:
- 9780300135077
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Yale University Press
- DOI:
- 10.12987/yale/9780300083798.003.0002
- Subject:
- Religion, Judaism
This chapter focuses on the development of the status of biblical text within ancient Jewish sources, as well as the major impact that occurred later on. It begins with a discussion of the text and ...
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This chapter focuses on the development of the status of biblical text within ancient Jewish sources, as well as the major impact that occurred later on. It begins with a discussion of the text and the interpreter as ways to determine the nature of midrashic exegesis, along with an overview of the four main characteristics of a postbiblical rabbinic conceptualization of the Torah. From here the chapter moves to discuss the presence of the hidden layer of the Torah, which can be found in writings that exist before the masters of Hasidei Ashkenaz and Kabbalistic literature. It then looks at different views of God in Talmudic-midrashic literature and rabbinic literature. The chapter also touches on the Book of Creation or the Sefer Yetzirah.Less
This chapter focuses on the development of the status of biblical text within ancient Jewish sources, as well as the major impact that occurred later on. It begins with a discussion of the text and the interpreter as ways to determine the nature of midrashic exegesis, along with an overview of the four main characteristics of a postbiblical rabbinic conceptualization of the Torah. From here the chapter moves to discuss the presence of the hidden layer of the Torah, which can be found in writings that exist before the masters of Hasidei Ashkenaz and Kabbalistic literature. It then looks at different views of God in Talmudic-midrashic literature and rabbinic literature. The chapter also touches on the Book of Creation or the Sefer Yetzirah.
Moshe Halbertal
- Published in print:
- 2020
- Published Online:
- January 2021
- ISBN:
- 9780300140910
- eISBN:
- 9780300257014
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Yale University Press
- DOI:
- 10.12987/yale/9780300140910.003.0006
- Subject:
- Religion, World Religions
This chapter clarifies Nahmanides's theories of revelation and prophecy, his concept of history, and his reasons for the commandments. It discusses the religious drama of Nahmanides's esoteric ...
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This chapter clarifies Nahmanides's theories of revelation and prophecy, his concept of history, and his reasons for the commandments. It discusses the religious drama of Nahmanides's esoteric commentary on the Torah that revolves around the variable and dynamic relationship between Tif 'eret and Shekhinah. It also describes the other components of the sefirotic structure: Keter, Hokhmah, and Binah, which have brief mentions in the very first lines of Nahmanides's Torah commentary on Genesis and in his fragmentary commentary on Sefer Yetzirah. The chapter talks about the sefirah of Binah and its connection to the doctrine of cosmic cycles. It describes the postlapsarian world where Shekhinah assumes its position at the lowest level of the Godhead.Less
This chapter clarifies Nahmanides's theories of revelation and prophecy, his concept of history, and his reasons for the commandments. It discusses the religious drama of Nahmanides's esoteric commentary on the Torah that revolves around the variable and dynamic relationship between Tif 'eret and Shekhinah. It also describes the other components of the sefirotic structure: Keter, Hokhmah, and Binah, which have brief mentions in the very first lines of Nahmanides's Torah commentary on Genesis and in his fragmentary commentary on Sefer Yetzirah. The chapter talks about the sefirah of Binah and its connection to the doctrine of cosmic cycles. It describes the postlapsarian world where Shekhinah assumes its position at the lowest level of the Godhead.
Mark Edwards
- Published in print:
- 2015
- Published Online:
- November 2015
- ISBN:
- 9780199687725
- eISBN:
- 9780191815034
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199687725.003.0008
- Subject:
- Religion, Early Christian Studies
Chapter 8 examines the position of the Jews in the Roman Empire under Constantine, beginning with the evidence for rabbinic activity in Palestine and the origin of the patriarchate. Noting that ...
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Chapter 8 examines the position of the Jews in the Roman Empire under Constantine, beginning with the evidence for rabbinic activity in Palestine and the origin of the patriarchate. Noting that Jewish texts of late antiquity are hard to date, it suggests that the Sefer Yetzirah may have exercised some influence on Christian speculation in the fourth century. Christian attitudes to Jewry and Judaism in this period are illustrated chiefly by Eusebius’ remarks in his Preparation for the Gospel and Life of Constantine; the beginnings of Christian veneration for Palestine and the Holy City can be studied in the work of the Bordeaux Pilgrim. The final section assesses the attitude of Constantine, as evinced by his legislation.Less
Chapter 8 examines the position of the Jews in the Roman Empire under Constantine, beginning with the evidence for rabbinic activity in Palestine and the origin of the patriarchate. Noting that Jewish texts of late antiquity are hard to date, it suggests that the Sefer Yetzirah may have exercised some influence on Christian speculation in the fourth century. Christian attitudes to Jewry and Judaism in this period are illustrated chiefly by Eusebius’ remarks in his Preparation for the Gospel and Life of Constantine; the beginnings of Christian veneration for Palestine and the Holy City can be studied in the work of the Bordeaux Pilgrim. The final section assesses the attitude of Constantine, as evinced by his legislation.
