Judaism and Its Social Metaphors: Israel in the History of Jewish Thought

ISBN-13: 9780521354714 / Angielski / Twarda / 1989 / 274 str.

Jacob Neusner

Opis

The current crisis in Palestine is only the most recent manifestation of Israel's historical significance to the Jewish people. Jacob Neusner examines the crucial role of the definition of Israel in the history of Judaic thought. He argues that Judaic sages have constructed various metaphoric images of Israel--as family, as chosen people, as a nation--in order to express changing theological concerns as the religion evolved. The history of the definition of Israel is revealed as the reflection of the history of Judaism itself. This is a bold and original interpretation of the way in which Jews, as well as other peoples, define themselves.

Spis treści

Preface; List of abbreviations; Introduction; 1. Imagining society, re-visioning 'Israel'; Part I. 'Israel' in the First Statement of Judaism, 70–300 CE: 2. 'Israel' in relationship to heaven; 3. 'Israel' in relationship to 'non-Israel'; 4. 'Israel' in the Mishnah, the Tosefta, and Tractate Abot: a probe; 5. The first phase of the Judaism of the dual Torah and its social metaphors; Part II. 'Israel' in the Second Statement of Judaism, 300–600 CE: 6. 'Israel' on its own terms; 7. 'Israel' as family; 8. 'Israel' as family and also singular nation; 9. 'Israel' as sui generis; 10. The second phase of the Judaism of the dual Torah and its social metaphors; Part III. Some Metaphors, Other Systems: 11. Other Judaisms and their social metaphors; 12. Society and system; General index; Index to biblical and Talmudic references.