War and Peace in Rabbinic Judaism: A Documentary Account (Studies in Judaism) - Softcover

Neusner, Jacob

Softcover

ISBN 10: 076185598X ISBN 13: 9780761855989

Publisher: University Press of America, 2011

Synopsis

This book surveys the treatment of war and peace in the canon of Rabbinic Judaism in late antiquity: to what does Judaism refer when it speaks of war and peace in the context of the Hebrew words "milhamah" (war) and "shalom" (peace)? But this study is not lexical. It is categorical. "War" represents a commanding, coherent category-formation, while "peace" covers a variety of circumstances and transactions. "War" is specifically a Halakhic category and "Peace" an Aggadic taxon. Do "war" and "peace" present us with a lexical or a categorical phenomenon? War forms a category-formation and peace is a substantive - a word bearing diffuse references. With what consequence? When we come across the word "war" without further data, we know the context and intent, but "peace" covers a mass of miscellaneous, free-standing facts and diverse implications.

About this title

About the Author

Jacob Neusner is a leading figure in the American academic study of religion. He revolutionized the study of Judaism and brought it into the field of religion, and he built intellectual bridges between Judaism and other religions, thereby laying the groundwork for durable understanding and respect among religions. He has advanced the careers of younger scholars and teachers through his teaching and publication programs. Neusner's influence on the study of Judaism and religion is broad, powerful, distinctive, and enduring.

Edition details

• Publisher: University Press of America
• Publication date: 2011
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 076185598X
• ISBN 13: 9780761855989
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 244