Iggrot Ha'Ari

Between Two Worlds: The “Israelite-AmeriIndian” Theory In 17th Century Abrahamic Thought

Daniel Barth — Mon, 01 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000

The discovery of the West Indies by Christopher Columbus in the fifteenth century disrupted traditional Abrahamic cosmology and millenarianism in Europe. As the existence of previously unidentified peoples contradicted the scriptural notion of monogenesis, conquest in the Americas required not only a physical colonization, but a spiritual appropriation. Religious theories were developed in response to explain indigenous communities’ isolation, absence, and independence from the known world. The Israelite-AmeriIndian theory —which hypothesized that the indigenous peoples were descendants of the ten lost tribes of Israel— popularized in the mid-seventeenth century. Its two main proponents, Thomas Thorowgood and Menasseh ben Israel, a Presbyterian minister and a Marrano rabbi respectively, attempted to reconcile the reality of the Americas with their historical imagination of the Old World. In expressing opposing interpretations of the Israelite myth and the role of indigenous Americans in the exile and future eschaton, Thorowgood and ben Israel demonstrated divergent understandings of the consequence and purpose of colonialism in the biblical metanarrative.

Antinomianism In Hasidism

Shmuel Berman — Mon, 01 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Hasidism, the eighteenth century Jewish spiritual revivalist movement, was barraged with theological attacks from emergence. One of the critiques of the movement, which has remained prevalent in modernity, is Hasidism’s de-emphasis on Judaism’s commandments. There are few factors which justify this reputation, and its historical proximity to Sabbateanism, combined with its focus on mystic theology, likely lead the contemporaneous rabbinic leadership to take precautionary measures against the fledgling movement. Rabbi Elijah, one of the most influential eighteenth-century European rabbis, also came out heavily against the movement, sealing its fate as the “antinomian” Jewish movement for the next 200 years.

Ben Sorer U’moreh: Mishnah or Midrash? That Is The Question

Joshua Brunnlehrman — Mon, 01 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000

What differentiates Midrash from Mishnah? In Midrash, usually a verse is referenced and is interpreted to teach us something, while in Mishnah the rules that we are supposed to follow are debated by the Tannaim and plainly stated. But what is the relationship between Midrash and Mishnah and, further, is it possible that the Mishnah itself engages in the act of ‘midrash?’ This paper will attempt to answer this question, shedding light on the nature of Mishnah and Midrash as religio-legalistic texts in the case of the ‘ben sorer u’moreh.’

The Racial Ambiguities of American Sephardic and Ashkenazi Jews

Ezra Dayanim — Mon, 01 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000

This paper analyzes the racial ambiguities of Sephardic and Ashkenazi Jews in American law by examining three Supreme Court cases: DeFunis v. Odegaard, Shaare Tefila Congregation v. Cobb, and Bennun v. Rutgers State University. Despite being classified as a religious group, Jews have also been subjected to racial categorization, with Sephardic and Ashkenazi Jews often occupying different racial spaces. Through a close reading of these cases, the paper explores how the Supreme Court has grappled with the complexity of Jewish identity in America, and how these cases have shaped the legal understanding of Jewishness as both a religious and a racial identity. Ultimately, the paper argues that these cases highlight the need for a more nuanced and inclusive approach to understanding race and ethnicity in American law, particularly in how it relates to the Jewish community.

Marching to the Beat of Their Own Drum: How Beta-Israel Uses Liturgical Music to Maintain its Roots Within a Foreign Culture

Yehuda Dicker — Mon, 01 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Known as Falasha, Ethiopian Jews lived in isolation for centuries practicing an ancient, pre-talmudic form of Judaism, which traces its origins back to Solomon and Sheba.” It was not until 1984 that this Falasha community, known as Beta-Israel, was covertly airlifted from Sudan during the civil war and brought to the State of Israel. Their arrival was accompanied by quite the culture shock for a variety of reasons, a significant one being religion. Much of the community quickly assimilated into modern society, leaving behind their traditional religious Ethiopian roots. As a result, the Beta-Israel community became a minority, a waning religious sect of Judaism in Israel. Yet, those who maintained their roots continued their practices with full vigor. Included in these practices is their unique liturgy, liturgical music and use of musical instruments in prayer. This paper will examine texts which discuss Ethiopian liturgical music in depth and explore what role this music plays in preserving their community.

Are Veggies and Fruits Always Good for You? An Analysis of Biblical Produce in the Book of Genesis

Lucy Hecht — Mon, 01 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000

The Book of Genesis is a timeless account of the lives of various families and individuals and their complex relationships with God. Among the common threads that run through the different narratives, food emerges as a powerful symbol of the struggles and choices the characters face at that time. While many biblical figures succumb to the physical temptations of food, leading to their separation from the Divine, Abraham manages to elevate the everyday necessity into a spiritual and genuine experience. In contrast to Adam, Eve, and Esau, who distance themselves from their communities after indulging in their alluring snacks, Abraham prepares a meal to bring people together and ensure their well-being through his hospitable and inclusive approach. In the broader context of these stories, food becomes a powerful cipher for choice, where decisions about what to eat and when to indulge carry lasting consequences not only for individuals, but for the future of entire nations as well.

The Role of Esoterics and Contradictions in Joseph Ibn Kaspi’s Exegesis

Emily Gul — Mon, 01 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000

This article explores Joseph Ibn Kaspi’s Biblical exegesis and his relationship to Maimonidean thought.

Drudgery, Not Slavery: How and Why John Locke’s Stays True to Exodus 21 in “Of Slavery”

Yoni Kurtz — Mon, 22 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000

John Locke’s philosophy of slavery has been oft-disputed; despite arguing against the persistence of slavery as an institution in his political philosophy, Locke was involved in colonial projects that legalized slavery. While many scholars have attempted to analyze this contradiction, relatively few have examined Locke’s use of biblical allusion in his seminal work on slavery, the aptly named “Of Slavery.” Though Locke’s mention of “slavery among the Jews” in this essay seems at first to be haphazard, by analyzing Locke’s textual fidelity and potential personal motivations for it one can see the lasting rhetorical and social impact of the story of Exodus on later religious groups and their own philosophical understandings of slavery. Overall, we see that despite the obvious differences in context between ancient Egypt and Locke’s seventeenth century England, Locke’s personal identification with the story of the Hebrews moved his arguments on slavery towards a more biblical understanding.

Women and Torah: The Orthodox Jewish Response to Second-Wave Feminism

Batsheva Shekhter — Mon, 01 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000

This paper explores the effects of second-wave feminism in the 1970s on the Orthodox Jewish movement within the United States. During this time, the feminist movement challenged the way women were viewed and treated in American society, leading to other denominations of Judaism soon enacting policies to reflect such change. The paper examines how this movement was received and responded to by the Orthodox Jewish leadership and seeks to explore the contradictions that arose as a result of the collision between feminism and Orthodox Judaism. Ultimately, it concludes that the feminist movement of the 1970s had a profound impact on the Orthodox Jewish movement, leading to changes in milestone events, education, and representation within the community, but also contributing to a complex and ongoing debate about the meaning and practice of Jewish tradition.

Laughter in the Isaac Narrative: Who Has the Last Laugh?

Hannah Vorchheimer — Mon, 01 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000

This article tackles the question of the nature of Sarah’s laughter. It argues that it is imperative to go beyond labeling the laughter as either incredulous or joyous, as it is a reductive approach. The nuanced approach of this paper appreciates the “both and-ness” of the laughter demonstrating its larger significance in the Genesis narrative.