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Compassion For Humanity In T »

Book cover image of Compassion For Humanity In T by David Sears

Authors: David Sears
ISBN-13: 9780765799876, ISBN-10: 0765799871
Format: Hardcover
Publisher: Aronson, Jason Inc.
Date Published: July 1998
Edition: (Non-applicable)

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Author Biography: David Sears

Book Synopsis

For many Jews and non-Jews, the Torah, the Talmud and other rabbinic writings have long been interpreted as saying that the Jews alone are God's chosen people. According to Sears, such readings have led to a struggle among Jews between assimilation—losing their particular Jewish identity—and withdrawal—preserving their particular Jewish identity and surviving as a people. In order to demonstrate the depth from which Judaism speaks in a universalistic voice, Sears collects a wide range of sources from a number of periods in Jewish history. Sears's extensive sourcebook is a rich collection of primary writings on the role of compassion in the Jewish tradition.

Publishers Weekly

For many Jews and non-Jews, the Torah, the Talmud and other rabbinic writings have long been interpreted as saying that the Jews alone are God's chosen people. According to Sears (The Path of the Baal Shem Tov), such readings have led to a struggle among Jews between assimilation--losing their particular Jewish identity--and withdrawal--preserving their particular Jewish identity and surviving as a people. Sears contends that this struggle between particularism and universalism is often misguided, for he argues that the particularism of Judaism engenders a "model of spirituality and moral refinement that will inspire the rest of the world to turn to God of its own accord." In order to demonstrate the depth from which Judaism speaks in a universalistic voice, Sears collects a wide range of sources from a number of periods in Jewish history. In the section on "Judaism and Non-Jews," the Talmudic teaching of Rabbi Yochanan, "Whoever speaks wisdom, although he is a non-Jew, is a sage," urges respect for the wisdom of other traditions. In the section on "The Chosen People," two Midrash passages demonstrate the idea of Israel as spiritual model: "God gave the Torah to the Jewish people so that all nations might benefit by it"; "Just as the [sacrifice of the dove] atones for transgression, Israel atones for the nations of the world." Finally, in a section on "Messianic Vision," Sears argues that Jewish writings state that it is the Messiah's primary task to return the "entire world" to God and God's teachings. Sears's extensive sourcebook is a rich collection of primary writings on the role of compassion in the Jewish tradition. (Sept.)

Table of Contents

Subjects

Philosophy Ethics & Moral Philosophy
Christianity Judaism & Judaica Jewish Law
Christianity Judaism & Judaica Jewish Life
Christianity Judaism & Judaica Jewish Philosophy
Christianity Judaism & Judaica Theology, Jewish
Christianity All Religion General & Miscellaneous Religion
Judaism & Judaica Jewish Life Love & Relationships - Jewish Life
Judaism & Judaica Jewish Philosophy Jewish ethics
Law Religious Law Jewish Law
Nonfiction Law Religious Law
Nonfiction Philosophy General & Miscellaneous Philosophy
Nonfiction Philosophy Major Branches of Philosophical Study
Nonfiction Psychology Psychology - Theory, History & Research
Nonfiction Social Sciences Jewish Studies
Philosophy General & Miscellaneous Philosophy Jewish Philosophy
Philosophy Major Branches of Philosophical Study Ethics & Moral Philosophy
Religion Books Judaism & Judaica Jewish Law
Religion Books Judaism & Judaica Jewish Life
Religion Books Judaism & Judaica Jewish Philosophy
Religion Books Judaism & Judaica Theology, Jewish
Religion Books All Religion General & Miscellaneous Religion
Science & Nature Social Sciences Jewish Studies
Self Improvement Personal Growth Characteristics & Qualities - Self - Improvement
Self Improvement See All Self - Improvement
Social Sciences Jewish Studies Jewish Law
Social Sciences Jewish Studies Jewish Life
Social Sciences Jewish Studies Jewish Philosophy
Christianity Christianity All Religion
Medical Books Psychology & Psychotherapy Psychology - Theory, History & Research
Nonfiction Religion All Religion
Political Books & Current Events Books Law Religious Law
Religion Books Christianity All Religion