Description:
The collection of essays in this first volume of a two-volume set devoted to the examination of sacred time and space in Judaism represents the exquisite work of renowned Judaic scholars. The excellent scholarship represented in this and the volume to follow are expressive of the commitment to intellectual inquiry and the transmission of knowledge. These essays ask and examine such essential questions as: What constitutes holiness, sacredness, sanctity? What do our foundational texts say about holiness? How has the Jewish people understood the notion of the sacred throughout history? What constitutes a holy people? Is that quality an intrinsic or created, or even an earned status? The contributors to these volumes grapple with these and many other challenging questions as they seek to contribute to the continued flourishing of Jewish life and the quest of the Jewish people individually and collectively to seek a sacred existence in space and time.
Brief description:
Simcha Fishbane, PhD, is Professor of Jewish Studies at the Touro University Graduate School of Jewish Studies. He has been a rabbi, scholar, and educator for many years. Fishbane is the author of numerous books and articles and has received numerous honorary doctorates, including from Jewish University Moscow and Linguistic University in Moscow. Fishbane received his Rabbinical Ordination from Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary and his PhD from Concordia University.
Review Quotes:
"We are in the debt of Simcha Fishbane and Eric Levine, who have produced yet another excellent collection in Jewish studies. This is an outstanding set of essays addressing one of the most significant themes in Jewish thought. The book combines clear, concise and detailed discussion of many approaches to understanding the notion of sacred space and sacred time in Judaism. It is a bracing and exhilarating experience to read the writing of the esteemed contributors to this volume. The fortunate reader of Sacred Space, Sacred Time in Judaism is treated to the rich wisdom of an impressive group of rabbinic and academic scholars. From the opening preface through the eight subsequent chapters, the authors analyze and conceptualize the notion of holiness and the sacred from the perspectives of history, sociology, philosophy, textual studies and religious law, ritual practice and faith. This is the first book of a planned two volume set and we eagerly await the release of the second publication devoted to essays teaching us about holiness and sanctity in Judaism."
-- Israel Singer, Professor, Contemporary Jewry and Political Science
"Contemporary science understands space and time to be a continuum, treating these concepts as a single, interwoven fabric. The present volume, in a very effective way, strives to draw the attention of students of Judaism toward an understanding of Judaic sacred space and time as a seamless continuum. The editors and contributors to this volume, focusing on different aspects and issues with respect to of sacred space and time in Judaism, have created a whole that goes far beyond the sum of its parts."
-- Ira Robinson, Distinguished Professor Emeritus, Concordia University