Holy War in Judaism

The Fall and Rise of a Controversial Idea

Nonfiction, Religion & Spirituality, Judaism, History
Cover of the book Holy War in Judaism by Reuven Firestone, Oxford University Press
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Reuven Firestone ISBN: 9780199977154
Publisher: Oxford University Press Publication: July 2, 2012
Imprint: Oxford University Press Language: English
Author: Reuven Firestone
ISBN: 9780199977154
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Publication: July 2, 2012
Imprint: Oxford University Press
Language: English

Holy war, sanctioned or even commanded by God, is a common and recurring theme in the Hebrew Bible. Rabbinic Judaism, however, largely avoided discussion of holy war in the Talmud and related literatures for the simple reason that it became dangerous and self-destructive. Reuven Firestone's Holy War in Judaism is the first book to consider how the concept of ''holy war'' disappeared from Jewish thought for almost 2000 years, only to reemerge with renewed vigor in modern times. The revival of the holy war idea occurred with the rise of Zionism. As the necessity of organized Jewish engagement in military actions developed, Orthodox Jews faced a dilemma. There was great need for all to engage in combat for the survival of the infant state of Israel, but the Talmudic rabbis had virtually eliminated divine authorization for Jews to fight in Jewish armies. Once the notion of divinely sanctioned warring was revived, it became available to Jews who considered that the historical context justified more aggressive forms of warring. Among some Jews, divinely authorized war became associated not only with defense but also with a renewed kibbush or conquest, a term that became central to the discourse regarding war and peace and the lands conquered by the state of Israel in 1967. By the early 1980's, the rhetoric of holy war had entered the general political discourse of modern Israel. In Holy War in Judaism, Firestone identifies, analyzes, and explains the historical, conceptual, and intellectual processes that revived holy war ideas in modern Judaism.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Holy war, sanctioned or even commanded by God, is a common and recurring theme in the Hebrew Bible. Rabbinic Judaism, however, largely avoided discussion of holy war in the Talmud and related literatures for the simple reason that it became dangerous and self-destructive. Reuven Firestone's Holy War in Judaism is the first book to consider how the concept of ''holy war'' disappeared from Jewish thought for almost 2000 years, only to reemerge with renewed vigor in modern times. The revival of the holy war idea occurred with the rise of Zionism. As the necessity of organized Jewish engagement in military actions developed, Orthodox Jews faced a dilemma. There was great need for all to engage in combat for the survival of the infant state of Israel, but the Talmudic rabbis had virtually eliminated divine authorization for Jews to fight in Jewish armies. Once the notion of divinely sanctioned warring was revived, it became available to Jews who considered that the historical context justified more aggressive forms of warring. Among some Jews, divinely authorized war became associated not only with defense but also with a renewed kibbush or conquest, a term that became central to the discourse regarding war and peace and the lands conquered by the state of Israel in 1967. By the early 1980's, the rhetoric of holy war had entered the general political discourse of modern Israel. In Holy War in Judaism, Firestone identifies, analyzes, and explains the historical, conceptual, and intellectual processes that revived holy war ideas in modern Judaism.

More books from Oxford University Press

Cover of the book Empire Of Liberty : A History Of The Early Republic, 1789-1815 by Reuven Firestone
Cover of the book Decade of Nightmares by Reuven Firestone
Cover of the book The Lights that Failed: European International History 1919-1933 by Reuven Firestone
Cover of the book Bulk Collection by Reuven Firestone
Cover of the book The Burden of Memory, the Muse of Forgiveness by Reuven Firestone
Cover of the book Back to the Fifties by Reuven Firestone
Cover of the book The Star Zoo Level 3 Oxford Bookworms Library by Reuven Firestone
Cover of the book Borrowing by Reuven Firestone
Cover of the book Innovation and Its Enemies by Reuven Firestone
Cover of the book The Philippine Economy by Reuven Firestone
Cover of the book The Nature of Suffering and the Goals of Medicine by Reuven Firestone
Cover of the book How the Light Gets In: Writing as a Spiritual Practice by Reuven Firestone
Cover of the book Objection by Reuven Firestone
Cover of the book God in the Enlightenment by Reuven Firestone
Cover of the book Preaching Eugenics by Reuven Firestone
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy