Contemporary theology, and Jewish theology in particular, Michael Fishbane asserts, now lies fallow, beset by strong critiques from within and without. For Jewish reality, a coherent and wide-ranging response in thoroughly modern terms is needed. _Sacred __Attunement_ is Fishbane’s attempt to renew Jewish theology for our time, in the larger context of modern and postmodern challenges to theology and theological thought in the broadest sense. The first part of the book regrounds theology in this setting and opens (...) up new pathways through nature, art, and the theological dimension as a whole. In the second section, Fishbane introduces his hermeneutical theology—one grounded in the interpretation of scripture as a distinctly Jewish practice. The third section focuses on modes of self-cultivation for awakening and sustaining a covenant theology. The final section takes up questions of scripture, authority, belief, despair, and obligation as theological topics in their own right. The first full-scale Jewish theology in America since Abraham J. Heschel’s _God in Search of Man _and the first comprehensive Jewish philosophical theology since Franz Rosenzweig’s _Star of Redemption_, _Sacred Attunement_ is a work of uncommon personal integrity and originality from one of the most distinguished scholars of Judaica in our time. (shrink)

Contemporary theology, and Jewish theology in particular, Michael Fishbane asserts, now lies fallow, beset by strong critiques from within and without. For Jewish reality, a coherent and wide-ranging response in thoroughly modern terms is needed. _Sacred __Attunement_ is Fishbane’s attempt to renew Jewish theology for our time, in the larger context of modern and postmodern challenges to theology and theological thought in the broadest sense. The first part of the book regrounds theology in this setting and opens (...) up new pathways through nature, art, and the theological dimension as a whole. In the second section, Fishbane introduces his hermeneutical theology—one grounded in the interpretation of scripture as a distinctly Jewish practice. The third section focuses on modes of self-cultivation for awakening and sustaining a covenant theology. The final section takes up questions of scripture, authority, belief, despair, and obligation as theological topics in their own right. The first full-scale Jewish theology in America since Abraham J. Heschel’s _God in Search of Man _and the first comprehensive Jewish philosophical theology since Franz Rosenzweig’s _Star of Redemption_, _Sacred Attunement_ is a work of uncommon personal integrity and originality from one of the most distinguished scholars of Judaica in our time. (shrink)

Ezekiel's prophecies reveal with sharp clarity what is also the ironic rhetorical strategy of all Israelite prophets: to bring a faithless and unknowing people to covenant allegiance and consciousness of God's Lordship.

A close analysis of a Ḥasidic homily by R. Kalonymos Kalman Epstein of Krakow, author of Maʾor va-Shemesh. The essay focuses on rhetoric, structure, and thematic content. The role of hermeneutics is engaged throughout.

The article deals with changing conceptions of Torah in the formative two phases of Jewish tradition. The first major transformation in the Hebrew Bible is the ‘arcanization’ (Idel’s term) or esotericization of the subject. This occurs through the use of an old term for divinization (the verbal stem darash) for exegetical inquiry into the meaning of Torah (Ezra 7: 9-10). The second is the ‘spiritualization’ of Torah, evident in the transfer to it of verbs used with respect to relationship with (...) God (see Psalm 119). A notable transformation in early rabbinic texts is the role of study as a substitute for ritual action. (shrink)

Rabbinic Talmudic tradition is marked by chains of tradition, integrating written Scripture and oral Traditions. The interrelation of word, voice, and instruction is paramount. Levinas’s reading of Talmudic texts follows this format and continues this tradition, by superimposing his voice and philosophical concerns. I have chosen his reading of Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Makkot 10a as an exemplum. In the process, Levinas’s style and method can be seen as a contemporary meta-commentary on the ancient rabbinic source.

Weltinnenraum ist Rilkes poetisches Bild für den Zusammenhang aller Dinge und Ereignisse im Universum. In seinen Duineser Elegien geht es um die Vergeistigung der endlichen Welt der Dinge hinein in eine zeitfreie Gestalt. Der Bezug zur östlichen Weisheitslehre, besonders zur buddhistischen Religion, liegt auf der Hand. Michael von Brück arbeitet ihn in diesem bahnbrechenden Werk über die Verbindung von Religion und Poesie heraus. Er zeigt, dass Rilke, der von der Gestalt des Buddha zutiefst berührt war, in seiner Poesie eine (...) Erfahrung aufscheinen lässt, wonach hinter der oft leidvollen und zerrissenen Lebenswelt ein Zusammenhang erkennbar wird, der alles umfasst und dem Leben neuen Sinn gibt. (shrink)

Der Klimawandel ist die globale Krise unserer Gegenwart. Mit Blick auf die sich hieraus ergebenen Handlungsoptionen und -zwänge stellt der verantwortliche Umgang mit Energie sicher einen der zentralen Bereiche dar. Unsere ethische Verantwortung betrifft dabei beides: Erzeugung und Verbrauch von Energie gleichermaßen. Der vorliegende Band verfolgt zwei Ziele: Erstens soll ein interdisziplinärer Dialog ermöglicht und die dafür notwendigen fachlichen Reflexionen angestoßen werden. Keine Einzeldisziplin kann auf die komplexen Probleme des Klimawandels oder die mit dem Terminus Energieverantwortung angezeigten Herausforderungen alleine eine (...) plausible Antwort geben. Vielmehr müssen die Wissenschaften ein gemeinsames Verständnis der Probleme entwickeln, um auch interdisziplinär geteilte Antworten bereitstellen zu können. Zweitens soll dies in transdisziplinärer Perspektive erfolgen. Das bedeutet, die von der Gesellschaft an die Wissenschaft herangetragenen Fragen und Problemstellungen ernst zu nehmen, aufzugreifen und Antworten zu formulieren, die auch außerhalb der wissenschaftlichen Diskurse als Antworten auf diese Fragen und Problemstellungen verstanden werden können. (shrink)