Essay

14 Jun Essay

Posted at 03:36h in High School by Homework Writer

The role of Gaon and Exilarch in the Jewish community

Brody, S. H. (2018). Judaism, Philosophy, and the Idea of the West. Harvard Theological Review, 111(1), 135-143.

The author of this book is trying to identify how to define the West especially in a world that is influenced by numerous factors. For instance, Brody believes religion was among the first elements that shaped the artistic communities but other factors such as the Renaissance, Reformation and Enlightenment had a significant role to play. Therefore, in order to understand the whole concept, it is essential that we allow all these important parameters to guide us towards the destination we are looking to reach.

Decter, J. (2018). Dominion Built of Praise: Panegyric and Legitimacy Among Jews in the Medieval Mediterranean. University of Pennsylvania Press.

Jonathan Decter, in the process of determining the role of both Gaon and Exilarch in the Jewish community he scrutinizes the concept of panegyric in Mediterranean Jewish culture from several perspectives that include the history, social, political, ethnic, poetic and theological orientations. The result of this study indicates how the representation of Jewish political leadership changed over time and at the same time varied depending on the specific setting it was located. Each position had its own set of responsibilities and powers. For the proper functioning of the Jewish community, those in these positions implemented the necessary guidelines and measures that fostered the Jewish culture.

Fishman-Duker, R. (2015). A Prince without a Kingdom, Texts and Studies in Ancient Judaism, 150.

According to Fisherman-Duker, Jewish political institutions cannot go unnoticed; therefore, they deserve more sustained attention and general intensive study. The Exilarchs were known as heads of exile and they were charged with the responsibility of serving large areas that spread between the Euphrates and Tigris rivers. The author claims that due to the fact that Exilarchs were wealthy, had a pedigree and close ties with the ruling and political class and as a result they were given centralized authority over the Jewish community. A time came when the Rabbis conflicted with the Exilarchs over the leadership of the Jewish community. Therefore, the role of these powerful institutions in the general shaping of the Jewish culture cannot be overlooked.

Carvalho, J. P., & Koyama, M. (2016). Jewish emancipation and schism: Economic development and religious change. Journal of Comparative Economics, 44(3), 562-584.

The overall impact of Jewish emancipation and economic development on their religious culture will help us understand the different roles of people within the community. The 19th century in Europe was characterized by the development of liberal reform movements and Ultra-Orthodox Judaism as a response to the general organization that had polarized the Jewish community. The role of time and money and its impact on religious activities form the core principles of this text. Therefore, political and economic developments also had a role to play in this historical model that manifests extant religious models, cultural integrations and the religious change that was visible within the community.

Brauch, J., & Lipphardt, A. (2016). Jewish topographies: Visions of space, traditions of place. Routledge.

The authors of this text intend to answer some of the most critical questions surrounding Hebraic and Judaic culture. For instance, they try to understand how the Jews experienced their environments and how have they engaged with specific places? How do Jewish spaces emerge, how are they contested, performed and used? Through a proper comprehension of these questions, we can understand the broad diversity, interconnectedness and the multi-dimensionality of the culture. Historical and contemporary case studies are significant because they enable us to shift focus to the concepts that lead to Jewish civilization and the different roles of people in the process.

Chazan, R. (2017). From “Jewish Memory” to Jewish History: Two Perspectives. The Journal of Jewish Thought and Philosophy, 25(2), 279-304.

This journal focuses explicitly on analyzing the transitions in Jewish conceptions of their history from traditional to modern. Due to the importance of the Jewish tradition in understanding the different roles of people, the author has dubbed it “Jewish Memory” for Jewish survival. The primary goal of this paper is to highlight the importance of traditional Jewish thinking in the general continuity and sustainability of the culture, but, the role of pre-modern circumstances cannot be overlooked. Chazan reiterates that there are radically new challenges that continue to affect Jewish survival; therefore, the examination of circumstances in this contemporary age indicates creativity in altering the Jewish past in order to ensure it survives.

Slezkine, Y. (2019). The Jewish Century. Princeton University Press.

This is one of the most innovative and stimulating studies of Jewish culture. Although the author has done his best to ensure this book remains fascinating, sometimes the process through which the Jewish culture and its political sensibility in the 20th century can be frustrating. Yuri maintains that Jews are not unique, but due to their European provincialism, they seem to have specific features in terms of their religious, political, cultural and economic orientations. Therefore, this is purely an Antiparochial interpretation of the Jewish history that enables the reader to comprehend their current situation I light of all the things they experienced.

Reimer, J. (2018). Shabbat-at-Camp at Three Jewish Camps: Jewish Learning Through Ritual Participation. Journal of Jewish Education, 84(4), 359-388.

According to Reimer in his texts in the Journal of Jewish Education, the flow of immigrants reveals the attraction France had for German Jews. Although the migration was small, it influenced French Jewry’s path to modernization, giving a serious impetus to the Science of Judaism during the first half of the nineteenth century. This is a clear indication of the structure that the traditional communities had put in place. This could not be possible without the availability of a centralized source of authority that guided political, social and economic activities that dealt with both the German and French powers.

Bell, D. P. (2016). Jewish identity in early modern Germany: memory, power and community. Routledge.

Bell reiterates that; even though the Jews that were present in modern Germany did very little about their history; they, however, engaged their past for several reasons and in various and surprising ways. This article will help us understand why and how the Hebraic and Judaic cultures looked at their past in order to enforce authority, empower order and ensure their are records of their traditions. Through these engagements, the community was able to develop structures that they shared with future generations. Bell further states that the past was important to contest the marginalization from other broader Christian developments in the societies in which they lived.

Cooper, J. E. (2016). The turn to tradition in the study of Jewish politics. Annual Review of Political Science, 19, 67-87.

This article looks at the political, intellectual and disciplinary forces that were responsible for the formation and sustainability of the Jewish political thought. Cooper further traces the implications that were as a result of this field’s establishment. According to the author, the Jewish political thought is grounded on the experience of statelessness. Therefore, in order to identify the Jewish political tradition, scholars must look beyond sovereignty as a significant factor in the formation of political structures. Consequently, the author is of the view that comprehending the Jewish political tradition will assist solve the ambiguous debate surrounding sovereignty and the role it played in Jewish political agency.

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