Books in the Essential Papers on Jewish Studies series

Seeking to move away from the stereotypical views of the Italian Jew in the early modern period as Shylockian userer or mysterious astrologer, these papers address such topics as Italian Jewish preaching, the Kabbalah, Jewish historiography, messianic expectations, and Jewish ghetto culture.

A collection of teachings and traditions that contains within it the intellectual output of hundreds of Jewish sages who considered all aspects of an entire people's life from the Hellenistic period in Palestine (c. 315 BCE) until the end of the Sassanian era in Babylonia (615 CE).

Providing a discussion of the Jewish experience in Mediterranean and Western societies over the last 2000 years, these papers concentrate on the doctrinal substance of the Jewish-Christian dispute in the order that it developed.

Provide a sense of the historical range of Kabbalah

A comprehensive view of the history, beliefs and practices, and sociology of the Hasidic movement founded by Israel Baal Sheen Tov, this simultaneously provides a reflection of the development of the scholarly understanding of Hasidism from the 18th century to the present.

Historically leftist ideas and theories have had a profound impact on modern Jewish life. But, the left's impact on the Jewish community has greatly diminished today. This book presents a sweeping portrait of the defining impact of the left on modern Jewish politics and culture in Europe, Palestine/Israel, and the New World.

Represents a sample of the most penetrating and provocative scholarly interpretations of Jewish messianic movement from various perspectives- historical, sociological, psychological, and religious.

These papers address the central question of how classical Christian images of Jews have been acted out or muted in interreligious encounters in the USA. The book is organized according to the salient issues that divide Jews from the Christian majority, with sections on anti-Semitism.

Provides the reader with a sense of the historical range of Kabbalah, as well as examples of various kinds of approaches, including those of intellectual and social history, history and phenomenology of religions, motif studies, ritual studies, and women's studies. This book discusses mystical motifs, theological ideas and devotional practices.

Offers a collection of teachings and traditions that contains within it the intellectual output of hundreds of Jewish sages who considered all aspects of an entire people's life from the Hellenistic period in Palestine (c 315 BCE) until the end of the Sassanian era in Babylonia (615 CE).

Seeking to move away from the stereotypical views of the Italian Jew in the early modern period as Shylockian usurer or mysterious astrologer, these papers address such topics as Italian Jewish preaching, the Kabbalah, Jewish historiography, messianic expectations, and Jewish ghetto culture.

Zionism, more than any other social and political movement in the modern era, has completely and fundamentally altered the self-image of the Jewish people and its relations with the non- Jewish world. As the dominant expression of Jewish nationalism, Zionism revolutionized the very concept of Jewish peoplehood, taking upon itself the transformation of the Jewish people from a minority into a majority, and from a diaspora community into a territorial one. Bringing together for the first time the work of the most distinguished historians of Zionism and the Yishuv (pre-state Israeli society), many never before translated into English, this volume offers a comprehensive treatment of the history of Zionism. The contributions are diverse, examining such topics as the ideological development of the Jewish nationalist movement, Zionist trends in the Land of Israel, and relations between Jews, Arabs, and the British in Palestine. Contributors include: Jacob Katz, Shmuel Almog, Yosef Salmon, David Vital, Steven J. Zipperstein, Michael Heymann, Jonathan Frankel, George L. Berlin, Israel Oppenheim, Gershon Shaked, Joseph Heller, Hagit Lavsky, and Bernard Wasserstein.