Jewish identity in early rabbinic writings
By: by Sacha Stern.
Series: Arbeiten zur Geschichte des antiken Judentums und des Urchristentums,; [Bd.] 23
Publisher: Brill
Published: 1994
Place of publication: Leiden; New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 269
Subjects: Jews in rabbinical literature.; Jews -- Identity.; Gentiles in rabbinical literature.; Rabbinical literature -- History and criticism.; Judaism -- Relations.
Description: Jewish Identity in Early Rabbinic Writings is more than a question of legal status: it is the experience of being Jewish or of 'Jewishness' in all its social and cultural dimensions. This work describes this experience as it emerges in Talmudic and Midrashic sources.

Besides the question of 'who is a Jew?', topics include the contrast between Israel and the non-Jews, the physical embodiment of Jewish identity, the 'boundaries' of Israel and resistance to assimilation. Jewish identity, it is argued, hinges essentially on the Divine commandments (mitzvot) and on Israel's perceived proximity with the Divine.

Drawing on a variety of disciplines, including the theories of William James and Merleau-Ponty, this study raises important issues in anthropology, as well as accounting for central aspects of early rabbinic Judaism.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. [260]-266) and index.
Rev. version of the author's thesis (D.Phil.)--Jews' College.