Gender and Dialogue in the Rabbinic Prism STJ 50 (Studia Judaica: Forschungen Zur Wissenschaft Des Judentums, 50)

The author applies the fields of gender studies, psychoanalysis, and literature to Talmudic texts. In opposition to the perception of Judaism as a legal system, he argues that the Talmud demands inner spiritual effort, to which the trait of humility and the refinement of the ego are central. This leads to the question of the attitude to the Other, in general, and especially to women. The author shows that the Talmud places the woman (who represents humility and good-heartedness in the Talmudic narratives) above the character of the male depicted in these narratives as a scholar with an inflated sense of self-importance. In the last chapter (that in terms of its scope and content could be a freestanding monograph) the author employs the insights that emerged from the preceding chapters to present a new reading of the Creation narrative in the Bible and the Rabbinic commentaries. The divine act of creation is presented as a primal sexual act, a sort of dialogic model of the consummate sanctity that takes its place in man’s spiritual life when the option of opening one’s heart to the other in a male-female dialogue is realized. In Place of an Introduction: On Gender Issues and Their Possible Significance for Understanding the Spiritual World of the Rabbis 9 “Masculinity” and “Femininity” in the Psychosexual Theory of Freud and Nancy Chodorow 9 Lacan’s Interpretation of the Freudian Theory 13 The Drawbacks of the Freudian Approach 15 Sara Ruddick and the Care Experience 18 Between Freud and Buber: Between Psychoanalysis and Dialogue 19 A Note on the Relationship between “I-Thou” and Halakhah and “Law” 26 Phallicism, Humility, and the Tension between “Masculinity” and “Femininity” in the Aggadic Narratives 28 The Chapters of the Book 33 Chapter One. The Woman’s Spiritual Place in the Talmudic Story: A Reading of the Narrative of Mar Ukba and His Wife 37 An Introduction to the Discussion of the Narrative 37 The Text of the Narrative 39 The Reading of the Narrative 42 Why Was Mar Ukba Insulted? 47 The Leitmotiv of the Heel 53 On the Feminine and Masculine Associations in the Narrative 55 Chapter Two. Rabbi Akiva and the Daughter of Ben Kalba Savua: On the Conception of Love in the Spiritual World of the Talmudic Story 64 The Narrative of Akiva and His Mate, according to the Version of Ketubot 62b-63a 64 The Versions of the Narrative 66 The Love of Akiva and His Mate 71 Structure of the Narrative 76 The Waves of Opposition and Their Significance 77 Inner and Outer 85 Stability and Mobility 89 Is This a Romantic Love Story? 91 Against Boyarin’s Political Reading 97 Appendix A: On the Nature of Relationship between Akiva and His Mate in the Later Versions 102 Appendix B: On the Character of Ben Kalba Savua in the Later Versions 110 Appendix C: On the Character of “That Old Man” in the Later Versions 114 Appendix D: On the Conversation with the Women Neighbors in the Later Versions 115 Chapter 3. “Internal Homeland” and “External Homeland”: A Literary and Psychoanalytical Study of the Narrative of R. Assi and His Aged Mother 117 The Complex Relationship between Halakhah and Aggadah, as Background to a Reading of the Narrative 117 The Text of the Narrative 119 A Proposed Psychoanalytical Reading 130 On the Transformation of the Text from the Land of Israel to Babylonia 134 Chapter 4. The Female Breast and the Mouth Opened in Prayer 141 The Narrative of the Intervention by the Mother of R. Ahadboi in the Study Hall Quarrel 141 A Discussion of the Elements of the Narrative 147 Baring One’s Breasts as an Act of Protest 151 Baring One’s Breast as a Spiritual Expression 154 Baring One’s Breasts as an Act of Entreaty 157 Exposing One’s Breasts in the Midrashic Picture: A Gesture of Love and Giving 158 Chapter Five. A Reading of the Creation Narrative: Femininity and Masculinity in the Prism of the Bible and the Midrash 162 The Mythological Background and Gender Aspects 163 In the Beginning God Created 173 Creation Ex Nihilo or Ex Materia? 179 The Midrashic Sources, and Their Relation to the Proposed Dialogic Reading 185 On Building God’s Palace in the Garbage in Gen. Rabbah 187 On the End of the Creation Passage: The Elements of the Sabbath and Sanctity 193 Buber’s Comments on the Creation Passage 200 The Gender Significance of the Moderation in the Biblical Portrayal 202 The Dialogic Significance of the Creation Episode: Love as a Procreative and Creative Force 213 Afterword 222 Bibliography 223 Machine Generated Contents Note: Masculinity And Femininity In The Psychosexual Theory Of Freud And Nancy Chodorow -- Lacan's Interpretation Of The Freudian Theory -- The Drawbacks Of The Freudian Approach -- Sara Ruddick And The Care Experience -- Between Freud And Buber: Between Psychoanalysis And Dialogue -- A Note On The Relationship Between I-thou And Halakhah And Law -- Phallicism, Humility, And The Tension Between Masculinity And Femininity In The Aggadic Narratives -- The Chapters Of The Book -- Ch. One The Woman's Spiritual Place In The Talmudic Story: A Reading Of The Narrative Of Mar Ukba And His Wife -- An Introduction To The Discussion Of The Narrative -- The Text Of The Narrative -- The Reading Of The Narrative -- Why Was Mar Ukba Insulted? -- The Leitmotiv Of The Heel -- On The Feminine And Masculine Associations In The Narrative --^ Ch. Two Rabbi Akiva And The Daughter Of Ben Kalba Savua: On The Conception Of Love In The Spiritual World Of The Talmudic Story -- The Narrative Of Akiva And His Mate, According To The Version Of Ketubot 62b-63a -- The Versions Of The Narrative -- The Love Of Akiva And His Mate -- Structure Of The Narrative -- The Waves Of Opposition And Their Significance -- Inner And Outer -- Stability And Mobility -- Is This A Romantic Love Story? -- Against Boyarin's Political Reading -- Appendix A On The Nature Of Relationship Between Akiva And His Mate In The Later Versions -- Appendix B On The Character Of Ben Kalba Savua In The Later Versions -- Appendix C On The Character Of That Old Man In The Later Versions -- Appendix D On The Conversation With The Women Neighbors In The Later Versions -- Ch. 3 Internal Homeland And External Homeland: A Literary And Psychoanalytical Study Of The Narrative Of R. Assi And His Aged Mother --^ The Complex Relationship Between Halakhah And Aggadah, As Background To A Reading Of The Narrative -- The Text Of The Narrative -- A Proposed Psychoanalytical Reading -- On The Transformation Of The Text From The Land Of Israel To Babylonia -- Ch. 4 The Female Breast And The Mouth Opened In Prayer -- The Narrative Of The Intervention By The Mother Of R. Ahadboi In The Study Hall Quarrel -- A Discussion Of The Elements Of The Narrative -- Baring One's Breasts As An Act Of Protest -- Baring One's Breast As A Spiritual Expression -- Baring One's Breasts As An Act Of Entreaty -- Exposing One's Breasts In The Midrashic Picture: A Gesture Of Love And Giving -- Ch. Five A Reading Of The Creation Narrative: Femininity And Masculinity In The Prism Of The Bible And The Midrash -- The Mythological Background And Gender Aspects -- In The Beginning God Created -- Creation Ex Nihilo Or Ex Materia? -- The Midrashic Sources, And Their Relation To The Proposed Dialogic Reading --^ On Building God's Palace In The Garbage In Gen. Rabbah -- On The End Of The Creation Passage: The Elements Of The Sabbath And Sanctity -- Buber's Comments On The Creation Passage -- The Gender Significance Of The Moderation In The Biblical Portrayal -- The Dialogic Significance Of The Creation Episode: Love As A Procreative And Creative Force. Admiel Kosman. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Nach dem Zweiten Weltkrieg hat Ernst Ludwig Ehrlich (1921-2007) herausragende israelische Gelehrte in englisch- und deutschsprachigen Veroeffentlichungen in Europa und Nordamerika bekannt gemacht. Die zu diesem Zweck von ihm begrundete Reihe Studia Judaica bietet heute ein Forum fur wissenschaftliche Studien und Editionen aus allen Epochen der judischen Religionsgeschichte. Nach dem Zweiten Weltkrieg hat Ernst Ludwig Ehrlich (1921–2007) herausragende israelische Gelehrte in englisch- und deutschsprachigen Veröffentlichungen in Europa und Nordamerika bekannt gemacht. Die zu diesem Zweck von ihm begründete Reihe Studia Judaica bietet heute ein Forum für wissenschaftliche Studien und Editionen aus allen Epochen der jüdischen Religionsgeschichte.