Holy war; sanctioned or even commanded by God; is a common and recurring theme in the Hebrew Bible. Rabbinic Judaism; however; largely avoided discussion of holy war in the Talmud and related literatures for the simple reason that it became dangerous and self-destructive. Reuven Firestone's Holy War in Judaism is the first book to consider how the concept of ''holy war'' disappeared from Jewish thought for almost 2000 years; only to reemerge with renewed vigor in modern times.The revival of the holy war idea occurred with the rise of Zionism. As the necessity of organized Jewish engagement in military actions developed; Orthodox Jews faced a dilemma. There was great need for all to engage in combat for the survival of the infant state of Israel; but the Talmudic rabbis had virtually eliminated divine authorization for Jews to fight in Jewish armies. Once the notion of divinely sanctioned warring was revived; it became available to Jews who considered that the historical context justified more aggressive forms of warring. Among some Jews; divinely authorized war became associated not only with defense but also with a renewed kibbush or conquest; a term that became central to the discourse regarding war and peace and the lands conquered by the state of Israel in 1967. By the early 1980's; the rhetoric of holy war had entered the general political discourse of modern Israel. In Holy War in Judaism; Firestone identifies; analyzes; and explains the historical; conceptual; and intellectual processes that revived holy war ideas in modern Judaism.
#746397 in Books 2011-03-04 2011-03-04Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 6.20 x 1.00 x 9.20l; 1.25 #File Name: 0199781559392 pages
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0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Michael Kimmel is a phenomenal researcher and the leading voice ...By Lee EssigMichael Kimmel is a phenomenal researcher and the leading voice on men and masculinities in the United States. He's perspectives are clear; concise; well-articulated; and well-documented. He flawlessly integrates data; statistics; narratives; and personal insights into a various aspects of masculinity.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Anxious; and Struggling; American MenBy BoboKimmel argues well that struggling to fulfill archetypes for American manhood; especially going forward from the early 19th c.; has caused much anxiety in American men; the focus being on white; mostly middle-class; traditionally dominant men. Kimmel takes us through the rise of those men's worries; especially over being dominated by others; whether other men; women; immigrants or minorities; and ways they responded through reasserting control or by escaping.This fascinating cultural history uses everything from fraternal organizations and political tracts; to John Wayne films and Eminem's lyrics to make its argument. It's jargon-free and very accessible for a scholarly work.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Fantastic academic survey of the Hx of Manhood in AmericaBy Nyla JebousekFantastic academic survey of the Hx of Manhood in America. The first 2/3 are tough but worth it as he later shows how theories and schools of thought are rerun during later periods of hx. Crucial to understanding the water we all swim in.
