DEATH IN JEWISH LIFE by Stefan C. Reif (Editor), Andreas Lehnardt (Editor), Avriel Bar-Levav (Editor) ( 9783110552164 )

Item Details

Title:

DEATH IN JEWISH LIFE
BURIAL AND MOURNING CUSTOMS AMONG JEWS OF EUROPE AND NEARBY COMMUNITIES

By:

Stefan C. Reif (Editor), Andreas Lehnardt (Editor), Avriel Bar-Levav (Editor)

Format:

Paperback

List price:	£22.50
We currently do not stock this item, please contact the publisher directly for further information.

ISBN 10:

3110552167

ISBN 13:

9783110552164

Publisher:

DE GRUYTER

Pub. date:

26 June, 2017

Series:

Rethinking Diaspora 1

Description:

The series focuses on the evolution of Jewish language, literature, communal life and religious ideology outside of the Land of Israel and in relation to it. The approach is inter-disciplinary with an emphasis on mutual influences between Jews and their non-Jewish environment. The series welcomes studies that span different periods and a variety of geographical areas.

Synopsis:

Jewish customs and traditions about death, burial and mourning are numerous, diverse and intriguing. They are considered by many to have a respectable pedigree that goes back to the earliest rabbinic period. In order to examine the accurate historical origins of many of them, an international conference was held at Tel Aviv University in 2010 and experts dealt with many aspects of the topic. This volume includes most of the papers given then, as well as a few added later. What emerges are a wealth of fresh material and perspectives, as well as the realization that the high Middle Ages saw a set of exceptional innovations, some of which later became central to traditional Judaism while others were gradually abandoned. Were these innovations influenced by Christian practice? Which prayers and poems reflect these innovations? What do the sources tell us about changing attitudes to death and life-after death? Are tombstones an important guide to historical developments? Answers to these questions are to be found in this unusual, illuminating and readable collection of essays that have been well documented, carefully edited and well indexed.

US Grade:

College Graduate Student

Publication:

Germany

Imprint:

De Gruyter

Returns:

Non-returnable

Some other items by this author:

A JEWISH ARCHIVE FROM OLD CAIRO