The Intellectual History and Rabbinic Culture of Medieval Ashkenaz

Description

In The Intellectual History and Rabbinic Culture of Medieval Ashkenaz, author Ephraim Kanarfogel challenges the dominant perception that medieval Ashkenazic rabbinic scholarship was lacking in intellectualism or broad scholarly interests. While cultural interaction between Jews and Christians in western Europe was less than that of Sephardic Jews, Kanarfogel's study shows that the intellectual interests of Ashkenazic rabbinic figures were much broader than Talmudic studies alone. Kanarfogel begins by highlighting several factors that have contributed to relatively narrow perceptions of Ashkenazic rabbinic culture and argues that the Tosafists, and Ashkenazic rabbinic scholarship more generally, advocated a wide definition of the truths that could be discovered through Torah study. He explores differences in talmudic and halakhic studies between the Tosafist centers of northern France and Germany, delves into aspects of biblical interpretation in each region, and identifies important Tosafists and rabbinic figures. Kanarfogel also examines the composition of liturgical poetry (piyyut) by Tosafists, interest in forms of (white) magic and mysticism on the part of a number of northern French Tosafists, and a spectrum of views on the question of anthropomorphism and messianism. Overall, Kanarfogel demonstrates that the approach taken by Tosafists was broader, more open, and more multi-disciplinary than previously considered. Medieval and Jewish history scholars will appreciate Kanarfogel's volume, which is the culmination of several decades of research on the subject. Cover Title Page Copyright Contents Preface Acknowledgments List of Abbreviations Introduction: Regnant Perceptions and Empirical Evidence 1. Talmudic and Halakhic Studies: Internal Organization and Societal Models 2. Tosafist Biblical Exegesis in Northern France at the End of the Twelfth Century: Between Peshat and Derash 3. The Contours of Biblical Interpretation during the Early Thirteenth Century 4. Interpretations for a Varied Audience through the Thirteenth Century 5. Genres and Strategies of Piyyut Composition among the Tosafists 6. Magic and Mysticism in Tosafist Literature and Thought 7. Tosafist Approaches to Matters of Belief and the Implications for Popular Culture Conclusion: Ashkenazic Rabbinic Culture in Its Plenitude Index of Manuscript References Subject Index