Judaism and its Social Metaphors Israel in the History of Jewish Thought [Hardcover]

Jacob Neusner examines the crucial role of the definition of Israel in the history of Judaic thought.Jacob Neusner examines the crucial role of the definition of Israel in the history of Judaic thought. The history of the definition of Israel is revealed as the reflection of the history of Judaism itself. This is a bold and original interpretation of the way in which Jews, as well as other peoples, define themselves.Jacob Neusner examines the crucial role of the definition of Israel in the history of Judaic thought. The history of the definition of Israel is revealed as the reflection of the history of Judaism itself. This is a bold and original interpretation of the way in which Jews, as well as other peoples, define themselves.The current crisis in Palestine is only the most recent manifestation of Israel's historical significance to the Jewish people. Jacob Neusner examines the crucial role of the definition of Israel in the history of Judaic thought. He argues that Judaic sages have constructed various metaphoric images of Israel--as family, as chosen people, as a nation--in order to express changing theological concerns as the religion evolved. The history of the definition of Israel is revealed as the reflection of the history of Judaism itself. This is a bold and original interpretation of the way in which Jews, as well as other peoples, define themselves.Preface; List of abbreviations; Introduction; 1. Imagining society, re-visioning 'Israel'; Part I. 'Israel' in the First Statement of Judaism, 70300 CE: 2. 'Israel' in relationship to heaven; 3. 'Israel' in relationship to 'non-Israel'; 4. 'Israel' in the Mishnah, the Tosefta, and Tractate Abot: a probe; 5. The first phase of the Judaism of the dual Torah and its social metaphors; Part II. 'Israel' in the Second Statement of Judaism, 300600 CE: 6. 'Israel' on its own terms; 7. 'Israel' as family; 8. 'Israel' as family and also singular nation; 9. 'Israel' as sui generis; 10. The second phase of the JudlÃ'