This book unlocks the Jewish theology of YHWH in three central stages of Jewish thought: the Hebrew bible, rabbinic literature, and medieval philosophy and mysticism. Providing a single conceptual key adapted from the philosophical debate on proper names, the book paints a dynamic picture of YHWHs meanings over a spectrum of periods and genres, portraying an evolving interaction between two theological motivations: the wish to speak about God and the wish to speak to Him. Through this investigation, the book shows how Jews interpreted God's name in attempt to map the human-God relation, and to determine the measure of possibility for believers to realize a divine presence in their midst, through language.
Chapter 1: Introduction.- Chapter 2: Compassionate Presence: Hwh And The Measure Of Mercy.- Chapter 3: Omnipresence: Invoking The Divine Name Yhwh In Rabbinic Blessing.- Chapter 4: Personal And Non-Personal Divine Presence: The Name Yhwh In The Thought Of R. Abraham Ibn Ezra And R. Judah Halevi.- Chapter 5: Silence Is Praise To Thee : The Name Yhwh In The Negative Theology Of Medieval Judaism.- Chapter 6: A Dynamic Linguistic Picture - The Name Yhwh In Sefer Ha-Bahir And In Early Provencal And Geronese Kabbalah.
Hillel Ben-Sasson is a scholar of Jewish theology and political philosophy. His academic appointments include positions in Israel, Germany, and the United States.
This book unlocks the Jewish theology of YHWH in three central stages of Jewish thought: the Hebrew bible, rabbinic literature, and medieval philosophy and mysticism. Providing a single conceptual lc9
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