Dialogues in Judaic Studies

Lindsey Davidson, *Scribal Culture in Ben Sira*. Leiden: Brill, 2018.

This monograph explores the concept of scribal culture as a lens for analyzing the characteristics of textual referencing in the Book of Ben Sira (c.198-175 BCE), offering fresh perspectives on how Ben Sira crafted his wisdom literature. While the term "scribe" is frequently attributed to Ben Sira, this label brings with it certain interpretive difficulties. By employing comparative analysis, this study situates the sage’s writing style within various historical, literary, and socio-cultural contexts. It illuminates aspects of Ben Sira’s text and the early Jewish practice of textual reuse. Utilizing both physical and material evidence related to reading and writing, this book uncovers the skill and intricacy involved in Ben Sira’s ongoing textual reuse. Consequently, Ben Sira’s work exemplifies outstanding writing that resonates with an appreciative audience.

Ari Ackerman, *Hasdai Crescas on Codification, Cosmology and Creation: The Infinite God and the Expanding Torah*. Leiden: Brill, 2022.

This study investigates the understanding of God as presented by the medieval Jewish philosopher and legal scholar, Hasdai Crescas (1340-1410/11). It illustrates that Crescas perceives God as infinitely creative and benevolent, while also examining the implicit comparison he makes between God as both creator and legislator. This comparison is based on his belief in the Deity's ongoing engagement in generative processes, characterized by the continuous flow of goodness and love, which is expressed through multiple, simultaneous, and successive worlds, as well as an ever-expanding Torah. Additionally, the work considers the Maimonidean context for Crescas' views and posits that Crescas is responding to Maimonides' assertion that creation occurs only at a single moment, along with Maimonides' idea of the Torah as perfect and unchanging.

Aubrey Buster, *Remembering the Story of Israel: Historical Summaries and Memory Formation in Second Temple Judaism*. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2022.

In this book, Aubrey Buster reveals how techniques taken from cultural and social memory studies, along with the new formalism, can illuminate the communal importance of biblical and extra-biblical historical summaries during the Second Temple period. By refining models inspired by memory studies, Buster applies them to ancient texts, showcasing the development of Judah's narrative about their history throughout the Second Temple era. Buster's thorough research uncovers how and where the historical summary plays a role in the book of Psalms, Nehemiah, 1 and 2 Chronicles, as well as in the Qumran Psalms Scrolls, Words of the Luminaries, Paraphrase of Genesis and Exodus, and Pseudo-Daniel. Buster demonstrates that the historical summary functions as a generative, replicable, and ultimately fruitful form of memory. By transcending genre boundaries and time frames, liturgical performances, and literary works, these historical summaries created a highly selective yet broadly applicable means of commemorating significant events from Israel's history.

Katell Berthelot, *Jews and Their Roman Rivals: Pagan Rome's Challenge to Israel*. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2021.

Throughout their history, Jews have been under the sway of various imperial powers, from Assyria and Babylonia to Persia and the Hellenistic kingdoms. This monograph illustrates how the Roman Empire posed a unique challenge to Jewish intellectuals like Philo, Josephus, and the Palestinian rabbis, who both resisted and assimilated Roman ideals and imperial ideology. Katell Berthelot investigates how, well before the empire adopted Christianity, Jews began to view Israel and Rome as adversaries vying for dominance. Each side regarded its laws as the most flawless ever composed, and both believed themselves to be a devout people tasked with a divine mission to establish order and peace in the world. Berthelot argues that the rabbinic association of Rome with Esau, the twin brother of Israel, mirrored this competitive spirit. She examines how this challenge reshaped ancient Jewish perspectives on military strength and the application of force, legal authority, and inclusion within the community of Israel. Berthelot posits that Jewish thinkers sometimes emulated Roman practices while at other times proposing alternative frameworks. Offering fresh insights into Jewish thought during antiquity, this monograph uncovers how Jewish interactions with pagan Rome led to significant developments in the understanding of the Torah and the process of conversion to Judaism.

Rinat Harash, *Apollo, Dionysus and the Ubermensch at Sinai: An Attempt at a Nietzschean Analysis*. Boston: Academic Studies Press, 2026.

The biblical narrative surrounding Sinai and Moses is pivotal to Jewish and Western culture; however, it has often been regarded only from a religious perspective. In this study, Dr. Rinat Harash offers an insightful interpretation, utilizing Nietzsche’s concepts of the Apollonian, the Dionysian, and the Übermensch in the context of the revelation at Mount Sinai, the Golden Calf incident, the building of the Tabernacle, and the esteemed figure of Moses. Her research sheds light on both the core Jewish myth and Nietzsche’s philosophical ideas, creating a unique blend that connects religion and art, merging the two opposing forces that are key to Western civilization—Jerusalem and Athens. To learn more about Dr. Harash's educational initiative to help young adults learn from Friedrich Nietzsche's teachings, *Strong from Within*, please see the following webpage:  Link: https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/StrongFromWithinShop?ref=profile_header [https://deref-mail.com/mail/client/sEg6hkSILNg/dereferrer/?redirectUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.etsy.com%2Fuk%2Fshop%2FStrongFromWithinShop%3Fref%3Dprofile_header] The book may be purchased at the following website:  Link: https://www.academicstudiespress.com/9798897831036/ [https://deref-mail.com/mail/client/Zm_3PG9APs8/dereferrer/?redirectUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.academicstudiespress.com%2F9798897831036%2F]