Dec 21, 2021 By: yunews
By Marlene Schiffman
Catalog Librarian
Mendel Gottesman Library
On Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2021, Dr. Ari Mermelstein shared insights from his new book, Power and Emotion in Ancient Judaism: Community and Identity in Formation (Cambridge University Press, 2021). Ancient Jewish writers contend that Jewish identity entails not only allegiance to G-d and performance of the commandments, but also acquisition of specific emotional norms. These norms were both shaped by and responses to networks of power鈥擥-d, foreign empires, and other groups of Jews鈥攚hich threatened Jews鈥 sense of agency.
According to these writers, 鈥渆motional communities鈥 that "felt Jewish" would succeed in neutralizing the power wielded over them by others and, depending on the circumstances, restore their power to acculturate, maintain Jewish identity, and achieve redemption.
An important contribution to the history of emotions, this book argues that power relations are the basis for historical changes in emotion discourse.
During the event, Dr. Mermelstein laid out the basics of his book鈥檚 arguments and took questions from the audience.
(Watch the talk on .)
Power and Emotion in Ancient Judaism: Community and Identity in Formation
On Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2021, Dr. Ari Mermelstein shared insights from his new book, Power and Emotion in Ancient Judaism: Community and Identity in Formation (Cambridge University Press, 2021). Ancient Jewish writers contend that Jewish identity entails not only allegiance to G-d and performance of the commandments, but also acquisition of specific emotional norms. These norms were both shaped by and responses to networks of power鈥擥-d, foreign empires, and other groups of Jews鈥攚hich threatened Jews鈥 sense of agency.
According to these writers, 鈥渆motional communities鈥 that "felt Jewish" would succeed in neutralizing the power wielded over them by others and, depending on the circumstances, restore their power to acculturate, maintain Jewish identity, and achieve redemption.
An important contribution to the history of emotions, this book argues that power relations are the basis for historical changes in emotion discourse.
During the event, Dr. Mermelstein laid out the basics of his book鈥檚 arguments and took questions from the audience.
(Watch the talk on .)
