New titles from The Littman Library of Jewish Civilization for Spring Summer 2024
Jews and the Wine Trade in Medieval Europe by Haym Soloveitchik explores how a talmudic ban on Gentile-touched wine restricted Jewish participation in the lucrative medieval wine trade. Despite later rulings permitting trade with Christians and Muslims, German Jews maintained the prohibition, leading to unintended impacts on Jewish involvement in viticulture and moneylending.
The Jews of Provence and Languedoc by Ram Ben-Shalom offers an exhaustive history of Provençal Jewry, examining their cultural, religious, and economic life over 1,500 years. The book highlights their response to historical events, including the Albigensian Crusade, and their role in translating philosophical and scientific works, sparking cultural innovations like kabbalah and secular Hebrew poetry.
New in Paperback titles:
The Zohar: Reception and Impact by Boaz Huss explores the dynamic history of the Zohar, one of the most revered and influential texts in Jewish culture. Boaz Huss examines how the Zohar’s status and value have fluctuated over centuries, reflecting its readers’ perceptions. This innovative study sheds new light on Jewish cultural history, analyzing both the veneration and criticism of the Zohar and its lasting impact.
Hasidic Commentary on the Torah by Ora Wiskind–Elper delves into the intellectual and spiritual depth of Hasidic Torah commentary. The book explores themes such as creation, revelation, and redemption, connecting them to broader cultural and philosophical contexts. This comprehensive study combines critical scholarship with innovative translations, offering new insights into the enduring relevance of Hasidism in Jewish thought and spirituality.
A Frog Under the Tongue by Marek Tuszewicki explores Jewish contributions to healing practices in Eastern Europe, blending Ashkenazi traditions with medieval and modern medicine. The book uncovers previously unexplored sources, revealing how medicine facilitated cross-cultural interactions and offering new insights into Ashkenazi culture and the history of folk healing.