We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
HASIDEI UMOT HA-OLAM: A REMARKABLE CONCEPT.
- Authors
Rosenthal, Gilbert S.
- Abstract
The author analyzes the ancient rabbinic notion that "the righteous of all peoples have a portion in the age to come," a view that appears in the second century in Eretz Yisrael. He notes that this is one of the most liberal doctrines about salvation in all religions. He observes that Maimonides required righteous non-Jews to abide by the seven Noahide laws, and he altered the term from "righteous" (tzaddikim) to "pious" (hasidim) and he wonders why the change and what is the meaning of this change in terms? He offers a fresh understanding as to why Maimonides altered the text, offering two suggestions: (1) Maimonides prized the quality of hesed (kindness, love) above all other traits; (2) the terrible historical events and calamities of the twelfth century that impacted so severely and deleteriously on the Jewish people impelled him to honor non-Jews who treated Jews benevolently and with hesed with a portion in the age to come. The author sketches the varied expositions of the concept and how it evolved from medieval times to contemporary thinkers and Jewish religious movements, including philosophers and sages in Europe, the Middle East, and America.
- Subjects
RABBINICAL literature; MAIMONIDES, Moses, 1135-1204; NOAHIDE Laws; NOAHIDES; SALVATION; PIETY
- Publication
Journal of Ecumenical Studies, 2013, Vol 48, Issue 4, p467
- ISSN
0022-0558
- Publication type
Essay