Description
Book SynopsisThis study examines the concept of yetzer hara, or evil inclination. Analyzing the some one hundred and fifty appearances of the yetzer in rabbinic literature, Rosen-Zvi contends that the term should not be read under the traditional rubric of sexual desire, but rather in the context of ancient Jewish demonology.
Trade Review"In addition to comprehensive analysis of the classical rabbinic literature on the evil yetzer, and the changing perceptions of it, Rosen-Zvi traces related developments in early Christian literature, especially within the trajectories of asceticism and monasticism of the Alexandrian tradition" *
Jewish Book World *
"Rosen-Zvi's learned book opens up new vistas for the discussion of Jewish theological anthropology. His careful philological work traces the numerous connections between rabbinic and early Christian conceptions of human nature and sin. Ultimately, Rosen-Zvi emphatically endorses the view that the rabbinic conception of the human person is fundamentally optimistic." *
Jewish Review of Books *
"
Demonic Desires analyzes a crucial element of late antique Jewish religious thought, the concept of the
yetzer hara. Rosen-Zvi aims to correct misplaced assumptions about the yetzer, in terms of both anachronistic readings of the rabbinic tradition and misleading comparisons made between the yetzer and other aspects of late antique religious thought in the Hellenistic world. The book is a valuable contribution to an important area of study." * Columba Stewart, Saint John's School of Theology Seminary *
Table of ContentsIntroduction. The Riddle, or: How Did the Evil Yetzer Become a Mighty King?
Chapter 1. "The Torah Spoke Regarding the Yetzer": Tannaitic Literature
Chapter 2. Yetzer and Other Demons: Patristic Parallels
Chapter 3. Yetzer at Qumran: Proto-Rabbinic?
Chapter 4. Coming of Age: Amoraic Yetzer
Chapter 5. Refuting the Yetzer: The Limits of Rabbinic Discursive Worlds
Chapter 6. Sexualizing the Yetzer
Chapter 7. Weak Like a Female, Strong Like a Male: Yetzer and Gender
Afterword: Toward a Genealogy of the Rabbinic Subject
Notes
Bibliography
Index
