Akedah (the binding and near murder of Isaac)

The Shrewdness of Abraham

by James Wetzel

Originally given as a lecture at the AAR

A reading of the Akedah, Abraham's binding of Isaac, with reference to Abelard, Kiekegaard, Aquinas, and Girard. A reading of the Akedah, Abraham's binding of Isaac, with reference to Abelard, Kiekegaard, Aquinas, and Girard.

Liturgical Poetry in the Late Antique Near East: A Comparative Approach

by Ophir Münz-Manor

Journal of Ancient Judaism 1:3 (2010), pp. 336-361
An English version of the Hebrew article from Pe'amim

The article presents a contemporary view of the study of piyyut, demonstrating that Jewish po- etry of late antiquity... more The article presents a contemporary view of the study of piyyut, demonstrating that Jewish po- etry of late antiquity (in Hebrew and Aramaic) was closely related to Christian liturgical poetry (both Syriac and Greek) and Samaritan liturgy. These relations were expressed primarily by common poetic and prosodic characteristics, derived on the one hand from ancient Semitic poetry (mainly biblical poetry), and on the other from innovations of the period. The significant connections of content between the different genres of poetry reveal the importance of com- parative study. Thus the poetry composed in late antiquity provides additional evidence for the lively cultural dialogue that took place at that time.

‘Three Perspectives on Abraham’s Defense Against Kant’s Charge of Immoral Conduct’

by Stephen Palmquist

The Journal of Religion 89:4 (October 2009), pp.467-497 (co-authored with Philip Rudisill)