Humanity Divided: Martin Buber and the Challenges of Being Chosen

Manuel Duarte de Oliveira

Published by De Gruyter 2021

Humanity Divided

Martin Buber and the Challenges of Being Chosen

Manuel Duarte de Oliveira

Volume 116 in the series Studia Judaica

https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110741087

Overview
Contents

About this book

With exacting scholarship and fecund analysis, Manuel Oliveira probes through the lens of Martin Buber (1878-1965) the theological and political ambiguities of Israel’s divine election. These ambiguities became especially pronounced with the emergence of Zionism. Wary, indeed, alarmed by the tendency of some of his fellow Zionists to conflate divine chosenness with nationalism, Buber sought to secure the theological significance of election by both steering Zionism from hypertrophic nationalism and by a sustained program to revalorize what he called alternately “Hebrew Humanism.”

As Oliveira demonstrates, Buber viewed the idea of election teleologically, espousing a universal mission of Israel, which effectively calls upon Zionism to align its political and cultural project to universal objectives. Thus, in addressing a Zionist congress, he rhetorically asked, “What then is this spirit of Israel of which you are speaking? It is the spirit of fulfillment. Fulfillment of what? Fulfillment of the simple truth that man has been created for a purpose (...) Our purpose is the upbuilding of peace (...) And that is its spirit, the spirit of Israel (...) the people of Israel was charged to lead the way to righteousness and justice.”

Author / Editor information

Manuel D. Oliveira, Orinda, CA, USA.

Topics

Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	I
Contents Publicly Available Download PDF	VII
Acknowledgements Publicly Available Download PDF	XI
Foreword Paul Mendes-Flohr Publicly Available Download PDF	XIII
Preface Publicly Available Download PDF	XV
Introduction Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	1
PART ONE – Rabbinic and Biblical Background
1 From Divine Election to Self-Deification Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	15
2 Biblical Background: ‘Particularism’ vs. ‘Universalism,’ or Exemplary Uniqueness? Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	95
3 Revelation to Moses at Sinai: Exodus 3 Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	115
4 Israel at Sinai Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	169
5 The Book of Deuteronomy Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	200
PART TWO – The Modern Period
6 Foundations of a Völkisch Movement Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	221
7 Passion for Land and Volk: The Threat of Neo-Romanticism Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	250
8 Ecclesia Triumphans and the Silent Servant Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	306
9 The Jewish Task in World History Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	375
10 Towards the End: A Center Without a Center Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	447
Epilogue Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	475
Bibliography Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	476
Index Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	512

(Deutsch)

Language: English
Publisher: De Gruyter
Audience: Jewish Thought, Philosophy, Theology, Biblical Studies, Critical Theory, Middle Eastern and Religious Studies.
Pages
- Front matter: 26
- Main content: 558
Illustrations
- Illustrations: 2
Keywords: Martin Buber; Messianism; Choseness; Zionism

eBook

Published: September 20, 2021
ISBN: 9783110741087

Hardcover

Published: September 20, 2021
ISBN: 9783110740745