85521 - JEWISH CULTURE IN THE MODERN PERIOD

Conoscenze e abilità da conseguire

The course aims, by studying specific historical moments as indicated in the syllabus and in the bibliography, at offering an essential knowledge on Jewish modern and contemporary history, with peculiar reference to Jewish emancipation, the persecution of the Jews in the 20th century, to the establishment of the State of Israel and the problems connected with the permanent re-definition of Jewish identity between religion, culture and statehood. As an ideal outcome, the student will dispose of the necessary comptence for discerning the peculiarity of Jewish experience in the modern and contemporary world; will be able to pursue specific research interests in the field; will be able to define with methodological rigour and with a critical attitude the Jewish contribution to the wake and the crisis of modernity; he will have at his disposal analytic instruments for examining the conflictual dynamics and the possible paths of convergence and dialogue between different religious and secular cultures on the contemporary world stage.

Contenuti

The course deals with Jewish magical, mystical and kabbalistic trends between the middle ages and modern times. It will introduce the students to the cultural, social and religious contexts in which these traditions originated and spread. By analyzing texts, written documents as well as direct sources, the links between magic and Kabbalah, medicine and astrology, and the interactions with the rabbinic thoughts, will be highlighted and investigated. A special focus will be put on the role, activities and practices of wise men, kabbalists and charismatic personalities engaged in these disciplines (Moshe de Leon, Avraham Abulafia, Yiṣḥaq Luria, Shabbetai Ṣvi among others), regarded as central figures in the development of the kabbalistic phenomenon. Two specific points will connect the different issues raised during the classes: 1. The relationship between macrocosm and microcosm; 2. The practice of ecstatic, theurgic and talismanic techniques employed in order to establish and enhance the correspondence between the human body and the divine figure (from the permutation of the letters of the divine name, to the manufacture of amulets, of golems, and up to the diagrammatic representations of the primordial Adam in kabbalistic trees and scrolls).

Testi/Bibliografia

Students who attend the classes should read items 1 to 3, to which they should add either 4a or 4b:

1. - Gershom Scholem, Major Trends in Jewish Mysticism, Schocken, New York, 2011 [1941], second-ninth lecture, pp. 40-350, (ed. It., Le grandi correnti della mistica ebraica, Einaudi, Torino 2008, capitoli 2-9).

2. - Moshe Idel, Kabbalah. New Perspectives, Yale University Press 1988, sections 3-8, pp. 35-199 (ed. It. Cabbalà. Nuove Prospettive, Adelphi, Milano 1996, pp. 99-339).

3.- Gershom Scholem, On the Mystical Shape of the God Head, Schocken, New York, 1991 [1977], chapters 1-6, pp. 15-274 (ed. it., La Figura Mistica della divinità. Studi sui concetti fondamentali della Qabbalah, a cura di Saverio Campanini, Adelphi, Milano 2010, pp. 11-244).

4a. - Emma Abate, «Three Scroll Amulets (Apotropaic Rotuli) from the Parisian Collections: Bodily Imaginaire and Ritual Healing», in E. Abate, J. Isserles (ed.), From Cairo to Amsterdam: Hebrew Scrolls from the 11th to the 18th Centuries, Henoch 43/1 (2021), pp. 197-228.

4b. - J.H. Chajes, «The Kabbalistic Tree as a Material Text», in E. Abate, J. Isserles (ed.), From Cairo to Amsterdam: Hebrew Scrolls from the 11th to the 18th Centuries, Henoch 43/1 (2021), pp. 162-196.

Students who cannot attend the classes will add to the aforementioned texts the studying of the selected chapters from the works below (items 5 and 6):

5. - David Ruderman, Kabbalah, Magic and Science: The Cultural Universe of a Sixteenth-Century Jewish Physician, Harvard 1988:

Introduction

The Ordeals and Rewards of Living: A Biographical Portrait of Abraham ben Hananiah Yagel

The Art of Healing

Demonology and Disease

6. - J. H. Chajes, Between Worlds. Dybbuks, Exorcists, and Early Modern Judaism, University of Pennsylvania Press, Philadelphia 2003 (ed. It., Posseduti ed esorcisti nel mondo ebraico, Giuntina, Firenze, 2010.

Introduction

The Emergence of Dybbuk Possession

The Dead and the Possessed

The Task of the Exorcist

Metodi didattici

30 hours, both lecture and seminar classes. The students will be invited to take part in the discussion

Modalità di verifica e valutazione dell'apprendimento

For students attending the classes: The interview will allow to evaluate the student's ability to talk through the topics discussed in classes and scheduled in the program. The participation of the student in the scientific discussions during the classes as well as in seminars is considered an element of evaluation.

For students who do not attend the classes: The interview will allow to evaluate the student's ability to talk through the topics scheduled in the program for students who cannot attend the classes.

For all students: The ability of the student to achieve a coherent and comprehensive understanding of the topics addressed by the course, to critically assess them and to use an appropriate language will be evaluated with the highest grades (A = 27-30 con lode).

A predominantly mnemonic acquisition of the course's contents together with gaps and deficiencies in terms of language, critical and/or logical skills will result in grades ranging from good (B = 24-26) to satisfactory (C = 21-23).

A low level of knowledge of the course’s contents together with gaps and deficiencies in terms of language, critical and/or logical skills will be considered as ‘barely passing' (D = 18-20) or result in a fail grading (F).

Strumenti a supporto della didattica

Further readings and materials will be distributed during the course and in "Virtuale".

Student who cannot attend the classes are invited to get in contact with me in order to fix the date of the oral exam.

Students with a form of disability or specific learning disabilities (DSA) who are requesting academic adjustments or compensatory tools are invited to communicate their needs to the teaching staff in order to properly address them and agree on the appropriate measures with the competent bodies.

Orario di ricevimento

Consulta il sito web di Emma Abate