JWST 382 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Modern Orthodox Judaism, Tosefta, Mishnah
Document Summary
Mishna slightly elevated over tosefta, tho tosefta is undeniably important 2 jewish law. Cynical reading--jews only want peace/treat non-jews well in order to protect own jewish community, not in pursuit of greater peace. More generous reading--a general desire for all people to have peace, a broader social peace. Yes--small-l liberalism seems to develop out of jewish values. But doesn"t necessarily point to a method/public--in theory--looking @ empirical evidence can lead to diff conclusion. Some of saperstein"s bottom lines are better fulfilled thru left wing policies. Talks a lot abt working relationships btwn christian/jewish groups. Somewhat product of the time it was written in--does not include jewish relationships w muslims, hindus. Changing religious landscape has turned judeo-christian from inclusive (of jews) term to exclusive term (to muslims) Jewish sources hav been used to justify private political conservatism. But sapperstein thinks those views should be kept out of politics.