The Poetics of Talmudic Esotericism

This paper analyzes the metaphoric systems of Hagigah and Moed Qatan. We suggest that the notions of pleroma and kenosis , generally associated with Christian theology or Gnosticism, are the leitmotiv of Hagigah. God loves the emptiness of Israel. On the other hand, the emptiness prevents Israel from completing the eschatological pilgrimage. This pilgrimage (the Way) is the topic of Moed Qatan as well. The meeting of God and Israel ( moed ) is understood in two different ways. Either preparing the way for God is most important, or preparing the way for Israel is. While the New Testament favors the first understanding, the Talmud focuses on the second

Art · Biblical studies · Dualism · Early Christianity · Emptiness · Epistemology · Gnosticism · History of religions · Jewish studies · Judaism · Linguistics · Literature · New Testament · Pilgrimage · Poetics · Poetry · Talmud · Theology · Archaeology and Historical Studies · Biblical Studies and Interpretation · Medieval and Classical Philosophy · Philosophy · Religious studies