Edited by: Adam S. Ferziger
This volume is dedicated to Daniel Sperber, the world-renowned, Israel Prize-winning Jewish studies scholar, rabbinic authority, and mentor to many in Bar-Ilan University and beyond. It illustrates some of his frequently trodden and diverse paths. The editorial board members and writers are colleagues from Israel and abroad, former students, fellow scholars, as well as family members—all who have studied his work intensively, and deeply admire Sperber both for his wisdom and exceptional ethical and interpersonal example. The book itself is divided into four main topics: Talmud and realia, Halakhah and custom, history and thought, and Jewish art. While all of the articles are scientifically sound and have undergone double-blind evaluation by noted authorities in their respective fields, the topics chosen and some of the discussions themselves are not only scholarly endeavors, but also reflect and engage Sperber’s public activism. Among the topics that receive attention in multiple articles are the following: Jerusalem and the Land of Israel in ancient and modern times, synthesis between Jewish and secular learning in ancient and modern times, Greek and Latin and rabbinic sources, the status of women in Jewish religious life in medieval and modern times, prayer and synagogue, and change and evolution in Jewish law and custom. The section on Jewish art is more eclectic, although here too one of the common themes is the contribution of visual art to understanding the history of Jewish customs and theological concepts.