Faith on the Altar: Abraham’s Near-Sacrafice of Isaac in Jewish Thought
07 Nov 2011
The intensely troubling story of Abraham’s near-sacrifice of Isaac has been central in Jewish thought and biblical interpretation. Jewish thinkers in ancient, medieval and modern times have used this story to think about questions like the meaning and purpose of sacrifice, the nature of Divine mercy, and even to call into question God’s justice. This lecture will show how midrashic and medieval interpretation made this story a Jewish one, deeply connected to Jewish ritual, practice, history and
hope.