The Shabbat elevator and other Sabbath subterfuges : an unorthodox essay on circumventing custom and Jewish character / Alan Dundes.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Dundes, Alan.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Sabbath (Jewish law).

Prohibited work (Jewish law).

Jews--Psychology.

Jews.

Judaism and psychoanalysis.

Physical Description:

xiii, 201 pages ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Lanham, Md. : Rowman & Littlefield, [2002]

Summary:

This book focuses on the topic of 'circumventing custom' with special emphasis on the ingenious ways Orthodox (and other) Jews have devised to avoid breaking the extensive list of activities forbidden on the Sabbath. After examining the sources of Sabbath observance as set forth in the Old Testament, the New Testament, and rabbinical writings, some of the most salient forms of circumvention are described. Then drawing on Freud's insights as to the obsessive nature of religious ritual and his persuasive delineation of anal erotic character, an attempt is made to analyze such facets of Jewish character (in addition to circumvention) as an undue concern with purity, and a long-established tradition of indulging in nit-picking and argumentation.

Contents:

The Concept of Custom 1

The Sabbath in the Old Testament 4

The Sabbath in the New Testament 19

The Sabbath in Rabbinical Tradition 26

The Shabbat Elevator 31

The Light in the Refrigerator 37

The Eruv as Symbolic Space 45

Other Sabbath Customs 51

The Shabbes Goy 62

Circumvention and Jewish Mentality 75

Obsession and Religion According to Freud 88

Anal Erotic Character 96

Self-Imposed Repression 138

The Love of Argument 146.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 175-193) and index.

ISBN:

0742516709

0742516717

OCLC:

47364108