Defending Judaism : Jewish writing and religious toleration in early modern Europe / David H. Price.

Author/creator Price, David, 1957- author.
Format Book
PublicationNew York, NY : Oxford University Press, [2025]
Copyright Date©2025
Descriptionxi, 308 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm
Subjects
Judaism--Relations. --Christianity. --History. --17th century.
Christianity and other religions--Judaism. --History. --17th century.
Jewish learning and scholarship--Europe. --History. --17th century.
Religious tolerance--Europe. --History. --17th century.
Judaism--Relations. --Christianity. --History. --18th century.
Christianity and other religions--Judaism. --History. --18th century.
Jewish learning and scholarship--Europe. --History. --18th century.
Religious tolerance--Europe. --History. --18th century.

Portion of title Jewish writing and religious toleration in early modern Europe
Contents Introduction : listening to Jewish voices ... and amplifying them -- Better known among Christians -- Leon Modena and the discourse of Judaism -- A Jewish intellectual for a Christian public -- Validating Jewish sources : the new historiography of Judaism -- Looking at contemporary Judaism -- The Jewish philosopher -- What is Judaism? Moses Mendelssohn's religion of toleration -- A concluding note
Abstract "Defending Judaism: Jewish Writing and Religious Toleration in Early Modern Europe explores the decisive contributions of Jewish writers to the expansion of religious toleration during the period 1600-1789. A key breakthrough for this development was the emergence of charismatic Jewish scholars who galvanized Christian audiences, garnering sufficiently broad recognition as trusted authorities that they were able to improve public perceptions of Judaism and, in some cases, motivate liberalization of governmental policies. They were Jewish experts whom Christians judged worthy of cultivating and whose writings became central elements in the larger Christian discourse on Judaism and toleration. Educated Christians not only listened to these Jewish voices but also began to amplify their perspectives. The resulting harmony, audible in a new collaborative Christian-Jewish discourse, had a significant impact on the expansion of religious toleration and ultimately on the emancipation of Jews initiated in the French Revolution. The book describes how successful Jewish writers from Leon Modena to Moses Mendelssohn wrote works addressed to Gentile readers and fostered new understandings of the integrity of Judaism and the value of religious toleration"-- Publisher, page 4 of cover.
Bibliography noteIncludes bibliographical references (pages 283-295) and index.
Issued in other formOnline version http://id.loc.gov/entities/relationships/onlineversion Price, David, 1957- Defending Judaism 1 New York, NY, United States of America : Oxford University Press, [2025] 9780197814864
LCCN 2025028919
ISBN9780197814833
ISBN0197814832 (hardback)
ISBN(epub)

Availability

Library Location Call Number Status Item Actions
Joyner Order on Demand Title Order On Demand ✔ Available Click to order this title