The Concept of ›Ruach Ra‘ah‹ in Contemporary Rabbinic Responsa (1945–2000): Possible Relations between Knowledge of the Physical World and Traditional Knowledge in Rabbinic Judaism

Leon Mock; Brian  Heffernan.

doi:10.1515/9783110699883

The Concept of ›Ruach Ra‘ah‹ in Contemporary Rabbinic Responsa (1945–2000): Possible Relations between Knowledge of the Physical World and Traditional Knowledge in Rabbinic Judaism

Leon Mock, Brian Heffernan. (Translator)

Research output: Book/Report › Book › Scientific

Abstract

This study focuses on the responsa (Question and Answer) literature after the Second World War until the present. The notion of the Ruach Ra'ah ('evil spirit') is strongly connected to the ritual of washing the hands in the morning after rising, washing hands after a meal, in connection with sexual relations, touching parts of the body that are usually covered, washing hands after using a toilet, shaving hair on the head, nail clippings and visiting a graveyard. The washing of hands is supposed to be necessary to ward off the bad influences of the Evil Spirit. This ritual handwashing can be understood best in between mysticism, gender studies, magic and embodied religion.

Original language	English
Place of Publication	Berlin
Publisher	Walter de Gruyter
Number of pages	402
Edition	1
ISBN (Electronic)	9783110699883
ISBN (Print)	9783110699784
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110699883
Publication status	Published - Oct 2021

Publication series

Name	Studia Judaica: Forschungen zur Wissenschaft des Judentums
Publisher	The Gruyter
Volume	112

Keywords

General Jewish History Jewish History Jewish Life Jewish Studies Jewish Studies Judaism Modern Times Modern Times Theology and Religion Kabbalah Magic Religious Antropology

Access to Document

10.1515/9783110699883

Cite this

Mock, L., & Heffernan., B., (TRANS.) (2021). The Concept of ›Ruach Ra‘ah‹ in Contemporary Rabbinic Responsa (1945–2000): Possible Relations between Knowledge of the Physical World and Traditional Knowledge in Rabbinic Judaism. (1 ed.) (Studia Judaica: Forschungen zur Wissenschaft des Judentums; Vol. 112). Walter de Gruyter. https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110699883

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title = "The Concept of ›Ruach Ra{\textquoteleft}ah‹ in Contemporary Rabbinic Responsa (1945–2000): Possible Relations between Knowledge of the Physical World and Traditional Knowledge in Rabbinic Judaism",

abstract = "This study focuses on the responsa (Question and Answer) literature after the Second World War until the present. The notion of the Ruach Ra'ah ('evil spirit') is strongly connected to the ritual of washing the hands in the morning after rising, washing hands after a meal, in connection with sexual relations, touching parts of the body that are usually covered, washing hands after using a toilet, shaving hair on the head, nail clippings and visiting a graveyard. The washing of hands is supposed to be necessary to ward off the bad influences of the Evil Spirit. This ritual handwashing can be understood best in between mysticism, gender studies, magic and embodied religion. ",

keywords = "General Jewish History Jewish History Jewish Life Jewish Studies Jewish Studies Judaism Modern Times Modern Times Theology and Religion Kabbalah Magic Religious Antropology",

author = "Leon Mock and Brian Heffernan.",

year = "2021",

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doi = "10.1515/9783110699883",

language = "English",

isbn = "9783110699784",

series = "Studia Judaica: Forschungen zur Wissenschaft des Judentums",

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Mock, L 2021, The Concept of ›Ruach Ra‘ah‹ in Contemporary Rabbinic Responsa (1945–2000): Possible Relations between Knowledge of the Physical World and Traditional Knowledge in Rabbinic Judaism. translated by Brian Heffernan., Studia Judaica: Forschungen zur Wissenschaft des Judentums, vol. 112, 1 edn, Walter de Gruyter, Berlin. https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110699883

The Concept of ›Ruach Ra‘ah‹ in Contemporary Rabbinic Responsa (1945–2000): Possible Relations between Knowledge of the Physical World and Traditional Knowledge in Rabbinic Judaism. / Mock, Leon; Heffernan., Brian (Translator).
1 ed. Berlin: Walter de Gruyter, 2021. 402 p. (Studia Judaica: Forschungen zur Wissenschaft des Judentums; Vol. 112).

Research output: Book/Report › Book › Scientific

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The Concept of ›Ruach Ra‘ah‹ in Contemporary Rabbinic Responsa (1945–2000): Possible Relations between Knowledge of the Physical World and Traditional Knowledge in Rabbinic Judaism

Abstract

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Keywords

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