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Interpersonal Relations and Sociability in the Thought of R. Mordeḥai Joseph of Izbica

Publication date: 2024

Studia Religiologica, 2022, Volume 55 Issue 3, pp. 33 - 53

https://doi.org/10.4467/20844077SR.22.014.19993

Authors

Israel Koren
Oranim College of Education
, Israel
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4501-6079 Orcid
All publications →

Titles

Interpersonal Relations and Sociability in the Thought of R. Mordeḥai Joseph of Izbica

Abstract

This article addresses an important, yet to date neglected, issue in R. Mordeḥai Joseph of Izbica’s thought – namely, interpersonal human relations. The subject preoccupied R. Mordeḥai both be-cause “love your neighbour” is a biblical ordinance and because human contact is implicated in the service of God. His homilies demonstrate that, at the same time as being tolerant and inclusive in the spirit of love for the House of Israel, he could also be reserved, ambivalent, and provocative regarding the interpersonal and social sphere. This aspect of his world view and character was rein-forced by his personal circumstances, his perception of human beings as individualistic, under the influence of Przysucha and Kotzker, and a competitive environment. His concept of interpersonal relations should thus be understood as a counterbalance to the prevalent social tendency within Ḥasidism, that holds that close human relations are bound up with intimacy with God.

References

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Information

Information: Studia Religiologica, 2022, Volume 55 Issue 3, pp. 33 - 53

Article type: Original article

Titles:

English: Interpersonal Relations and Sociability in the Thought of R. Mordeḥai Joseph of Izbica

Authors

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4501-6079

Israel Koren
Oranim College of Education
, Israel
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4501-6079 Orcid
All publications →

Oranim College of Education
Israel

Published at: 2024

Article status: Open

Licence: CC BY  licence icon

Percentage share of authors:

Israel Koren (Author) - 100%

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Publication languages:

English