Table of Contents
Introduction Jacob J. Schacter ix
Rabbinic Judaism and General Culture: Normative Discussion and Attitudes Gerald J. Blidstein
Introduction: Setting the Parameters 1
The Study of Nontoraitic Materials 8
Law of the Gentiles: Continuum or Contrast? 31
Of Facts and Values 47
Concluding Comment 65
Judaism and General Culture in Medieval and Early Modern Times David Berger
Prefatory Note 71
The Dynamics of a Dilemma 72
The Islamic Middle East and the Geonim 73
Muslim Spain and Maimonides 87
The Great Struggle: Provence and Northern Spain from the Late Twelfth to the Early Fourteenth Century 104
The Sephardim of the Late Middle Ages 134
Ashkenaz 146
Italian Symbiosis 156
The Scientific Revolution and the Transition to Modern Times 166
Rabbinic Openness to General Culture in the Early Modern Period in Western and Central Europe Shnayer Z. Leiman
Introduction 177
Setting 185
R. Isaac Bernays 205
R. Jacob Ettlinger 216
R. Samson Raphael Hirsch 222
Torah and Derekh Erez: Practice 248
R. Azriel Hildesheimer 254
Afterword 267
Torah and General Culture: Confluence and Conflict Aharon Lichtenstein
Introduction 277
The End of Learning: The Problem in Perspective 279
The Beauty of Japhet: Culture as Supplement 283
Perfumers and Cooks: Culture as Complement 299
For All Is In It: Self-Sufficient Torah 318
Time's Winged Chariot: The Dilemma of Apportionment 326
After Your Own Eyes: The Corruption of Morals 348
Thorns and Thistles: The Corrosion of Faith 353
But With a Whimper: The Chilling of Fervor 366
Looking Before and After: Epilogue 370
Glossary 375
Index 379
Contributors 389
