Elijah Audio Lectures

Types of Jewish Holy People: An Historical Phenomenological Overview

Alon Goshen-Gottstein

This lecture provides an introduction to the place of the holy person in Judaism. The lecture explores the topic linguistically, historically, as well as phenomenologically. It begins with a discussion of the Biblical terminology used for saints, the two terms tzadik and hasid. The tzadik and hasid achieve this stature based primarily on their adherence to an objective, quantifiable, standard of behavior, whether codified in the covenant (Torah), or outside the covenantal relationsh... More>>

The Hassidic Tzaddik as Archetypal Holy Person

Alon Goshen-Gottstein

Rabbinic theology is described here as cosmically oriented, and rabbinic thought as associative, nonsystematic, and hermeneutical. Hassidic literature returned to these early forms, especially midrash, and developed an image of the Tzaddik as a figure of cosmic significance, divine association, and later as a master of Torah. Incarnational theology viewed the Tzaddik as the aleph of adam, a man-God, and as the presence of Moses in each generation. This theology is associated wi... More>>

Authority in Judaism

Alon Goshen-Gottstein

Identity, Affiliation and Religious Borrowing: Multiple Religious Affiliations

Alon Goshen-Gottstein

Goshen-Gottstein presents the problematic issue of people who posses multiple religious identities. The subject of multiple religious identities is an especially difficult one in Judaism. He suggests different criteria by which one can assess borrowing from other religions while maintaining one's own religion. He also formulates what in his eyes are the components through which religious identity is constructed.... More>>

Elijah at "Encounter" on ABC Australia Radio

Alon Goshen-Gottstein

What is the common voice which religions can bring to the big global concerns? Do the various religions share a core ethic, and if so, how does that relate to their distinctive beliefs, sense of identity and understanding of 'the other'? The Parliament of the World Religions, which met in Melbourne December 2009, provided some interesting windows in to those debates. "Encounter", the highly acclaimed series of Australian ABC Radio National, interviewed Rabbi Alon Goshen-Gottstein... More>>