A Remembrance of His Wonders
Nature and the Supernatural in Medieval Ashkenaz
Format:Hardback
Publisher:University of Pennsylvania Press
Published:13th Jun '17
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David I. Shyovitz's A Remembrance of His Wonders reveals how medieval Ashkenazic Jews engaged with nature, intertwining science and mysticism in their understanding of the world.
In A Remembrance of His Wonders, David I. Shyovitz explores the intricate relationship medieval Ashkenazic Jews had with the natural world, revealing their nuanced engagement with both science and mysticism. He challenges the long-held belief that these communities were solely focused on the supernatural, instead showing how they actively participated in the intellectual currents of their time. The twelfth and thirteenth centuries marked a significant shift in European thought, characterized by a burgeoning interest in nature that profoundly influenced societal beliefs. Contrary to assumptions that Jews were detached from these developments, Shyovitz presents evidence of their thoughtful interactions with contemporary ideas.
The author analyzes a wide range of overlooked Ashkenazic writings that delve into natural phenomena and the human body, demonstrating that these texts reflect a sophisticated understanding of the world around them. By examining the interplay between magical, scientific, and mystical ideas, Shyovitz illustrates how medieval Jews navigated the boundaries between nature and the supernatural. He argues that their beliefs, often dismissed as mere superstition, were in fact deeply intertwined with the broader debates occurring within Christian thought.
In A Remembrance of His Wonders, Shyovitz also highlights the importance of polemical texts and cross-cultural encounters in shaping Jewish perspectives. These interactions not only facilitated the exchange of religious and scientific ideas but also showcased a determined effort to comprehend the complexities of nature and its relationship with divine principles, ultimately bridging the gap between Jewish and Christian intellectual traditions.
"Immensely erudite, enlightening, and stimulating, thoroughly researched and lucidly written, a landmark contribution to our understanding of the intellectual and spiritual currents of medieval Ashkenaz." * Association for Jewish Studies Review *
"A meticulously researched study that reflects a highly specialized grasp of the texts and cultures involved, and it is guaranteed to pique the interest of those with a fascination for the phantasmagoric." * American Historical Review *
"Groundbreaking . . . [Shyovitz] provide[s] vital new approaches to understanding medieval conceptions of nature, the supernatural, and the role of theology in the development of scientia." * Comitatus *
"A Remembrance of His Wonders convincingly expresses a group ideology of medieval Ashkenazic pietists toward nature and the human body through an impressive accumulation of manuscript sources as well as a fresh reading of well-known material. . . . Shyovitz deftly presents the polyphonic nature of this corpus . . . [and] weaves disparate topical and textual threads together to present a convincing and enlightening portrayal of Hasidei Ashkenaz. The contextualization of pietism within Jewish and Christian ambiences reminds modern readers that as much as the pietistic orientation sought to isolate medieval Jews from their surroundings, it nevertheless was nourished by those surroundings as well." * Marginalia Review of Books *
"Shyovitz presents a needed corrective to our understanding of the Pietists ideology, namely as active thinkers engaged in inductive and empirical reasoning. . . . Shyovitz aptly counters the presumed parochialism of the Hasidei Ashkenaz, displacing such a view with a more complex and nuanced image of how discourses and cultural practices of inquiry tend to lead to intertwined paths." * Reading Religion *
"A Remembrance of His Wonders is an excellent achievement that deals with central research questions regarding the understanding of the wondrous in nature by the Jews of Ashkenaz. David I. Shyovitz presents fascinating parallels between the writings of the German Pietists and contemporary Christian texts, showing that their understandings of nature are quite similar." * Israel Yuval, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem *
- Winner of Awarded the 2021 John Nicholas Brown Prize for the best first book in medieval studies, granted by the Medieval Academy of America 2021
ISBN: 9780812249118
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: unknown
352 pages