Hellenistic Judaism on the Perfection of the Human Body

Abstract

The article addresses the relevance of the carnality/spirituality discourse in Rabbinic studies started by Daniel Boyarin. The author suggests that Hellenistic Jews were not deprived of an intimate regard of their bodily existence. To a certain extent that perception was rooted not only in the Psalms but in Greek philosophy (mainly stoicism). Hellenic appreciation of human self-esteem was transformed into the ‘radical amazement’ of the Rabbis. Rabbinic Judaism is widely acknowledged for its ‘radical amazement’ (in the words of Abraham Heschel) and the celebration of daily life as a miracle. Indeed, we can speak of continuity between Hellenistic amazement at God's marvellous deeds and Rabbinic ‘radical amazement’. If so, the carnality of Rabbinic Jews was born not out of Jewish humiliation in the age of the Roman Empire but rather out of Hellenistic Jewish dignity and philosophical knowledge of Alexandria.