Abstract
The Secret of Rabbi Ḥasdai Crescas: The Meaning of “Sod Ha-tefillah” and “Sod Ha-bitaḥon” in the Work ’Or Ha-Shem Avraham Stav The article discusses the various instances of the term sod (literally: secret) as it appears in ’Or ha-Shem by Ḥasdai Crescas. As opposed to the common scholarship on the subject, which identifies these “secrets” as rooted in kabbalistic ideas, the article clearly proves otherwise. These “secrets” are in fact all interwoven ideas that constitute a single chain of thought emerging from the religious implications of Crescas’s view of causal determinism. This analysis, based on a comparison of the teachings of Crescas and Thomas Aquinas, sheds light on Crescas’s view of prayer, and explains the centrality of his concept of bitaḥon, trust in the Almighty, both as a means for the acceptance of prayer and the ultimate purpose of the institution of prayer altogether. From a broader perspective, the article reinforces the position that regards Crescas as a rationalist philosopher influenced by his Christian predecessors, while simultaneously distancing him from the world of kabbalistic thought. [End Page 193] Avraham Stav Ben-Gurion University of the Negev Copyright © 2018 Association for Jewish Studies
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
