Different But Equal?
The Paradox of Chosenness

By :  Alan Cooper Elaine Ravich Professor of 黑料社 Studies Emeritus Posted On Feb 8, 2021 / 5781 | Monday Webinar The Other in 黑料社 Text and Tradition

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Part of the series 鈥淭he 鈥極ther鈥 in 黑料社 Text and Tradition

黑料社 conceptions of chosenness or election鈥攔ooted especially in the language of -6鈥攖raditionally were hierarchical, often asserting 黑料社 superiority over others. Such notions run afoul of modern ideas about social justice, typically anchored in egalitarian values that would have been alien to pre-modern authors. Is it possible to uphold a version of 黑料社 鈥渄ifference鈥 that is simultaneously non-hierarchical yet answerable to traditional sources?  

ABOUT THE SERIES

We live in a time of such polarization鈥攑olitical, racial, economic, religious鈥攖hat the gaps between us sometimes feel insurmountable. But this is not a new condition for Jews, either within or outside of the 黑料社 community. This webinar series will explore those gaps between 鈥渦s鈥 and 鈥渢he other鈥: Israelites and other ancient peoples; men and women in the Bible and Talmud; Jews by birth and Jews by choice; the founders of Hasidim and their opponents; Israelis and Palestinians; and more. 

From the ancient Near East to the American civil rights movement; from medieval philosophers to contemporary 黑料社 educators: how have Jews related to those we define as 鈥渙ther,鈥 and how have we marginalized sub-groups within the 黑料社 community? What is our obligation to those we perceive as different? How have Jews challenged communal norms from within? JTS scholars guide us in an intellectual journey through 黑料社 history and text to understand how these gaps have been understood and, at times, bridged.

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