Wisdom of Love

Naftali Rothenberg is a senior research fellow and Jewish Culture and Identity Chair at the Van Leer Jerusalem Institute. Rothenberg also serves as the town Rabbi of Har Adar, Israel. He has authored and edited ten books.

"Rabbi Dr. Naftali Rothenberg of the Van Leer Institute of Jerusalem explores another religious approach to these issues in “The Wisdom of Love: Man, Woman and God in Jewish Canonical Literature”. He finds that the Bible, Talmud, Midrash and halacha (Jewish law) devote considerable attention to love and that much of rabbinic tradition treats love’s spiritual and physical aspects without inhibition. His study exposes a cognitive dissonance between what the Jewish canon says and what we expect our holy texts to say. The book celebrates love as a classical rabbinic ideal, and it is as rare as it is refreshing: scholarly, yet eminently readable; spiritual, yet sober."

• Preface. Introduction: Love in the Canonical Literature: Dealing with Cognitive Dissonance. Section I: the Androgyne Unity; Separation; Desire and Unity. 1. the Androgyne Myth According to Plato. 2. Male and Female Unity, Primoridal Sin and Rebellion against the Gods. 3. In the Midrash: Androgynous Adam. 4.In the Kabbalah: An Eternal / Divine, Spiritual and Human Androgyne. 5. The Rebirth of the Androgyne: Judah Abravanel Cites Plato and Moses. 6. Summary: The Power of Myths. Section II: A Profile of the Sage of Love. 1. Introduction: The Philosopher as Sage of Love. 2. The Love of Rachel. 3. Th e Sage of Love “Rescues” the Song of Songs. 4. Practice and Theory in the Wisdom of Love. 5. The Sage and Temptation. 6. Love Thy Fellow as the Basis of Human Socialization. 7. Optimism Out of Love. 8. Ultimate Love. 9. The Orchard of Love. 10. Summary: The Universal Sage. Section III: The Sage of Unconsummated Love: Judah Abravanel's Dialoghi d'Amore. 1. Introduction: Philo and Sophia. 2. The Sage's Desire. 3. Love as Universal Phenomenon. 4. The Paradox of Abstract Perception. 5. Love and Beauty. 6. When and Where was Love Born? 7. Unconsummated Love. Section IV: Written For Men by Men: Feminist Revolution and Innovation in the Canonical Sources. 1. Introduction: Identifying revolutionary and Innovative Approaches in cultural Sources. 2. A Monogamous Message to a Polygamous Culture. 3. Onah: The Obligation to have Sex for Pleasure. 4. The Love Relationship as Perfection: the End of Male Exclusivity. 5. Summary: Innovation and the Norm. Section V: Contrast and Harmony in Married Life: On Spirituality and Abstinence. 1. Introduction: the Dualistic Approach. 2. Marriage and Intellectual Growth: Help or Hindrance? 3. Categorical Rejection: Abstinence is Punishable by Death! 4. The Dilemma of Abstinence for Individuals on a High Spiritual Plane. 5. Moses' Abstinence. 6. Abstinence: A Precondition for Love in the Philosophy of Rabbi Bahya Ibn Pakuda.7. Rabbi Judah Halevi’s Rejection of Abstinence. 8. Summary: Maintaining Balance. Bibliography. Index.