Gary G. Porton – Författare

If the people of Israel understood themselves to share a common ancestry as well as a common religion, how could a convert to their faith who did not share their ethnicity fit into the ancient Israelite community? While it is comparatively simple to declare religious beliefs, it is much more difficult to enter a group whose membership is defined in ethnic terms. In showing how the rabbis struggled continually with the dual nature of the Israelite community and the dilemma posed by converts, Gary G. Porton explains aspects of their debates. This text analyzes references to converts in the full corpus of rabbinic literature. The intellectual dilemma in discussions of marriage, religious practice, inheritance of property and much else are explored here. Reviewing the rabbinic literature text by text, Porton exposes the rabbis' frequently ambivalent and ambiguous views. The text focuses upon the opinions of the community into which the convert enters, rather than on the testimony of the convert. By approaching data with various methods, Porton aims to increase the reader's understanding of conversion and the nature of the people of Israel in rabbinic literature.

Beginning with an overview of Judaism in North America, this book presents a survey of the tradition, provides historical context, and addresses key contemporary issues. It covers the essential topics in the study of Judaism in North America including the major texts of Judaism, the Jewish life cycle, rabbinic literature, and the Jewish calendar.Key topics include Jewish identity and diversity, how Americans perceive Jews, and the rise of the Jewish GenZ. With over 50 illustrations throughout, each chapter contains suggested further reading and a glossary of key terms and concepts.The chapters in this book were first published in the digital collection Bloomsbury Religion in North America. Covering North America’s diverse religious traditions, this digital collection provides reliable and peer-reviewed articles and ebooks for students and instructors. Learn more and get access for your library at www.theologyandreligiononline.com/bloomsbury-religion-in-north-america

Beginning with an overview of Judaism in North America, this book presents a survey of the tradition, provides historical context, and addresses key contemporary issues. It covers the essential topics in the study of Judaism in North America including the major texts of Judaism, the Jewish life cycle, rabbinic literature, and the Jewish calendar.Key topics include Jewish identity and diversity, how Americans perceive Jews, and the rise of the Jewish GenZ. With over 50 illustrations throughout, each chapter contains suggested further reading and a glossary of key terms and concepts.The chapters in this book were first published in the digital collection Bloomsbury Religion in North America. Covering North America’s diverse religious traditions, this digital collection provides reliable and peer-reviewed articles and ebooks for students and instructors. Learn more and get access for your library at www.theologyandreligiononline.com/bloomsbury-religion-in-north-america