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Hasdai Crescas on Codification, Cosmology and Creation
The Infinite God and the Expanding Torah
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This work focuses on the conception of God of the medieval Jewish philosopher and legal scholar, Hasdai Crescas (1340-1410/11). It demonstrates that Crescasâ God is infinitely creative and good and explores the parallel that Crescas implicitly draws between God as creator and legislator, which is rooted in his understanding of the Deity as continuously involved in generative activity through the outpouring of goodness and love as manifest by multiple, simultaneous and successive worlds and a perpetually expanding Torah. It also reviews the Maimonidean background for Crescasâ position and suggests that Crescas is countering Maimonidesâ stance that creation is limited to a single moment and Maimonidesâ notion of the Torah as perfect and immutable.
Dr. Ari Ackerman is a professor in Jewish philosophy and education at Schechter Institute in Jerusalem and the incumbent of the Golinkin Chair in TALI Jewish Education. He received his Ph.D. in Jewish thought from Hebrew University and he published a critical edition of the sermons of Zerahia Halevi Saledin (Beer Sheva University Press, 2013).
Acknowledgments
Introduction The Concealed Legal Universe of Hasdai Crescas
1âThe Maimonidean Context for Crescasâ Conception of the Infinite and Dynamic Torah
â1âThe Torah as Perfect, Eternal, and Immutable (Guide 2:39)
â2âThe Limitations of the Law (Guide 3:34)
â3âMaimonides on the Possibility of Legal Change
â4âSeparating Biblical Roots from Rabbinic Branches
â5âTaking Issue with the Geonim
â6âMaimonides and the Wholeness Conception of the Torah
2âHasdai Crescas on Codification
â1âCodification and Human Perfection
â2âAbraham and the Multiplicity of Commandments
â3âCrescas, Maimonides, and Anatoli on the Multiplicity of Commandments
â4âCrescas on the Pragmatic Orientation of Torah Study
â5âMaimonides and Crescas on Comprehensive Codes
â6âMethodological Criticism of Maimonidesâ Mishneh Torah
â7âCrescasâ Criticism and Maimonidean Self-Perception
3âThe Infinite Torah
â1âCrescas on the Infinity of the Torah
â2âCrescasâ Students on the Torahâs Infinitude
â3âSources for the Conception of the Infinitely Expanding Torah
â4âCrescas on the Immutability of the Torah
â5âJoseph Albo on the Immutability of the Torah
4âLegal Definitions and Taxonomy in Crescasâ Halakhic Writings
â1âThe Laws of Passover in Derashat ha-Pesaḥ
â2âCrescas and the Jewish Codificatory Tradition
â3âHasdai Crescas and Samuel b. Hofni Gaon
â4âHasdai Crescas and Abraham ibn Ezra
â5âHasdai Crescas and Maimonides
â6âHasdai Crescas and Gersonides
â7âThe Influence of Philosophy on the Halakhic Deliberations of Hasdai Crescas and Members of His Circle
5âCrescas on God, Torah, and Nature
â1âCrescasâ Introduction to Or Hashem
â2âThe Prooemium of Or Hashem
6âHasdai Crescas on the Possibility of Multiple, Simultaneous Worlds
â1âThe Possible Existence of Multiple, Simultaneously Existing Worlds in Ancient and Medieval Philosophy
â2âCrescasâ Discussion in Or Hashem 1:2:1
â3âPlace, Space, and the Existence of an Extra-Cosmic Vacuum
â4âArguments for the Existence of Multiple, Simultaneous Worlds
â5âArguments against the Existence of Multiple, Simultaneous Worlds
â6âResolution of the Quaestio
7âMaimonides and Gersonides on Creation
â1âMaimonides on Creation Ex Nihilo
â2âMaimonidesâ Refutation of Aristotleâs Arguments for Eternity
â3âMaimonidesâ Proofs for the Likelihood of Creation
â4âMaimonides on the End of the World
â5âGersonides on Cosmogony
â6âGersonides on Time and Infinity
â7âGersonides and the Eternal Existence of Matter
â8âGersonides on the Incorruptibility of the World
â9âComparing Maimonides and Gersonides on Creation
8âCreation and Crescasâ Infinitely Creative God
â1âHasdai Crescasâ Response to Maimonidesâ Proofs for Creation
â2âCrescasâ Alternative Definition of Time
â3âCrescasâ Theory of Eternal Creation
â4âCrescas on Multiple, Successive Worlds and the Corruptibility of the Universe
â5âCrescas on the Incorruptibility of the World
â6âPhilosophy Encounters Kabbalah: The Sources of Crescasâ Theory of Multiple, Successive Worlds
Conclusion Maimonides and Crescas on God as Legislator and Creator
â1âMaimonides on the Parallel between Law and Nature
â2âCrescas on God as Creator and Legislator
Bibliography
Index
Introduction The Concealed Legal Universe of Hasdai Crescas
1âThe Maimonidean Context for Crescasâ Conception of the Infinite and Dynamic Torah
â1âThe Torah as Perfect, Eternal, and Immutable (Guide 2:39)
â2âThe Limitations of the Law (Guide 3:34)
â3âMaimonides on the Possibility of Legal Change
â4âSeparating Biblical Roots from Rabbinic Branches
â5âTaking Issue with the Geonim
â6âMaimonides and the Wholeness Conception of the Torah
2âHasdai Crescas on Codification
â1âCodification and Human Perfection
â2âAbraham and the Multiplicity of Commandments
â3âCrescas, Maimonides, and Anatoli on the Multiplicity of Commandments
â4âCrescas on the Pragmatic Orientation of Torah Study
â5âMaimonides and Crescas on Comprehensive Codes
â6âMethodological Criticism of Maimonidesâ Mishneh Torah
â7âCrescasâ Criticism and Maimonidean Self-Perception
3âThe Infinite Torah
â1âCrescas on the Infinity of the Torah
â2âCrescasâ Students on the Torahâs Infinitude
â3âSources for the Conception of the Infinitely Expanding Torah
â4âCrescas on the Immutability of the Torah
â5âJoseph Albo on the Immutability of the Torah
4âLegal Definitions and Taxonomy in Crescasâ Halakhic Writings
â1âThe Laws of Passover in Derashat ha-Pesaḥ
â2âCrescas and the Jewish Codificatory Tradition
â3âHasdai Crescas and Samuel b. Hofni Gaon
â4âHasdai Crescas and Abraham ibn Ezra
â5âHasdai Crescas and Maimonides
â6âHasdai Crescas and Gersonides
â7âThe Influence of Philosophy on the Halakhic Deliberations of Hasdai Crescas and Members of His Circle
5âCrescas on God, Torah, and Nature
â1âCrescasâ Introduction to Or Hashem
â2âThe Prooemium of Or Hashem
6âHasdai Crescas on the Possibility of Multiple, Simultaneous Worlds
â1âThe Possible Existence of Multiple, Simultaneously Existing Worlds in Ancient and Medieval Philosophy
â2âCrescasâ Discussion in Or Hashem 1:2:1
â3âPlace, Space, and the Existence of an Extra-Cosmic Vacuum
â4âArguments for the Existence of Multiple, Simultaneous Worlds
â5âArguments against the Existence of Multiple, Simultaneous Worlds
â6âResolution of the Quaestio
7âMaimonides and Gersonides on Creation
â1âMaimonides on Creation Ex Nihilo
â2âMaimonidesâ Refutation of Aristotleâs Arguments for Eternity
â3âMaimonidesâ Proofs for the Likelihood of Creation
â4âMaimonides on the End of the World
â5âGersonides on Cosmogony
â6âGersonides on Time and Infinity
â7âGersonides and the Eternal Existence of Matter
â8âGersonides on the Incorruptibility of the World
â9âComparing Maimonides and Gersonides on Creation
8âCreation and Crescasâ Infinitely Creative God
â1âHasdai Crescasâ Response to Maimonidesâ Proofs for Creation
â2âCrescasâ Alternative Definition of Time
â3âCrescasâ Theory of Eternal Creation
â4âCrescas on Multiple, Successive Worlds and the Corruptibility of the Universe
â5âCrescas on the Incorruptibility of the World
â6âPhilosophy Encounters Kabbalah: The Sources of Crescasâ Theory of Multiple, Successive Worlds
Conclusion Maimonides and Crescas on God as Legislator and Creator
â1âMaimonides on the Parallel between Law and Nature
â2âCrescas on God as Creator and Legislator
Bibliography
Index
The primary readership would be specialists in and students of Jewish philosophy and law.