Rabbi Meir of Rothenburg and the Foundation of Jewish Political Thought

This book examines the political thought of Rabbi Meir of Rothenburg, the most important thirteenth century German Rabbi.

Joseph Isaac Lifshitz (Author)

9781107008243, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 29 October 2015

273 pages
23.5 x 15.8 x 2.2 cm, 0.55 kg

'This investigation into the political theory of Rabbi Meir Rothenburg is a major contribution to both the theory of halachic dispute and the emergence of a Jewish political discourse in the Middle Ages. Retracing the sources of Rabbi Rothenburg back to Torah, Talmud, the Geonim, and the Sephardic thinkers, this brilliant research demonstrates his unique concept of a Jewish political theology.' Christoph Schmidt, Hebrew University of Jerusalem

This book is a scholarly examination of the political thought of Rabbi Meir (Maharam) of Rothenburg, the most important thirteenth century German Rabbi who was associated with the Pietist movement of the period. From the Maharam's responsa on community matters, a coherent political thought emerges that exercised nearly unprecedented influence on European Jewish communities up to the Jewish Emancipation. Rabbi Meir's extremely sophisticated attempt to balance the demands of the community against those of the individual was facilitated by a characteristic three-tiered structure to his political thought: concrete legal rules supported by value-laden legal principles built upon his general religious ideology. Through a systematic analysis of the Maharam's political thought, Isaac Lifshitz offers an original contribution to Jewish studies, political theory, and the study of legal philosophy. By considering the legal and theological underpinnings of one of Medieval Jewry's most influential figures, it also makes a contribution to the history of ideas in the Medieval period.

Part I. Introduction: 1. Framing the discussion: overview of the literature
2. Methodology: identifying the relevant texts
3. Methodology: Halakha and Agada - laws, principles, and ideology
4. Overview of the book
Part II. Historical Background: 5. R. Meir of Rothenburg and his teachers and students
6. The history of the Jewish people and Jewish communities in Germany and Northern France (1000–1300)
7. The development of Talmudic exegesis in Germany and Northern France (1000–1300)
8. Highlights of R. Meir's biography
9. D. R. Meir's Halakhic approach
10. Political theory in Germany and Northern France (1000–1300)
Part III. Politics as Private Interest: 11. Community as partnership
12. The role of custom in monetary laws
13. Beyond partnership: the community as corporation
Part IV. The Sacred Nature of the Political Sphere: 14. The common good
15. Majority-rule
16. Agency and representation
17. The theological definition of community
Part V. Conclusion: 18. Politics as extra-legal activity: ambiguity in R. Meir's works
19. The theology of unity and despotism.

Subject Areas: Political science & theory [JPA], Jewish studies [JFSR1], History of ideas [JFCX], Medieval history [HBLC1], European history [HBJD]