Professor Steven Nadler - Menasseh ben Israel
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William H. Hay II Professor of Philosophy at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Director of UW-Madison’s Institute for Research in the Humanities
Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
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Author:
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Think Least of Death: Spinoza on How to Live and How to Die (Princeton, 2020)
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Menasseh ben Israel: Rabbi of Amsterdam (“Jewish Lives”, Yale, 2018)
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Spinoza: A Life (Cambridge, 1999; second edition, 2018);
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The Best of All Possible Worlds: A Story of Philosophers, God, and Evil (Farrar, Straus, & Giroux, 2008);
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The Cambridge History of Jewish Philosophy: From Antiquity through the Seventeenth Century (2009), co-edited with Tamar Rudavsky;
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A Book Forged in Hell: Spinoza’s Scandalous Treatise and the Birth of the Secular Age (Princeton, 2011)
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The Philosopher, the Priest, and the Painter: A Portrait of Descartes (Princeton, 2013).
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Episode #1
Q: Why Menasseh ben Israel?
A:
Professor Steven Nadler:
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Studied under Richard Popkin, Modern Philosophy
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Digger in archives
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Studied and wrote about Spinoza
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Delved into 17th century (Jewish) Amsterdam
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Came across Menasseh ben Israel
Episode #2
Q: What was 17th century Amsterdam?
A:
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Amsterdam in 17th century – new community
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Refugees from Spain & Portugal
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Conversos went from Portugal to Antwerp to Amsterdam
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International merchants
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Imported Rabbis from other communities
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3 Congregations
Episode #3
Q: Was Menasseh ben Israel an influential printer?
A:
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Mensseh was a very influential printer
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Printing got him in trouble with the Jewish community
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Published the first Hebrew books in Amsterdam
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Made Amsterdam the leading center for Hebrew printing
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Printing was his most important contribution to Jewish History
Episode #4
Q: Did Menasseh write for non-Jews?
A:
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Had many gentile friends
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Very respected by gentile scholars
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Biggest audience for his books were gentiles
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But also wrote for Jews such as, Guide to a Jewish Home
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Walked a very fine line
Episode #5
Q: What kind of congregational rabbi was Menasseh?
A:
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There were four rabbis in the synagogue
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Menasseh was paid the least
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Gave few sermons
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Taught elementary school kids
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Got in trouble, put in Cherem
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Charismatic figure
Episode #6
Q: What is the “Hope of Israel”
A:
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Book on Messianic period and Lost Tribes of Israel
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Glorious Stone was another Menasseh book on that topic
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Reports of Lost Tribes of Israel in Americas
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Caused great excitement among millenniums
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Idea of Messiah predicated on Jews being scattered everywhere
Episode #7
Q: What was Menasseh’s Relationship with Queen Christina of Sweden?
A:
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Christina of Sweden highly educated
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Possessed an extensive Library
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Menasseh interested in being her supplier of Judaica
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Procured Jewish works for Christina
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Relationship did not develop as Menasseh hoped
Episode #8
Q: Did Menasseh help get the Jews readmitted to England?
A:
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Was perhaps looking to get out of Amsterdam
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Went to England in 1655
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Claims he was invited by Cromwell
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Advocated for return of Jews to England
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Whitehall Conference did not make a decision
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The few Jews in London not pleased with Menasseh
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Readmission evolved over time
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Died on way back from England to Amsterdam
Episode #9
Q: Menasseh’s writings: impactful Rabbinic Literature?
A:
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Writings were not well received by Rabbinic Scholars
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Basically ignored by them
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Conciliator – combined Mishna, Talmud with philosophy
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Used many sources Jewish & non- Jewish
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Aristotle, Plato, Christian source
Episode #10
Q: Why Study the Life of Menasseh ben Israel?
A:
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Fascinating personality
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Most famous Jew at that time
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Influential in Jewish relationship with non-Jews
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Understanding of 17th century Jewry & Amsterdam