Tikvah

Group Leader: Alan Mittleman

 

The Working Group on holiness is exploring the significance of biblical and post-biblical concepts of qedusha. The team of eight scholars represents the fields of biblical studies, rabbinics, Jewish mysticism, and medieval and modern philosophy. Each scholar works in his or her own area of expertise and contributes to a multi-disciplinary conversation. The intention of the project is essentially philosophical and is led by questions such as: Is holiness a property or a status of objects, persons, places and times? If a property, what kind of property is it? Is it like “yellow” or more like “good”? Is holiness discovered or attributed? Is holiness internal to a system of norms, practices, or institutions or does it supervene on any such system? Does holiness require a metaphysical background and, if so, can that background be rationally articulated and defended? To the extent that holiness is separable from moral categories is it intelligible? To the extent that it is not separable from moral categories is it redundant? Can holiness be reclaimed as a coherent concept?

First Meeting:

  March 1st and March 2nd, 2009.  Princeton University 
 

Second Meeting:

September 13th and September 14th, 2009.  Princeton University

Third Meeting:

  May 23rd and May 24th, 2010.  Princeton University