Paradoxes in God''s Garden: Jewish Philosophy and the Edenic Narrative

This edited collection offers new perspectives on perceived paradoxes in Israels religious heritage, with a particular focus on the Garden of Eden narrative and descriptions of Israels God. The chapters examine a number of themes related to these paradoxes, including (1) knowledge versus life (referencing the two Edenic trees); (2) paradoxes pertaining to knowledge in the biblical versus Socratic traditions and the Platonic good versus the apparent eschewing of the good-evil dichotomy in Garden of Eden; (3) difficulties implicating finitude versus infinity; (4) Gods Edenic garden versus rabbinical orchard, or Pardes, the traditional fourfold manner of Torah interpretation; (5) the question of the Sôd, or secret esoteric stratum or narrative channel within the text of the Torah; (6) the issue of idolatry; (7) the nature of Israels deity; (8) a comparative glimpse of the Israelite God vis-à-vis relevant Christian and Buddhist glosses on divinity; and (9) science-fictional explorations of the biblical exegesis discourse. The volumes contributors are based in Canada; England; Poland; Israel; and the United States.