Mystical Bodies; Mystical Meals is the first book-length study of mystical eating practices and experiences in the kabbalah. Focusing on the Jewish mystical literature of late-thirteenth-century Spain; author Joel Hecker analyzes the ways in which the Zohar and other contemporaneous literature represent mystical attainment in their homilies about eating. What emerges is not only consideration of eating practices but; more broadly; the effects such practices and experiences have on the bodies of its practitioners.Using anthropology; sociology; ritual studies; and gender theory; Hecker accounts for the internal topography of the body as imaginatively conceived by kabbalists. For these mystics; the physical body interacts with the material world to effect transformations within themselves and within the Divinity. The kabbalists experience the ideal body as one of fullness; one whose boundaries allow for the intake of divine light and power; and for the outward overflow of fruitfulness and generosity; at the same time; the body retains sufficient integrity to confer a sense of completeness; as the perfect symbol for the Divinity itself.Nourishment imagery is used throughout the kabbalah as a metaphor signifying the flow of divine blessing from the upper worlds to the lower; from masculine to feminine; and from Israel to the Godhead. The body's spiritual continuity allows for unions between the kabbalistic devotee and his food; table; chair; and wine and is exemplified in the practices and experiences surrounding the consumption of food; this continuity is also applicable to other aspects of embodiment; such as the kabbalist's union with his fellow man. Mystical Bodies; Mystical Meals underscores the homosocial quality of the kabbalistic fraternity; in which gendered hierarchies of master and disciple are linked to the imagery and dynamics of nourishment and sexuality. Bringing this entire spectrum into focus; Hecker ultimately considers how the oral cavity and stomach; even the emotions associated with festive meals; are mobilized to produce the soul of the mystical saint in medieval kabbalah.
#185215 in Books University of Virginia Press 2009-03-03Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.16 x 1.14 x 6.40l; 1.31 #File Name: 0813927862328 pages
Review
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful. A Great; Great Work Of Exceptional Scholarship.By The Careful ObserverI have read quite a number of books on Abraham Lincoln. In contemplating all of the books that I've read; I would recommend this one; more than any other; because of its near-obsessive and honest account of the truth. I say this knowing that this book is not specifically focused on Lincoln. One of the things that this book reinforces; and lines up with; in all of the others that I've read; is that Abraham Lincoln's paramount and principle object during The Civil War; was to restore the Union. In that effort; any and everything could be potentially sacrificed; including the potential freedom of African-Americans. No sane; self-respecting African-American reader of History would condone this sacrifice. Lincoln openly said for the better part of The War; that he would not have a problem with slaves REMAINING slaves; if he could restore The Union. I might add to this that Lincoln consistently spent the better part of The War; contemplating; pursuing and scheming; in an attempt to send African-Americans out of the country through colonization. For the total of his life; it was incomprehensible to him that White people and Black people could live together in peace; total equality and harmony. His mind simply could not grasp that. History also shows that Lincoln's second most important priority was conciliating Southern Whites. Think about that. Lincoln was more concerned with catering to a polity of Traitors; The White Confederacy;Traitors-then-in-process of openly killing United States soldiers than he was in providing for the future needs and well-being of patriotic; loyal; African-American soldiers. At no point; was the moral wrongness of slavery nor the political; social or economic well-being of former slaves high on Lincoln's list of priorities. At no point; whether in his words; strategies; actions; intentions or future imaginings or visions did he believe; nor articulate; any kind of universal; racial egalitarianism; whether this equality would be social; political or economic for African-Americans. He did put forth the notion of limited voting rights for African-American soldiers and the “very intelligent†among Black folks; but he did not advocate non-racial; universal equality; since the limits he would have wanted to put out there for Black folks were not to be attached to White folks. He firmly expressed the notion that White people should be the ascendant; superior and dominant people in charge in American affairs; politically; socially; economically; and in every other way; for the current circumstances; and for all-time; in perpetuity. Hence; Lincoln was a strong proponent of White Supremacy. This may sound harsh and cliché to many; but it is the truth; supported by this book and any serious study of History. The fact that Lincoln was a White Supremacist; particularly in 1865 America; should not be considered an exceptional statement; especially since his racial outlook was hardly uncommon for the people of his day. As Escott says in this book; Lincoln's views were relatively progressive as compared to the population-at-large. We also need to keep in mind that Lincoln does deserve enormous credit; through his comprehensive human gifts; in helping to bring an end to slavery. That is a monumental achievement; that bears reflection. However; there is quite a gap between ending slavery and being pro-egalitarianism and pro-equal justice; so to paint Lincoln as an icon of egalitarianism and equal justice is a Historical lie. It is. If one wants to look at that period and locate a White person who fulfills one's longing as pro-egalitarianism and pro-equal justice; History suggests that it might be more fruitful and rewarding to study the lives of John Brown and Wendell Phillips. As I wrap up this portion of my review; let me say that I absolutely love this book. I love it because the first duty of any writer; particularly the Historian; is to tell the truth. This book sticks to its main duty. Now; having said this; this is the first time that I have written a review where the best part of it is the actual writer doing his own review. Here are the words of Mr. Paul D. Escott: “Lincoln wanted slavery to come to an end in the United States; but he did not expect it to be replaced by freedom and equality—not; at least; until generations had passed away. As a practical politician; he had no interest in crusading for a cause so unpopular as racial equality. When he met with the Confederate commissioners at Hampton Roads; he may have been willing to consider a delayed emancipation because he believed that the institution of slavery was dying overall as a result of his war measures and what he elsewhere called the “friction and abrasion†of wartime events. Unquestionably; slavery had been severely damaged by his actions and by the initiative of the slaves themselves. But Lincoln did not expect the realities of life for former slaves to change dramatically and rapidly in the South. Therefore; it mattered little to him whether all slaves became free immediately or some had to wait a bit longer. All would inevitably experience and have to accept restricted horizons for years to come. To his credit; Lincoln grasped that slavery and racism had corrupted the heart of the nation “conceived in Liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.†But that corruption meant that any solution for a fundamental racial problem would be agonizing and slow. Although Lincoln was against slavery and claimed an “oft expressed personal wish that all men every where could be free;†he acknowledged on various occasions that inequality was very resistant to change; if not ineradicable. Although he undoubtedly took pleasure in guardedly and carefully moving a racist country toward universal emancipation; his expectations for racial progress thereafter were very slight. He did not fight for equality or put amelioration of race relations on his political agenda because he assumed that little change was possible. Only over a long period of time would progress; or separation; occur. These realities explain a president who at Hampton Roads was willing to bargain away much that was important to blacks in order to conciliate Southern whites. They explain a war leader who took reunion as his primary goal and viewed emancipation as a means to that end. They explain Lincoln's willingness to delay emancipation and his unwillingness to crusade for racial equality or for citizens' rights for black people. In these realities lie unattractive aspects of the national character that are more pleasant to overlook or to subsume in a narrative of unbroken progress. White racism was a central fact of the nation Lincoln tried to lead and reunite; and it was a reality that dominated and constrained his approach to emancipation and postwar freedom. The extent and depth of that racism would be on display in the victorious North only months after Lincoln's death.†(Pages 224 225).Thank you Mr. Paul D. Escott for daring to tell the truth; and telling it well. This is an exceptional work of scholarship.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. A LOOK AT 19TH CENTURY AMERICABy RoyEscott takes a real look at 19th century America. This was a great book to read. Escott just gives the historical facts talks about the ideals of America and what whites thought of black people.The question raised by 19th century American is still one that is raised by whites in the 21 century. It is well documented that Lincoln; to preserve the union; would have let slavery continue. This doesn't diminish Lincoln place in history; it only give us a look as to why he had to free the slaves. If left up to Lincoln slavery would have continued in some form for the next 100 years; Little did he know that slavery would be replace by more insidious form of slavery called Jim Crow . Though some will argue that the Civil War was about slavery vs states right; most of the soldiers and Generals knew that the war was about slavery.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Whites in the north were not that much better. After the Civil WarBy Joe V.“What shall we do with the Negro?†For Southerners; they wanted to have the Negros remain slaves. They argued that the Bible proclaimed Negroes an inferior race and that if slaves were freed; God would command them to exterminate all Negroes to prevent them from mixing the races. Whites in the north were not that much better. After the Civil War; the Connecticut; Wisconsin; and Minnesota voted against the right of Negroes to vote. Republicans and Democrats believed that racist proclamations were the best political move to win elections. Example - St Paul Minnesota Pioneer newspaper said; (N = the N-Word); “If you wish to have N in your schools; N at the polls; N in the jury; N gallanting your white girls; N holding office; N miscegenating; N TILL YOU CAN’T REST – vote Republican. “ Not a pretty story for White people of today to face. Lincoln knew Whites were so racist that Negroes could never be considered equal ever or until many generations had passed. Guess what? He was right as Whites have fought mightily against equality for another150 years.
