Counting the Miracles: Jewish Thought, Mysticism, and the Arts from Late Antiquity to the Present

In honor of the writings of Giulio Busi, scholar of Jewish culture, the book investigates from a multidisciplinary perspective the extraordinary richness of Jewish culture in the Diaspora from antiquity to the latter part of the 20th century. A number of rabbinic writings, medieval manuscripts from the South of France, visual qabbalah, the Yiddish language, artistic expressions as well as the philosophical and social traditions of some prominent twentieth-century figures will be explored. While the Jewish cultural tradition has always incorporated the cultural influences of the broader socio-historical context in which it was embedded, it has in turn been a source of inspiration for the intellectual élite of the majority society. In this regard, the volume will examine the fruitful mutual exchange between Jewish scholars and Christian humanists during the Renaissance. However, the life of Jews in the Diaspora did not always take place in a context of peaceful integration. It was punctuated by harsh confrontations and persecution. Finally, the book will illustrate how precisely during the darkest and most tragic period of the 20th century, Jewish culture was an important tool of resistance and struggle against Nazi-Fascism.