The Virgin Mother Sarah: The Characterization of the Matriarch in Genesis Rabbah
Abstract This article analyzes the portrayal of the matriarch Sarah in the fifth-century Palestinian rabbinic midrash Genesis Rabbah. The midrash not only dedicates a large number of derashot to the matriarch, but it repeatedly depicts her as a model of personal and religious excellence. In order to...
| Veröffentlicht in: | Journal for the study of Judaism |
|---|---|
| 1. VerfasserIn: | |
| Medienart: | Elektronisch Aufsatz |
| Sprache: | Englisch |
| Verfügbarkeit prüfen: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Lade...
|
| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Veröffentlicht: |
Brill
2021
|
| In: |
Journal for the study of Judaism
|
| normierte Schlagwort(-folgen): | B
Midrasch
/ Sara, Genesis
/ Jungfrauengeburt
/ Matriarchat
/ Rabbiner
/ Origenes 185-254
/ Christentum
|
| RelBib Classification: | BH Judentum HD Frühjudentum |
| weitere Schlagwörter: | B
Origen of Alexandria
B Sarah B cult of the Virgin B Genesis Rabbah B Mothers B matriarchs B Virgin Mary B Midrash |
| Online Zugang: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Zusammenfassung: | Abstract This article analyzes the portrayal of the matriarch Sarah in the fifth-century Palestinian rabbinic midrash Genesis Rabbah. The midrash not only dedicates a large number of derashot to the matriarch, but it repeatedly depicts her as a model of personal and religious excellence. In order to understand this development, I turn my attention to the portrayal of Sarah in the works of Origen of Alexandria. Continuing New Testament themes, Origen presents her as the spiritual mother of Christianity and a prefiguration of Jesus’ mother Mary. Various textual and thematic parallels help demonstrate that the rabbis were both aware of this rhetoric and responded to it. Based on this, I conclude that the rabbis used their portrayal of Sarah to combat the Christian appropriation of the matriarch on the one hand, and to establish her as a Jewish alternative to the Virgin Mary on the other. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 1570-0631 |
| Enthält: | Enthalten in: Journal for the study of Judaism
|
| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1163/15700631-BJA10026 |