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...
| Publié dans: | Journal for the study of Judaism |
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| Auteur principal: | |
| Type de support: | Électronique Article |
| Langue: | Anglais |
| Vérifier la disponibilité: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | En cours de chargement...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Publié: |
Brill
2021
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| Dans: |
Journal for the study of Judaism
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| Sujets / Chaînes de mots-clés standardisés: | B
Midrash
/ Sara, Genesis
/ Jésus-Christ
/ Matriarcat
/ Rabbin
/ Origenes 185-254
/ Christianisme
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| RelBib Classification: | BH Judaïsme HD Judaïsme ancien |
| Sujets non-standardisés: | B
Origen of Alexandria
B Sarah B cult of the Virgin B Genesis Rabbah B Mothers B matriarchs B Virgin Mary B Midrash |
| Accès en ligne: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Résumé: | 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. |
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| ISSN: | 1570-0631 |
| Contient: | Enthalten in: Journal for the study of Judaism
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1163/15700631-BJA10026 |