Segal, EliezerAndrews Pardes, Zvi2017-01-022017-01-0220162016http://hdl.handle.net/11023/3526A.J. Heschel’s Torah Min Ha-Shamayyim BeAspaqlaria Shel Ha-Doroth (TMS) never received the comprehensive scholarly attention that it deserves. Its philosophical and theological emphasis was out of place in the oeuvre in which it was published. Decades later it resurged in popularity, but by and large not amongst those with the textual and philological grounding in rabbinics to assess it meaningfully. TMS stands as a compelling analysis of early-rabbinic theological trends and the historical ramifications therein. I pay careful attention to Heschel’s sources and other experts in the field. I demonstrate that there is a decisive difference in philosophical outlook that can be traced between the schools of Rabbis Aqiva and Ishmael respectively, just as Heschel argues. Likewise, the theological dichotomies which Heschel articulates between these two textual personalities and their schools is shown to inform later permutations of these tensions throughout the Jewish History of Ideas.engUniversity of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.Literature--ClassicalLiterature--Middle EasternPhilosophyReligionBiblical StudiesReligion--History ofReligion--Philosophy ofTheologyHistory--AncientHistory--MedievalHistory--Middle EasternJewish Studiesmidrashrabbinic theologyjewish studiestalmudmishnamishnahmedieval jewish philosophyphilologyHeschelrabbi aqivarabbi akivarabbi ishmaelmidrash halakhahalakhic midrashMidrash as a Refracting Lens: A.J. Heschel's Illumination of Jewish Historymaster thesis10.11575/PRISM/26914