[NGFP-BookClub] Homo viator - some questions

[Danielle Rosen]

Dear Professor Hasen-Rokem

First, thanks so much for making yourself available for this fascinating course. It really is a topic which is much richer than I could have imagined.

I read the second article and there were some things that aren't really clear to me, which I would appreciate if you might clarify.

If I understand correctly, Rabbi Judah is a wanderer between this world and the divine world, whereas Petahya is a wanderer in space, although both are wandering via their imagination (assuming Petahya's journey is totally fanciful). I can't really understand how this relates to the connection between the characterization of Petahya as European and Rabbia Judah as Ashkenazi. 

Also, while Petahya may have "disappeared from tradition" as an individual, the Jew as merchant seems to me the essence of why Jews see themselves as wanderers (and perhaps Gentiles as well). So Petahya seems to be a more prevalent model of the wandering Jew than Rabbi Judah.

Thanks in advance,

Dani



      
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