Jewish Approaches to Hinduism

Richard G. Marks is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Religion at Washington and Lee University, USA.

Introduction PART I: India’s idolaters, magicians, scientists, philosophers, and ascetics: 12–14th centuries 1. Judah Ha-Levi: “Idols, Talismans, and Ruses” 2. Abraham Ibn Ezra and the Aristotelian astrologers 3. The kingdoms of South Asia and the hierarchy of religions in Benjamin of Tudela’s Book of Travels 4. Translations and transformations: Glorious wisdom: Jacob ben El`azar and India’s Panchatantra 5. Translations and transformations: Immanuel Bonfils, the Brahmans, and Alexander the Great PART II: The Indian history of a biblical verse: Partial revelation 17th and 20th centuries 6. Genesis 25:6, Menasseh ben Israel, and the east PART III: New paths to India: 19th century 7. Samson Bloch: Indian philosophy and priestly system 8. David d’Beth Hillel: The hidden meanings of temple Hinduism 9. Jacob Sapir: Temple Hinduism as Torah-study