The Philosophy of Rabbi Shalom Ber Schneersohn

Language, Gender and Mysticism

By: Rabbi Dr Reuven Leigh

Write A Review

Paperback | 24 April 2025

At a Glance

Paperback
256 Pages

Dimensions(cm)
21.4 x 13.8 x 1.4

Paperback

RRP $59.99

$58.75

or 4 interest-free payments of $14.69 with

Ships in 3 to 5 business days

Reuven Leigh provides the first in-depth introduction to the pioneering philosophy of Rabbi Shalom Ber Schneersohn. Bringing him into dialogue with key continental philosophers Emmanuel Levinas, Jacques Derrida and Julia Kristeva, this book reveals how Schneersohnâs views anticipated many prominent themes in 20th-century thought.

Shalom Ber Schneersohn (1860-1920) was the fifth Rebbe of the Habad-Lubavitch dynasty. He was a traditional, kabbalistic thinker and yet, beyond mysticism, he wrote extensively on speech, gender and the body. So why is he not better known? Leigh begins by uncovering and contesting numerous scholarly assumptions that have operated to exclude traditional rabbinic thinkers from contemporary philosophical debates.

Seeking to correct this, this book offers a close reading of Schneersohnâs 1898 discourses. With the disruption of traditional binary structures being the dominant theme pervading Schneersohnâs work, Leigh engages with Levinasâ provocative ideas on speech and the feminine. He also highlights how Derridean deconstruction involves a more positive approach to presence that was already anticipated in the writings of Schneersohn. And from the disruption of the hierarchy of signification to the semiotic aspect of language and the maternal body, this book demonstrates how Schneersohn foreshadows a number of Kristevaâs central philosophical concerns.

A wide-ranging and inclusive volume, The Philosophy of Rabbi Shalom Ber Schneersohn demonstrates not only how forward-thinking Schneersohnâs ideas were over a century ago, but how relevant they still are today.

Shipping

	Standard Shipping	Express Shipping
Metro postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95
Regional postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95
Rural postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95

Orders over $89.00 qualify for free shipping.

How to return your order

At Booktopia, we offer hassle-free returns in accordance with our returns policy. If you wish to return an item, please get in touch with Booktopia Customer Care.

Additional postage charges may be applicable.