| This special issue is intended to broaden the discussion of the work of Emmanuel Levinas (1906-1995), philosopher and Talmudic commentator, in the context of Jewish scholarship and critical thinking within a variety of disciplines. Levinas is best known for an ethical thinking that gives priority to the other individual over all other concerns. Long recognized within philosophy for his work with the thinking of Edmund Husserl and Martin Heidegger, Levinas is less well known for his contribution to the French Jewish intellectual community. For eighteen years as director of the Hebrew Normal School, he educated a generation of Hebrew school teachers in France. In this context, he came into contact with Martin Buber, Franz Rosenzweig, Gabriel Marcel, Edmond Fleg, Andre Neher, Vladimir Jankelevitch and other thinkers who shaped French modern Jewish thought. In this issue we want to highlight these relatively unexplored aspects of Levinas’s work. Potential essays might contextualize Levinas's work on rabbinic thought and commentary (for example, his numerous Talmudic studies) within the framework of twentieth-century thought. We are also interested in the way traditional and modern Jewish thinking influenced Levinas's philosophical texts, as well as the ways Levinas's work impacts contemporary Jewish thought and literature. In addition, in keeping with the goal of Shofar to foster interdisciplinary approaches to Jewish studies and scholarship, we also welcome essays that explore the ways Levinasian thought functions within different disciplines, such as but not limited to, history, sociology, jurisprudence, political and social activism, psychology, education, and literary studies. Fresh perspectives and interdisciplinary approaches are welcomed. Essays should range between approximately 5000 to 7500 words, and conform to the Shofar style guidelines. Please keep in mind that submissions need to be accessible to educated non-specialists. Direct electronic submissions and inquires to: Dara E. Hill dfishber@purdue.edu or Rebecca Nicholson-Weir rlnichol@purdue.edu |
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