Browsing by Author "Reisenberger, Azila"

Now showing 1 - 5 of 5
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    Examination of the Biblical texts that form the basis of evangelical Christian support for Israel, with special reference to the response of the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem
    (2008) Carstens, Jack E; Reisenberger, Azila
    The thesis is set against a background of growing support for Israel and the Jewish people from the Evangelical Christian world. This phenomena is attracting attention from many quarters, including secular as well as religious parties. This support is all the more pronounced because it is happening despite a barrage of antagonism directed against Israel by the world press, international human rights groups and by groundswell of hatred from the Muslim world. In the eyes of their detractors, Israel is an occupying force that is dehumanizing the Palestinians who are the victims of Zionist colonialism.
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    The power of laments in alleviating despair : revisiting Hebrew laments
    (2001) Dison, Naomi Judith; Reisenberger, Azila
    Bibliography: p. 299-315.
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    The rabbinic attitude to intermarriage as reflected in Midrashic literature
    (2005) Matitiani, Malcolm Salwyn; Reisenberger, Azila
    Includes bibliographical references.
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    Socio-political challenges of marginal religious groups: the Sabbatean movement as a case study
    (2018) Gencoglu, Halim; Reisenberger, Azila
    Minority religious communities, like the Sabbateans, have often been labelled and marginalised by mainstream religions. At times, their leaders have been labelled as ‘false messiahs’ by society or the state. To what extent do states play a role in facilitating the integration of diverse groupings? This question is particularly topical in the 21st century context of cross-border migrations, but also a perennial question facing society, as minority religious movements developed throughout history. The study focuses on one of the minority movements in Abrahamic religions, Sabbateanism. It analyses the development of the Sabbateanism by controversial Jewish Rabbi, Shabbetai Tzvi in the Ottoman Empire. Tvzi attracted many followers, but also received criticism from orthodox Jews and others, especially when he converted to Islam. The thesis analyses how the movement evolved during Tzvi’s life, and after his death, and what may have urged his followers to hide their religious identities. It then compares this movement with other controversial minority movements, such as Crypto-Christianity and the Ahmadiyya movement in Islam. This comparison offers insight into the minority groups’ challenges, and into the reasons that they have been labelled as ‘heretical’ in Islamic, Christian and Jewish societies. In terms of methodology, the study draws on unique archival materials from Turkey and Israel, dating back to the 17th century. The thesis traces Turkish-Jewish relations prevailing in Asia from the 7th century onwards, to contextualise the Ottoman state’s approach towards Tzvi and his religious movement. It then analyses the State policies towards Sabbateanism and other minority groups. The study critically examines these instances in world history when minorities have been labelled as heratical and some are still labeled as such, even though “tolerance” and “respect” are considered the hallmark of modernization. The study shows that Ottoman rulers developed an elaborate system to accommodate non-Muslim (Dhimmi) societies within the Islamic state. This is perhaps what inspired Toynbee, who was otherwise critical of the Ottoman Empire, to describe it as close to ‘Plato’s ideal state’. This said, the research findings prompt critical reflections on the role of state policies in Ottoman times and beyond, and the effects of religious and national identities on the assertion and flourishing of minority groups.
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    Women in sacred spaces : an analysis of traditional Islam and Judaism in the communities of Cape Town
    (2002) Mataar, Yusuf; Chidester, David; Reisenberger, Azila
    The New Constitution protects Muslims and Jews as part of the minority religions in a pluralistic South Africa just like the rights of women are procured in the public and private arenas. Multiplicity usually exacerbates a more interactive relationship between divergent faiths thereby bringing into sharp focus the strained association of local Muslims and Jews considering the escalating violence in Palestine/Israel. This study firstly attempts to examine the status of traditional Muslim and Jewish women autonomously in the sacred spaces of the mosque, synagogue and home to highlight the customary gendered issues in the related spaces. These gendered sacred spaces are managed via ritual activity detennined in traditional law, which is rooted in genderized cosmogonies and myths founded in theology consequently exhibiting the interplay between theology and law. The study also endeavors to analyze the position of traditional Muslim and Jewish women reciprocally in the public and private sacred terrains of Cape Town to underline gendered similarities. These commonalities akin to genderized sacred spaces could serve as a forum for bridging the local Muslim-Jewish divide by stimulating discourse among intellectuals; community organizations negotiating public and private matters; and individual members of the respective religious traditions. Gendered resemblances could additionally amplifY the debate of women's rights in the public and private sacred domains to evoke an equitable understanding of each other (in the binaries of Muslims and Jews as well as men and women).