A Remembrance of His Wonders
JEWISH CULTURE AND CONTEXTS
Published in association with the Herbert D. Katz Center for Advanced Judaic Studies of the University of Pennsylvania
STEVEN WEITZMAN, SERIES EDITOR
A complete list of books in the series is available from the publisher.
A Remembrance of His Wonders
NATURE AND THE SUPERNATURAL IN MEDIEVAL ASHKENAZ
David I. Shyovitz
UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA PRESS Philadelphia
THIS BOOK IS MADE POSSIBLE BY A COLLABORATIVE GRANT FROM THE ANDREW W. MELLON FOUNDATION.
Copyright © 2017 University of Pennsylvania Press
All rights reserved. Except for brief quotations used for purposes of review or scholarly citation, none of this book may be reproduced in any form by any means without written permission from the publisher.
Published by
University of Pennsylvania Press
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104-4112
Printed in the United States of America on acid-free paper
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Shyovitz, David I., author.
Title: A remembrance of His wonders : nature and the supernatural in medieval Ashkenaz / David I. Shyovitz.
Other titles: Jewish culture and contexts.
Description: 1st edition. | Philadelphia : University of Pennsylvania Press, [2017] | Series: Jewish culture and contexts | Includes bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2016048007 | ISBN 9780812249118 (hardcover : alk. paper)
Subjects: LCSH: Hasidism, Medieval. | Nature—Religious aspects—Judaism—History of doctrines—Middle Ages, 600–1500. | Human body—Religious aspects—Judaism—History of doctrines—Middle Ages, 600–1500. | Soul—Judaism—History of doctrines—Middle Ages, 600–1500. | Judaism—History—Medieval and early modern period, 425–1789. | Ashkenazim—History—To 1500. | Jews—Germany—History—1096–1800. | Judaism—Relations—Christianity—History—To 1500. | Christianity and other religions—Judaism—History—To 1500.
Classification: LCC BM316 .S59 2017 | DDC 296.3094/0902—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2016048007
CONTENTS
1. Wondrous Nature and Natural Wonders
5. Between Sewer, Synagogue, and Cemetery
I praise the Lord with all my heart
in the assembled congregation of the upright.
The works of the Lord are great,
within reach of all who desire them.
His deeds are splendid and glorious;
His beneficence is everlasting;
He has created a remembrance of His wonders …
He revealed to His people His powerful works.
ABBREVIATIONS
| BhM | Beit ha-Midrash |
| BT | Babylonian Talmud |
| EJ | Encyclopedia Judaica |
| Hokhmat ha-Nefesh | Sodei Razya, ed. Barzani, 327–442 |
| JQR | Jewish Quarterly Review |
| M | Mishnah |
| PAAJR | Proceedings of the American Academy for Jewish Research |
| Perush Sefer Yetsirah | Sodei Razya, ed. Barzani, 239–325 |
| PL | Patrologia Latina |
| PT | Palestinian Talmud |
| SHB | Sefer Hasidim [Bologna], ed. Margaliyot |
| SHP | Sefer Hasidim [Parma], ed. Wistinetski |
| Sod ha-Merkavah | Sodei Razya, ed. Barzani, 155–215 |
| Sod Ma’aseh Bereishit | Sodei Razya, ed. Barzani, 1–153 |
| Sefer ha-Shem | Sodei Razya, ed. Eisenbach, vol. 2, 1–219 |
| Sod ha-Yihud | Sodei Razya, ed. Kamelhar, 1–2 |
| ZALN | “Kuntres ‘Zekher Asah le-Nifle’otav’ li-R. Yehudah he-Hasid,” ed. Ta-Shma |
A Remembrance of His Wonders