Fear of God at the Nexus of Divine and Human Kingship
Fear of God takes a central place in the High Holiday liturgy. Three times a day for over a week we ask God, “O Lord, instill fear of You in all Your creations.” Yet fear is an emotion we often regard very negatively. Why should we actively ask for fear? Isn’t fear a function of lowliness and oppression?
The Jewish tradition is rife with answers to this and related questions, mostly attempting to complicate the meaning of “fear” (maybe it really means “reverence?”). In this 2-part class, instead of trying to redefine “fear,” we will seek to redeem it, uncovering a deeper understanding of fear’s place in human nature and flourishing. Each session will begin with classical texts from the Western tradition of Political Philosophy, which will provide a new understanding of the role fear plays in human life. We will then use these new understandings to gain new appreciation of a host of classical Jewish texts—from the Hebrew Bible to the modern era—and see how fear (in its simplest sense) can pave the way to freedom, religiosity, and a life of principle (and political radicalism, if that’s your thing).
