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Caroline Bynum suggests in Christian Materiality that there was fear of unexpected manifestations during the mass. My own research shows recommendations that the priest check if others saw the same thing & wait to see if the phenomena (bloody flesh on the patten etc.) return to normal.
Tom Izbicki
[Pls excuse the x-posting]
Throughout the Middle Ages, Jews in Christian Europe seriously neglected certain central
Observances, such as donning phylacteries and attaching parchment scrolls (mezuzot) to their
Doors. Several explanations have been suggested for this behavior, ranging from fear of
Attack by Christians (on the charge that these ritual items are used for sorcery) to the argument that
Sanitary conditions in towns and cities did not allow such holy items to be displayed or used.
I am investigating whether this neglect was also due to fear of contact with these sacred items,
Which contain parchments with God’s Name.
My question is whether there similar sentiments are ever expressed regarding Christian
Ritual items (Crucifixes, Crosses, Host wafers etc).
Thanks so much.
Jeffrey
Professor Jeffrey R. Woolf
Associate Professor, Talmud Department
Bar Ilan University
Ramat Gan 52900 Israel
Alt. E-mail: [log in to unmask]
Cell: +972-52-274-7375
Fax: +972-2-993-4397
Author of: The
Fabric of Religious Life in Medieval Ashkenaz (1000-1300), EJ Brill 2015
Editor of: Joseph
B. Soloveitchik, Kol Dodi Dofek,
KTAV