On My Right Michael, On My Left Gabriel: Angels in Ancient Jewish CultureAngelic beings can be found throughout the Hebrew Bible, and by late antiquity the archangels Michael and Gabriel were as familiar as the patriarchs and matriarchs, guardian angels were as present as one’s shadow, and praise of the seraphim was as sacred as the Shema prayer. Mika Ahuvia recovers once-commonplace beliefs about the divine realm and demonstrates that angels were foundational to ancient Judaism. Ancient Jewish practice centered on humans' relationships with invisible beings who acted as intermediaries, role models, and guardians. Drawing on non-canonical sources—incantation bowls, amulets, mystical texts, and liturgical poetry—Ahuvia shows that when ancient men and women sought access to divine aid, they turned not only to their rabbis or to God alone but often also to the angels. On My Right Michael, On My Left Gabriel spotlights these overlooked stories, interactions, and rituals, offering a new entry point to the history of Judaism and the wider ancient Mediterranean and Near Eastern world in which it flourished. |
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Contents
Babylonian Ritual Sources | 18 |
Palestinian Ritual Sources | 50 |
No Angels? Early Rabbinic Sources | 78 |
Rabbinic Sources | 101 |
Liturgical Responses | 118 |
Late Rabbinic Sources | 143 |
Other editions - View all
On My Right Michael, On My Left Gabriel: Angels in Ancient Jewish Culture Mika Ahuvia Limited preview - 2021 |
Common terms and phrases
According amulets ancient angels appears Aramaic associated attributed authority Babylonian begins belief biblical blessing bring called century chapter Christian client command communities conceptions context demons described discussed divine early earth emphasized evidence evil example figures formula Gabriel Genizah God’s healing heavenly heavens Hebrew Hekhalot Hekhalot Rabbati Holy human hymns idea imagined important incantation bowls invisible invoked Israel Jewish Jews Judaism known late antique later literature liturgical Lord Magic means Metatron Michael ministering angels mystics observed offer Origins Palestine Palestinian period person poetry popular practice praise prayer presence priests protect Qedushah rabbis Razim reading realm reciting references relationship religion religious ritual practitioners role Roman sages Schäfer scholars Sefer Shaked sources Spells spirits story suggests synagogue Talmud temple texts tion Torah traditions translation verses women writings Yannai
Bibliographic information
| Title | On My Right Michael, On My Left Gabriel: Angels in Ancient Jewish Culture The S. Mark Taper Foundation Imprint in Jewish Studies |
| Author | Mika Ahuvia |
| Publisher | Univ of California Press, 2021 |
| ISBN | 0520380118, 9780520380110 |
| Length | 270 pages |
| Subjects | › › History / Ancient / General RELIGION / Judaism / General Religion / Judaism / History Religion / Judaism / Rituals & Practice Social Science / Jewish Studies |
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