title: The Meanings of Death in Rabbinic Judaism
author: David Kraemer
description: <strong>'His analyses of the pertinent Rabbinic narratives as well as laws are systematic and cogent, a coherent set of questions coming to bear at each point in his presentation'</strong> - <em>Jacob Neusner, The Jerusalem Post 18/02/00</em><br /><br /><strong>'This book contributes significantly to the growing interdisciplinary field of death studies...'</strong> - <em>Douglas J. Davies, University of Durham, Journal of Semetic Studies</em><br /><br /><strong>'This book will be a source of enjoyment and inspiration to anyone interested in the encounter between Buddhism and Christianity and indeed in inter-religious encounter in general.'</strong> - <em>'Elizabeth J. Harris, Reviews in Religion and Theology</em><br /><br /><strong>'David Kraemer ... provides an interesting, yet highly critical academic insight into Jewish practices as expounded in rabbinic literature.'</strong> - <em>Rabbi Martin van den Bergh, Mortality</em>
zlib_text: Death
  From Nietzsche’s pronouncement that “God is dead” to Camus’ argument
  that suicide is the fundamental question of philosophy, the concept of
  death plays an important role in existential phenomenology, reaching
  from Kierkegaard to Heidegger and Marcel.
  This book explores the phenomenology of death and offers a unique
  way into the phenomenological tradition. Paul Fairﬁeld examines the
  following key topics:
  � the modern denial of death
  � Heidegger’s important concept of “being-toward-death” and its centrality
  in phenomenological ideas, such as authenticity and existence
  � the philosophical signiﬁcance of death rituals: what explains the
  imperative toward ritual around death, and what is its purpose and
  meaning?
  � death in an age of secularism
  � the philosophy and ethics of suicide
  � death as a mystery rather than a philosophical problem to be solved
  � the relationship between hope and death.
  Death: A Philosophical Inquiry is essential reading for students of phe-
  nomenology and exist