Department of Jewish Thought
Subject: On the Formation of a Religious Society: The 'Exemplary It' in Martin Buber's Life and Thought
Supervisor: Prof. Benjamin Pollock
Abstract: My research explores how an exemplary society should look – politically, socially and culturally – and analyzes the inherent philosophical problems entailed in achieving such a reality. This project is examined through the lens of German-Jewish thinker Martin Buber (1878–1965). Buber's "philosophy of dialogue" is conveyed in theoretical writings on religion, sociology, culture and politics, and is manifest in his involvement with the Zionist movement; his translation and interpretation of Biblical and Hasidic texts; his educational work with Jews in Europe and in Israel; and his correspondences with politicians, intellectuals and activists. Scholarship on Buber's thought until now has reduced his political, social and cultural agenda, since it has neglected the concept of the "It" (Es) in his philosophy of dialogue. My research brings to light new distinctions in the overlooked, yet essential, concept of the "It" in Buber's philosophy, and in turn, demonstrates how his Biblical, Hasidic and Zionist writings, alongside his activity in these realms, reveal his vision for an exemplary society and the methods he advances to achieve it.
Bio: Evyatar is writing a Ph.D. in the Department of Jewish Thought at Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He is a researcher at the Franz Rosenzweig Minerva Research Center for German-Jewish Literature and Cultural History. Alongside his research, Evyatar teaches an academic writing course at the university for which he received the 2021 excellence in teaching award, and has previously taught an introductory course to Jewish Studies. Evyatar's M.A. thesis on Martin Buber's religious thought, written under the guidance of Prof. Benjamin Pollock, received an award of distinction by the Zvi Werblowsky National Award Committee of the Israeli Association for the Study of Religions.
Publications:
Varman, Evyatar. “Birth, Sehnsucht and Creation: Reading Buber between Plato and Kierkegaard.” Religions 14, no. 1 (2022): 16.
Rotenschtreich Scholarship 2023/2024
MA Honors Program 2014/15