Contemporary Psychoanalysis and Modern Jewish Philosophy

Michael Oppenheim is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Religion at Concordia University, Montreal. His books include Speaking/Writing of God (1997), Jewish Philosophy and Psychoanalysis (2006), and Encounters of Consequence (2009).

• PrefaceIntroduction: Love is… 1 Loving the Neighbor: On Self-Love2 Jessica Benjamin and (the Missing) Martin Buber: On Intersubjectivity3 The Presence of the Other: On Transformation4 Langue, Parole, et Chanson: On Language5 Revisiting an "Illusion": On Meaning6 Beyond "Betrayal": On ResponsibilityConclusion: Strong as Death

"In this fascinating and original book, Michael Oppenheim brings modern Jewish thinkers into conversation with contemporary psychoanalysts. Comparing their profound explorations of love, death, and human relationships, he creates an intriguing conversation between disparate approaches to the human condition."-Susannah Heschel, Eli Black Professor of Jewish Studies, Dartmouth College"Oppenheim has a unique ability to create dialogue between thinkers who exist on different planes and registers of meaning. In so doing, the reader is invited to listen to the stories we tell about "love", "relationship", "responsibility" and "death" in such a way that takes us far beyond their assumed, homogenized, and secularized forms. The dialogues that Oppenheim fosters allow us to speak about love more capaciously and with the dimension it deserves. Oppenheim’s sophisticated interdisciplinary scholarship is a model to be emulated."-David M. Goodman, Ph.D., Director, Psychology and the Other Institute"Two Languages of Love deftly weaves together rich insights from Judaism and relational psychoanalysis. Each chapter demonstrates the fresh and original insights that emerge from the confluence of these traditions. When he turns to the subject of death, for instance, Oppenheim relies on both fields to forge a rich conversation about the authentic confrontation of mortality. Clinicians will find these moves innovative and immediately relevant. The author of this book is a teacher; readers of this volume are offered a compelling demonstration of the best in interdisciplinary scholarship."-Eric Severson, Seattle University"Building on his previous publications, Oppenheim continues his path-breaking exploration of the interplay between modern Jewish philosophy and psychoanalysis. By generating an original and insightful dialogue between the Jewish philosophers Buber, Rosenzweig, and Levinas and the relational psychoanalysts, Hans Loewald, Stephen Mitchel, and Jessica Benjamin, among others, Oppenheim broadens the cultural significance of modern Jewish philosophy and enriches our understanding of recent developments in psychoanalysis. His interrogation of relationality and inter-subjectivity, of language’s role in meaning-making, of meaning and responsibility, and of trust and eternity creatively bridges philosophy, psychology, and religion."-Hava Tirosh-Samuelson, Arizona State University