Holy Men and Hunger Artists Fasting and Asceticism in Rabbinic Culture DIAMOND, Eliezer (Rabbi Judah Nadich Assistant Professor of Talmud and Rabbinics, Rabbi Judah Nadich Assistant Professor of Talmud and Rabbinics, Jewish Theological Seminary of America)

The existence of ascetic elements within rabbinic Judaism have been either overlooked or denied. Showing that rabbinic asceticism do exist, this book also notes that this asceticism dovetails with the rabbinic theology of sin and punishment, which encourages delaying gratification in this world in the hopes of a greater reward in the next.