Page - 89 - in Limina - Grazer theologische Perspektiven, Volume 4:2

87 | www.limina-graz.eu Claudia D. Bergmann | Allein am Tisch? | BIOGRAPHY PD Dr. Claudia D. Bergmann promovierte im Fach „Hebrew Bible“ an der University of Chicago, sie habilitierte sich an der Ruhr-Universität Bochum zu antik-jüdischen Mahlvorstellungen und Speiseritualen. Ihre daraus entstandene Monografie Festmahl ohne Ende. Apokalyptische Vorstellungen vom Speisen in der Kommenden Welt im antiken Judentum und ihre biblischen Wurzeln wurde 2019 bei Kohlhammer veröffentlicht. Gegenwärtig arbeitet sie als Wissenschaftliche Mitarbeiterin in einem Projekt zu den Sabbat- opferliedern aus Qumran an der Ruhr-Universität Bochum. E-Mail: ClaudiaDorit.Bergmann(at)rub.de | KEY WORDS Judentum; Kommende Welt; Pessach; Ritual; Speise fects then of not being able to participate in communal meals? This article at- tempts to answer this question by drawing on two examples. First, ancient Jew- ish texts that tell of the promise that the communal meal will resolve all social and religious issues experienced in this life in the world to come will be analysed. Second, modern ritual strategies to celebrate Passover 2020/5780 and unite the community despite the restrictions and social-distancing measures in light of the pandemic will be presented. The article aims to draw links between the ritual of sharing meals and the building of community through rituals. Literary exam- ples from the turn of the era and today are specifically selected for comparison with the further aim of combining past and present aspects of Judaism in this academic exploration of the ritual of communal meals in difficult social, cultural and religious circumstances.