Episode 26: Travel Anxiety in Early Judaism with Elisa Uusimäki

It Means What It Means

Elisa Uusimäki discusses the topic of travel and anxiety in early Jewish literature. She shares her background and research interests, including her focus on the figure of the wise person and the intersection of wisdom and travel. She explains how she defines and approaches anxiety in her article, drawing on psychological and affect studies. She discusses the texts she analyzes, including Tobit and the writings of Philo of Alexandria, and how they depict travel-related anxiety. Elisa also explores the societal and personal dimensions of travel in the ancient world and its relevance today. The conversation explores the motivation for the journey in Tobit and the gendered representation of anxiety and delves into the different ways Tobit and his wife manage their anxiety and the role of blessings and proactive actions. It then examines Philo's understanding of travel and the experiences of diaspora communities.