Introduction to Judaic Thought and Rabbinic Literature

by Martin Sicker

Overview

"What will quickly become evident to those previously unfamiliar with rabbinic literature is the fact that virtually none of it, with the exception of a relative handful of recent popular works of dubious significance, is designed or intended for casual perusal. Rabbinic writing is often painfully concise, with a style and idiom of its own, and requires substantial intellectual investment on the part of the reader to make it comprehensible. In other words, rabbinic literature is not designed for reading but for study, and has proved highly rewarding for those who have successfully struggled with it over the centuries. "It is my Hope that this brief introduction to the subject may help the reader gain some insight into the nature of a highly complex literature that has grown from the teachings of Moses, more than three thousand years ago to the vast libraries of rabbinic thought and interpretation that exist today."

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781567207255
Publisher:	ABC-CLIO, Incorporated
Publication date:	04/30/2007
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	285 KB

About the Author

Martin Sicker is author of over 30 books on Jewish and Middle East history, geopolitics, political theory, and Biblical studies. He is a private consultant, writer, and lecturer. His books include The Rise and Fall of the Ancient Israelite States, Political Culture of Judaism, The Islamic World in Ascendency, The Middle East in the Twentieth Century, and many others.

Table of Contents

Introduction     vii
The TaNaKH or Hebrew Bible     1
Midrash Halakhah     23
The Mishnah     47
The Talmud     71
Midrash Aggadah     89
Law Codes and Related Literature     117
Bible Commentaries     135
The Contemporary State of the Literature     155
Notes     159
References     165
Index     169

Editorial Reviews

The title of this ambitious, short book is a bit deceptive. Although Sicker, a prolific writer of books on Jewish history and biblical studies, seeks to introduce the reader to traditional Judaic thought through an explanation of rabbinic literature and the various books and tractates comprising Judaic literature, this is hardly an "introductory-level" text. After a detailed discussion of the Hebrew Bible (the Tanakh), the remaining seven chapters deal with complex topics such as biblical exegesis; the codification of applied law and practice; the evolution, similarities, and differences between the Babylonian Talmud and the Jerusalem Talmud; the meanings of biblical writings as collected in the Midrash; and a discussion of the state of Judaic thought in our new century. What Sicker makes eminently clear is that rabbinic writing and Judaic thought are not meant for casual consumption but for concentrated study. The highly complex and rich literature that has emerged from the original books of Moses now has a highly complex and rich companion guide in Sicker's study. Recommended for libraries with scholarly collections of Judaic studies.
—Herbert E. Shapiro

Library Journal

This introduction to the Talmudic literature covers writings produced by the rabbinic movement, beginning in the period of the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple in 70 CE, and continuing beyond the completion of the Babylonian Talmud to the latest rabbinic, Midrashic texts (9th and 10th centuries). Beginning with an introduction to the Hebrew Bible, foundational to all rabbinic writing, the volume covers Midrash Halakhah (that is, rabbinic exegetical works that treat biblical law), the Mishnah, the Talmuds of the Land of Israel and Babylonia, and Midrash Aggadah (that is, homiletical interpretation of the Bible's narrative passages)….Appropriate to individuals with no background in the rabbinic literature….General readers.” —Choice

“What Sicker makes eminently clear is that rabbinic writing and Judaic thought are not meant for casual consumption but for concentrated study. The highly complex and rich literature that has emerged from the original Books of Moses now has a highly complex and rich companion guide in Sicker's study. Recommended for libraries with scholarly studies of Judaic studies.” —Library Jourbanal

“This volume is a good beginning for those who wish to study Mishnah, midrash aggadah, and/or law codes and related literature. The book is clearly written and the index, footnotes and list of references assist the student in taking the next step. Recommended for academic libraries and synagogues where there are serious students of Talmud.” —Association of Jewish Libraries

From the Publisher