The Other Talmud-The Yerushalmi: Unlocking the Secrets of The Talmud of Israel for Judaism Today

by Judith Z. Abrams PhD

Overview

This engaging look at the Judaism that might have been examines what the Yerushalmi is, how it differs from the Bavli-the Babylonian Talmud-that is used today. Reveals the Yerushalmi's vision of Jewish practice and why the it is growing in popularity.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781683364092
Publisher:	TURNER PUB CO
Publication date:	04/01/2012
Pages:	256
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 16.50(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Rabbi Judith Z. Abrams, PhD, an award-winning Jewish educator, is widely recognized for making the study of Judaism and its sacred texts accessible and relevant to our everyday lives. She is the founder and director of Maqom: A School for Adult Talmud Study (www.maqom.com) and a recipient of the Covenant Award for outstanding performance in the field of Jewish education. She teaches through the ALEPH rabbinic program and is author of Learn Talmud and Talmud for Beginners, among other books about Talmud and prayer. She is a popular speaker on the topics of Jewish learning and sacred literature.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments
Timeline
Introduction

Part 1 Daily Life
1. What Would Your Livelihood and Levies Be?
2. Who Would Your Celebrities Be?
3. The Obnoxious Rich Kid: How Would You Feel about Those Jews in Babylonia?
4. Right and Wrong, Crime and Punishment
5. How Can Judaism Compete with Christianity?
6. Tefillin and Tallit: Essential "Props" and “Costumes”
7. Who, Beside Rabbis, Was Running the Jewish Community?
8. How Would You Be Reading Torah?
9. Con Men and Characters in Disguise
10. Who Would Your Enemy Be?

Part 2 Building Blocks of Prayer
11. The Toolbox of Prayers
12. Ad-Libbing
13. What Would Your Mysticism Be?
14. Trailers: Meditation Techniques of the Sages

Part 3 The Holidays
15. What Would the High Holy Days Be Like?
16. What Would Sukkot Be Like?
17. Passover
18. What Would Shavuot Be Like?
19. Purim and Hanukkah
20. Fast Days

Part 4 Life Cycle
21. Childbirth (Women Are in Charge) and Parenthood
22. School, Coming of Age, and Learning Differences
23. What Would Your Wedding and Married Life Be Like?
24. What Would Old Age Be Like?

Conclusion: What We Can Recapture
Abbreviations
When, Who, and Where
Orders and Tractates of the Mishnah
Glossary
The Sages

Editorial Reviews

"Takes us on a wonderful odyssey … chock full of tantalizing textual nuggets which demonstrate Abrams' erudition and breadth of knowledge. She … makes the essential aspects accessible to each and every [reader]."
—Dr. Norman J. Cohen, professor of midrash, Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion; author, Masking and Unmasking Ourselves: Interpreting Biblical Texts on
Clothing and Identity and The Way Into Torah

“Comprehensive and clear…. Provides an understanding of a generally neglected but absolutely crucial and foundational text of the Jewish people. [The book] deserves to be read and placed on the shelf of every Jewish and religious studies library.”
—Rabbi David Ellenson, president, Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion

“A joyful romp through the foreign fields of the Talmud Yerushalmi. Master teacher Rabbi Judith Abrams leads readers dancing through the Talmud texts. Brava on a wonderful introduction to a difficult text.”
—Rabbi Burton L. Visotzky, Appleman Professor of Midrash and Interreligious Studies, The Jewish Theological Seminary; author, Sage Tales: Wisdom and Wonder from the Rabbis of the Talmud

“Does a great service by introducing the Jerusalem Talmud to the English-speaking public. Allows the reader to get a taste of the Jerusalem Talmud by contrasting it primarily to the Babylonian Talmud without our having to completely agree with all her views. Well done!”
—Rabbi Joseph Radinsky, rabbi emeritus, United Orthodox Synagogues

“Presents Yerushalmi texts that reflect many of the interests of this 'other Talmud’ in a clear and extremely engaging manner.”
—Rabbi Michael Chernick, PhD, Deutsch Professor of Jewish Jurisprudence and Social Justice, Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion; author, A Great Voice That Did Not Cease

From the Publisher