Chapters in the Formative History of Judaism

This collection of essays and book reviews represents two years of work from 2003 to 2005 focused on the Rabbinic canon. The collection is divided into four parts which include essays examining historical and history-of-religion questions precipitated by the documentary perspective; the treatment of 56 B.C.E., 70 C.E., and 132-135 C.E. in successive canonical compilations; the history of law; and several freestanding essays and book reviews.

Jacob Neusner is Research Professor of Theology and Senior Fellow of the Institute of Advanced Theology at Bard College

PREFACE

VII

CHAPTERS IN THE FORMATIVE HISTORY OF JUDAISM

1. THE VITALITY OF RABBINIC IMAGINATION. THE MISHNAH VERSUS THE BIBLE AND QUMRAN. TWO COMPARISONS

1

(56)

2. IS SCRIPTURE THE ORIGIN OF THE HALAKHAH?

57

(22)

3. How IMPORTANT WAS THE DESTRUCTION OF THE SECOND TEMPLE IN THE FORMATION OF RABBINIC JUDAISM?

79

(16)

4. How PIVOTAL IS YAVNEH IN THE HISTORY OF JUDAISM?

95

(30)

5. THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IN KINDRED SYSTEMS, JUDAIC AND CHRISTIAN

125

(28)

6. THE MISHNAH'S CONCEPTION OF THE PRIESTHOOD: THE AGGADAH VERSUS THE HALAKHAH

153

(16)

7. DOES CLASSICAL JUDAISM YIELD A DOCTRINE OF TOLERANCE?

169

(24)

8. DOES CLASSICAL JUDAISM YIELD A DOCTRINE OF ALTRUISM?

193

(14)

DOCUMENTARY READINGS IN THE HISTORY OF JUDAISM

9. A DOCUMENTARY READING OF RABBINIC COMPOSITIONS ON 586, 70, AND 132-135 IN THE FORMATIVE CANON

207

(20)

10. RABBINIC LITERATURE AND THE CHRISTIAN SCRIPTURES

227

(14)

11. How HALAKHIC AND AGGADIC DOCUMENTS TREAT THE BESTIARY COMMON TO THEM BOTH

241

(28)

12. PIRQE ABOT READ AS A COHERENT THEOLOGICAL STATEMENT

269

(10)

13. THE TWO STAGES IN THE FORMATION OF TALMUDIC JUDAISM: THE LITERARY INQUIRY INTO A HISTORICAL QUESTION

279

(24)

14. DO TYPES AND FORMS YIELD A PRE-HISTORY OF THE BALI? TESTING THE RESULTS OF RICHARD KALMIN

303

(22)

LAW, LANGUAGE, DIALECTICS

15. THE SECOND TEMPLE ORIGINS OF THE HALAKHAH OF BESAH

325

(10)

16. THE INTEGRITY OF THE RABBINIC LAW OF PURITY (MISHNAH-TRACTATE TOHOROT)

335

(12)

17. JUDAISM AND THE HEBREW LANGUAGE

347

(6)

18. TALMUDIC DIALECTICS

353

(6)

BOOK REVIEWS

19. DANIEL BOYARIN, BORDER LINES. THE PARTITION OF JUDAEO-CHRISTIANITY

359

(10)

20. JOEL M. HOFFMAN, IN THE BEGINNING. A SHORT HISTORY OF THE HEBREW LANGUAGE

369

(4)

21. MAREN NIEHOFF, PHILO ON JEWISH IDENTITY AND CULTURE

373

(2)

22. THE OEUVRE OF JONATHAN Z. SMITH

375

(12)

23. AMRAM TROPPER, WISDOM, POLITICS, AND HISTORIOGRAPHY. TRAC'TATE AVOT IN THE CONTEXT OF THE GRAECO-ROMAN NEAR EAST

387

(6)

24. KARIN HEDNER ZETTERHOLM, PORTRAIT OF A VILLAIN. LABAN THE ARAMEAN IN RABBINIC LITERATURE

393

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Chapters in the Formative History of Judaism Current Questions and Enduring Answers

Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials

FREE SHIPPING

Rent More, Save More! Use code: BBRENTAL

5% off 1 book, 7% off 2 books, 10% off 3+ books

Chapters in the Formative History of Judaism Current Questions and Enduring Answers

Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials

Digital License