The Classics of Judaism

In order to understand the faith of Judaism, according to Jacob Neusner, one must look at the very foundation of that faith: the Torah. To believers, this act of studying the Torah provides a direct and immediate link to the living God and forms the very basis of a faithful Jewish life. In this book, Jacob Neusner introduces the reader to selections from all the documents of the Torah, in addition to Scripture, that define the canon of Judaism in its formative age.The Classics of Judaismis, however, more than a collection of writings. It is also a primer for learning how to approach and read any book of Judaism.

Jacob Neusner is Distinguished Professor of Religious Studies, University of South Florida.

Letter to the Student	p. ix
How to Read a Book of Judaism	p. 1
The Written Torah: The Hebrew Scriptures ("Old Testament") and Judaism	p. 11
The Oral Torah The Mishnah and the Tosefta
The Mishnah (ca. 200 C.E.)	p. 25
Reading from the Mishnah	p. 39
The Tosefta (ca. 200-300 C.E.)	p. 53
Reading from the Tosefta	p. 61
Tractate Abot (The Fathers)
Tractate Abot (ca. 250 C.E.)	p. 71
Reading from Tractate Abot	p. 77
The Earlier Midrash Compilations "The Tannaite Midrashim" [ca. 200-300 C.E.]
What Is Midrash?	p. 93
Mekhilta Attributed to R. Ishmael	p. 99
Reading from the Mekhilta Attributed to R. Ishmael	p. 107
Sifra (to Leviticus)	p. 119
Reading from Sifra	p. 127
Sifre to Numbers	p. 137
Reading from Sifre to Numbers	p. 144
Sifre to Deuteronomy	p. 150
Reading from Sifre to Deuteronomy	p. 163
The First Talmud The Talmud of the Land of Israel [ca. 400 C.E.]
What is a Talmud? An Example of a Talmud	p. 175
Defining the Two Talmuds	p. 192
Reading from the Talmud of the Land of Israel	p. 204
The Later Midrash Compilations [ca. 450 C.E.]
Genesis Rabbah	p. 213
Reading from Genesis Rabbah	p. 223
Leviticus Rabbah	p. 231
Reading from Leviticus Rabbah	p. 243
Pesiqta deRab Kahana	p. 256
Reading from Pesiqta deRab Kahana (And a Recapitulation of the Traits of the Later Midrash Compilations)	p. 263
The Second Talmud The Talmud of Babylonia [ca. 600 C.E.]
The Talmud of Babylonia	p. 283
Why the Bavli Won	p. 291
Meeting God in the Torah: The Bavli and the Integrity of Truth	p. 310
The Latest Midrash Compilations [ca. 500-600 C.E.]
Lamentations Rabbati	p. 327
Reading from Lamentations Rabbati	p. 335
Ruth Rabbah	p. 346
Reading from Ruth Rabbah	p. 357
Esther Rabbah I	p. 367
Reading from Esther Rabbah I	p. 373
Song of Songs Rabbah	p. 383
Reading from Song of Songs Rabbah	p. 392
The Talmud to Tractate Abot [ca. 600 C.E.]
The Fathers According to Rabbi Nathan (And a Reading from The Fathers According to Rabbi Nathan)	p. 405
The Prayerbook of Judaism
The Basic Structure of Judaic Prayer: The Shema, the Prayer, Alenu	p. 419
Prayers for the Sabbath and Festivals, the Days of Awe, Passover	p. 429
Other Prayers of Judaism: Circumcision, the Marriage Rite, Burial, Grace after Meals	p. 436
What Makes a Book a Classic of Judaism?
Singing the Torah	p. 447
Letter to the Teacher	p. 455
Suggestions for Further Reading	p. 475
Index	p. 481
Table of Contents provided by Syndetics. All Rights Reserved.

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The Classics of Judaism

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