Rabbinic_texts

Rabbinic literature

Rabbinic literature

Jewish literature attributed to rabbis

See also: Chazal, Rabbinic Judaism, and Oral Torah

Rabbinic literature, in its broadest sense, is the entire spectrum of rabbinic writings throughout Jewish history. However, the term often refers specifically to literature from the Talmudic era (70–640 CE[1]), as opposed to medieval and modern rabbinic writings, and thus corresponds with the Hebrew term Sifrut Chazal (Hebrew: ספרות חז״ל "Literature [of our] sages", where Hazal normally refers only to the sages of the Talmudic era). This more specific sense of "Rabbinic literature"—referring to the Talmudim, Midrashim (Hebrew: מדרש), and related writings, but hardly ever to later texts—is how the term is generally intended when used in contemporary academic writing. The terms mefareshim and parshanim (commentaries/commentators) almost always refer to later, post-Talmudic writers of rabbinic glosses on Biblical and Talmudic texts.

Mishnaic literature

The Midr'she halakha, Mishnah, and Tosefta (compiled from materials pre-dating the year 200 CE) are the earliest extant works of rabbinic literature, expounding and developing Judaism's Oral Law, as well as ethical teachings. Following these came the two Talmuds:

The earliest extant material witness to rabbinic literature of any kind is the Tel Rehov inscription dating to the 6th–7th centuries, also the longest Jewish inscription from late antiquity.[2] Meanwhile, the earliest extant Talmudic manuscripts are from the 8th century.

The Midrash

Main article: Midrash

Midrash (pl. Midrashim) is a Hebrew word referring to a method of reading details into, or out of, a biblical text. The term midrash also can refer to a compilation of Midrashic teachings, in the form of legal, exegetical, homiletical, or narrative writing, often configured as a commentary on the Bible or Mishnah. There are a large number of "classical" Midrashic works spanning a period from Mishnaic to Geonic times, often showing evidence of having been worked and reworked from earlier materials, and frequently coming to us in multiple variants. A compact list of these works [based on (Holtz 2008)] is given below; a more thorough annotated list can be found under Midrash. The timeline below must be approximate because many of these works were composed over a long span of time, borrowing and collating material from earlier versions; their histories are therefore somewhat uncertain and the subject of scholarly debate. In the table, "n.e." designates that the work in question is not extant except in secondary references.

More information Estimated date, Exegetical ...

Later works by category

Aggada

Main article: Aggadah

Hasidic thought

Further information: Hasidic Judaism § Literature, and Hasidic philosophy § Writings

Hebrew poetry

Main article: Hebrew poetry

Jewish liturgy

Main article: Jewish liturgy

Jewish philosophy

Main article: Jewish philosophy
See also: Category:Medieval Jewish philosophers

Kabbalah

Main article: Kabbalah

Jewish law

Main article: Halakha
See also: History of responsa in Judaism

Musar literature

Main article: Musar literature

Later works by historical period

Works of the Geonim

The Geonim are the rabbis of Sura and Pumbeditha, in Babylon (650 - 1250) :

Works of the Rishonim (the "early" rabbinical commentators)

The Rishonim are the rabbis of the early medieval period (1000 - 1550)

Works of the Acharonim (the "later" rabbinical commentators)

The Acharonim are the rabbis from 1550 to the present day.

Mefareshim

Mefareshim is a Hebrew word meaning "commentators" (or roughly meaning "exegetes"), Perushim means "commentaries". In Judaism these words refer to commentaries on the Torah (five books of Moses), Tanakh, Mishnah, Talmud, the responsa literature, or even the siddur (Jewish prayerbook), and more.

Classic Torah and Talmud commentaries

Classic Torah and/or Talmud commentaries have been written by the following individuals:

Classical Talmudic commentaries were written by Rashi. After Rashi the Tosafot were written, which was an omnibus commentary on the Talmud by the disciples and descendants of Rashi; this commentary was based on discussions done in the rabbinic academies of Germany and France.[citation needed]

Modern Torah commentaries

Modern Torah commentaries which have received wide acclaim in the Jewish community include:

Modern Siddur commentaries

Modern Siddur commentaries have been written by:

See also

Biblical figures in rabbinic literature

References

  1. [1]
    Safrai 1969, p. 305, 307.
  2. [2]
    Fine, Steven; Koller, Aaron J. (2014). Talmuda de-Eretz Israel: archaeology and the rabbis in late antique Palestine. Studia Judaica. Center for Israel studies. Boston: De Gruyter. pp. 231–237. ISBN 978-1-61451-485-5.

Bibliography

  • Holtz, Barry W. (2008) [1984]. Back to the Sources: Reading the Classic Jewish Texts. Simon & Schuster. ISBN 9781439126653.
  • Introduction to Rabbinic Literature Jacob Neusner, (Anchor Bible Reference Library/Doubleday)
  • Introduction to the Talmud and Midrash, H. L. Strack and G. Stemberger, (Fortress Press)
  • The Literature of the Sages: Oral Torah, Halakha, Mishnah, Tosefta, Talmud, External Tractates, Shemuel Safrai and Peter J. Tomson (Fortress, 1987)
  • Safrai, S. (1969). "The Era of the Mishnah and Talmud (70–640)". In Ben-Sasson, H.H. (ed.). A History of the Jewish People. Translated by Weidenfeld, George. Harvard University Press (published 1976). pp. 305–382. ISBN 9780674397316.

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