Unit One
Jewish history and literature
in the classic age
Judah and Judy “Ism”
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Why the term Judaism is misleading
But not as misleading as the term
Israel, the traditional name for the
Jewish people (and NOT a country!)
What is the difference between Israel
and Jew?
Judaism – Creed,
Religion,Nationality?
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Can one be a Christian atheist? Can
one be a Jewish atheist?
Secular Judaism vs. Religious
Judaism.
Fitting the texts of classical Judaism
into 19th century categories of
religion.
A glossary of terms
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Hebrew
Israel
Jews
Semites
The Biblical Legacy
Jews have traditionally divided the
Hebrew Bible into three sections:
Torah ('Law', the Five Books of
Moses), Nevi'im ('Prophets'), and
Ketuvim ('Writings'); the first letters
of each section form the word, Ta
Na Kh, which is the common Hebrew
name for the Hebrew Bible.
The Hebrew Bible is
not the Old Testament!
The differences between the Hebrew
(or Jewish) Bible and the Old
Testament of the Protestants (mostly
order) and Catholic (order and
books)
The Biblical Legacy
Traditionally, Jews have attributed
the composition of the Torah to
Moses, Nevi'im to various Prophets,
and Ketuvim to Prophets and two
Kings (David and Solomon). Modern
scholarship sees them as the work of
anonymous authors dating from the
11th cent. b.c.e to the 3rd cent.
b.c.e.
Torah
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The Five Books of Moses: Genesis,
Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and
Deuteronomy (these names derive
from the Greek translation)
Contains mostly narrative and laws –
some poetry, too.
Nevi’im (Prophets)
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Historical Narratives (Early Prophets)
Records of Prophetic Writings (Later
Prophets)
• The prophets are more castigators than
prognosticators.
• Prophecy ends with after the return
from the Babylonian Exile
Historical Time Line of Torah
and Nevi’im
c. 1700 b.c.e. Abraham
c. 1290 " Exodus from Egypt
c. 1000 " David
722 " Fall of Northern Kingdom
586 " Fall or Southern Kingdom,destruction
of First Temple, exile to Babylonia
516 " Some return to Israel under Haggai
and Zekhariah
444 " Ezra
Ketuvim – Writings
Psalm, Wisdom literature, Song of
Songs, Ruth, Lamentations, Esther,
Daniel, Historical Chronicles, some of
these are pseudepigraphic
Development of Oral Tradition
and Post-Biblical Writings
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200-100 c.e. Apocrypha (Books excluded from
Jewish (and Protestant) Canon, e.g., Tobit,
Ecclesiasticus, Judish, Maccabees.
Other writings such as the Dead Sea Scrolls and
Apocalyptic Works
Greek and Aramaic Translation of Bible,
Hellenistic Exegesis and Philosophy (Philo),
History (Josephus). Little of this resonates in
rabbinic Judaism
Review of Last Class
Rabbinic Period 70 c.e. – 500
 70 c.e. – 220 Period of the Tannaim
(Tanna=Teacher)
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Tannaitic Literature
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Two Genres – Non-midrashic and
midrash
Midrash = Rabbinic exegesis of
scripture.
Two Categories – Legal (Halakhic)
and non-legal
Non-Midrashic Literature
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Mishnah (Law code of R. Judah the
Prince, authoritative, c. 200 c.e.
Tosefta (Law code of Rabbi Hiyya
and Oshaiah, c. 220 c.e., not as
authoritative
Beraitot (Tannaitic legal statements
cited in Talmud)
Midrashic Literature
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Midrash Halakha: Mikhilta (Exodus),
Sifra (Leviticus), Sifrei (Numbers and
Deuteronomy
Midrash Aggadah: Midrash Rabbah,
Tanhuma, Pirkei de Rabbi Eliezer,
etc.
Amoraitic Literature
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Amoraim – Jewish Scholars in
Babylonia and Palestine/Land of
Israel 220-c.500
The Two Talmuds – Babylonian and
Palestinian
Differences between the Talmuds
Medieval Literature
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The Jews under Crescent and Cross
First Period (500-1050)
Savoraim (redactors of the Talmud)
(500-800)
Geonim (Heads of the Babylonian
Academies (800-1050)
800-1050 Geonic Literature
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Bible Studies – Fixing of the Masora
and translation of Bible into Arabic
Legal Studies – Mostly Responsa of
the Geonim
Philosophy/Science Saadia Gaon
(882-942): Exegesis, Hebrew
linguistics, Halakhic writings,
Polemical writings
1050-1550 Period of the Early
Authorities (Rishonim)
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Europe, N. Africa, and the Middle
East: Ashkenazi vs. Sefardi
Biblical Studies
Legal Studies
Philosophical Studies
Kabbalah
Biblical Studies
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R. Shlomo Yitzkahi (Rashi)
• Peshat/Midrash
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R. Abraham ibn Ezra
• Peshat
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R. Moses Maimonides (ben Maimon)
• Allegorical
Biblical Studies
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R. Moseh Nahmanides (ben Nahman)
• 4 Levels
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R. Levi ben Gershom
• Pshat and Allegorical
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R. Don Issac Abrabanel
• Peshat and Allegorical
Legal Studies
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R. Isaac of Fez
• First post-Talmudic law code, follows the order of the
Talmud
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R. Shlomo Yitzhaki – Commentary on Talmud
Maimonides
• Commentary on Mishnah
• Mishneh Torah
• Responsa
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Nahmanides
• Novellae
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R. Solomon b. Abraham (Rashba)
• Novellae
Legal Studies
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R. Asher b. Yehiel (Rosh)
• Commentary on Talmud and Code
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R. Jacob b. Asher (the Tur)
• The Law Code
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R. Joseph Karo (the Shulhan Arukh
• Set Table
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R. Moses Isserles (the Mappah)
• Tablecloth
Philosophy and Ethics
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12th cent. Abraham Ibn Ezra , Judah
Halevy, Maimonides
13th cent. Translation movement from
Arabic to Hebrew, Samuel Ibn Tibbon and
Shem Tov. b.Joseph Falaquera,
14th cent. Philosophers include
Gersonides, Joseph ibn Kaspi, and Moses
of Narbonne, 15th cent. Hasdai Crescas
and Isaac Abrabanel, Spain.
Ethical Studies
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Ethics: Bahya ibn Pakuda
Maimonides’ Philosophical Ethics
Ashkenzaic Pietists Sefer Hasidim c.
1200
Other Ethical Writings
Kabbalah
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The Book of Luminosity (Sefer haBahir),
Writings of Abraham Abulafia
the Zoharic literature, 13th Spain.
The Tree of Life (Etz Hayyim) of
Isaac Luria, and the Orchard of
Pomegranites (Pardes Rimonim) of
Moshe Cordevero.R.
Legal Studies
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R. Asher b. Yehiel (Rosh)
• Commentary on Talmud and Code
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R. Jacob b. Asher (the Tur)
• The Law Code
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R. Joseph Karo (the Shulhan Arukh
• Set Table
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R. Moses Isserles (the Mappah)
• Tablecloth