Rabbinic StoriesJeffrey L. Rubenstein In an appealing contribution to the Classics of Western Spirituality, Jeffrey Rubenstein has translated stories from the main works of classical rabbinic literature that were produced by Jewish sages between 200-600 C.E. The narratives include stories, legends, anecdotes and other traditions that relate to basic rabbinic values and practical concerns--charity, good deeds, marriage and children; and those that address important theological question, including suffering, theodicy, atonement and story of Torah. Each story is accompanied by a brief analysis of the story's principal themes, meaning and literary character, while accompanying notes explain technical terms and references. In addition, to underscore the oral nature of the stories, the author offers translations of several versions of the same story, showing how later versions are more embellished and elaborate. The book treats the rabbinic stories not as accurate history, but as didactic fictions that model character, teach virtue and provide lessons. There is no standard corpus of rabbinic stories available, says Rubenstein, and therefore this volume is a unique resource for courses on Judaism and rabbinic culture, comparative religions and religious narrative. Anyone interested in Jewish culture, early Christianity, folklore and Late Antique culture will find it to be fascinating reading as well. + |
Contents
LXXI | 155 |
LXXIII | 157 |
LXXV | 161 |
LXXVII | 163 |
LXXIX | 164 |
LXXX | 165 |
LXXXI | 166 |
LXXXII | 167 |
XIX | 55 |
XX | 61 |
XXI | 65 |
XXII | 67 |
XXV | 71 |
XXVI | 74 |
XXVII | 76 |
XXVIII | 80 |
XXIX | 85 |
XXXI | 88 |
XXXIII | 90 |
XXXV | 91 |
XXXVI | 93 |
XL | 95 |
XLII | 98 |
XLIII | 99 |
XLIV | 104 |
XLV | 109 |
XLVII | 114 |
XLVIII | 117 |
L | 119 |
LI | 121 |
LIII | 123 |
LIV | 125 |
LV | 128 |
LVI | 129 |
LVIII | 130 |
LIX | 133 |
LX | 137 |
LXI | 139 |
LXIII | 146 |
LXV | 148 |
LXVII | 149 |
LXVIII | 150 |
LXIX | 151 |
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Common terms and phrases
academy Additional literature Aggadic Aher Akiba Alexander Macedon angels Antoninus Babylonian Bava Bavli Betar biblical binic chapter Christian commandments Damma death destruction Deut Eleazar Eliezer Elisha emperor Exod eyes father Gentile God's Hananiah Hanina Hasmonean heavenly voice Hebrew Herod Hillel Holy Honi honor interpretation Jerusalem Jesus Jewish Jews Josephus Judaism killed king Land of Israel Lord master Meir Metatron midrash Mishna Moses Natan Numbers Onqelos Oral Oral Torah Palestinian Passover patriarch pray priest punishment Rabban Gamaliel Rabban Shimon Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi rabbinic literature rabbinic stories rabbinic traditions Rav Kahana regular sacrifice repent Resh Laqish reward righteous Roman sages Sanhedrin scripture Shetah Shimon bar Yohai sins sitting storytellers study-house suffering supersedes the Sabbath Taanit Talmud Talmudic Stories Tannaitic teach temple theological tion Torah study Tosefta Tractate verse Vespasian wicked words written Yannai Yehoshua Yerushalmi Yohanan Yose Zakkai
Popular passages
Page 35 - I will set a king over me, as do all the nations about me," you shall be free to set a king over yourself, one chosen by the Lord your God. Be sure to set as king over yourself one of your own people; you must not set a foreigner over you, one who is not your kinsman.