The Classics of Judaism: A Textbook and Reader

Jacob Neusner

Westminster John Knox Press, Jan 1, 1995 - Religion - 486 pages

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 Judaism is, however, more than a collection of writings. It is also a primer for learning how to approach and read any book of Judaism.

Contents

• How to Read a Book of Judaism: 1
• The Hebrew Scriptures: 11
• The Mishnah ca 200 c e: 25
• Reading from the Mishnah: 39
• Tractate Abot ca 250 c e: 71
• Reading from Tractate Abot: 77
• PART THREE: 91
• Reading from the Mekhilta Attributed to R Ishmael: 107
• Sifra to Leviticus: 119
• Reading from Sifra: 127
• Sifré to Numbers: 137
• Reading from Sifré to Numbers: 144
• Sifré to Deuteronomy: 150
• Reading from Sifré to Deuteronomy: 163
• PART FOUR THE FIRST TALMUD THE TALMUD OF THE LAND OF ISRAEL ca 400 C E: 173
• What is a Talmud? An Example of a Talmud: 175
• Defining the Two Talmuds: 192
• Reading from the Talmud of the Land of Israel: 204
• PART FIVE THE LATER MIDRASH COMPILATIONS ca 450 C E: 211
• Genesis Rabbah: 213
• Reading from Genesis Rabbah: 223
• Leviticus Rabbah: 231
• Reading from Leviticus Rabbah: 243
• Pesiqta deRab Kahana: 256
• Reading from Pesiqta deRab Kahana And a Recapitulation of the Traits of the Later Midrash Compilations: 263
• PART Six THE SECOND TALMUD THE TALMUD OF BABYLONIA ca 600 C E: 281
• The Talmud of Babylonia: 283
• Why the Bavli Won: 291
• The Bavli and the Integrity of Truth: 310
• Lamentations Rabbati: 327
• Reading from Lamentations Rabbati: 335
• Ruth Rabbah: 346
• Reading from Ruth Rabbah: 357
• Esther Rabbah I: 367
• Reading from Esther Rabbah I: 373
• Song of Songs Rabbah: 383
• Reading from Song of Songs Rabbah: 392
• PART EIGHT: 403
• Prayers for the Sabbath and Festivals: 429
• Circumcision the Marriage Rite: 436
• Singing the Torah: 447
• Letter to the Teacher: 455
• Suggestions for further Reading: 475
• Index: 481

About the author

Jacob Neusner is Distinguished Service Professor of the History and Theology of Judaism and Bard Center Fellow at the Bard College Institute of Advanced Theology in Annondale-on-Hudson, New York. He is the author of several books, including Judaism When Christianity Began, The Emergence of Judaism, and the popular textbook World Religions in America, all of which are available from WJK.

Bibliographic information

• Title: The Classics of Judaism: A Textbook and Reader
• Author: Jacob Neusner
• Publisher: Westminster John Knox Press, 1995
• ISBN: 0664254551, 9780664254551
• Length: 486 pages
• Subjects: Religion / Judaism / General; Religion / Judaism / Theology