How to Read the Mishnah and Midrash

An Introduction to Early Rabbinic Literature

AvIshay Rosen-Zvi

Inbunden, Engelska, 2026

1 950 kr

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297 kr

Beskrivning

The early rabbinic period produced two major literary formations—the Mishnah and Midrash—which have since remained central pillars of Jewish textual tradition. How to Read the Mishnah and Midrash is the first comprehensive introduction to these two foundational works of Jewish thought in English. In many ways, all subsequent rabbinic literature emerged from the framework established by these two genres. The Mishnah presented a comprehensive legal system independent of the Bible, encompassing a remarkably broad spectrum of legal topics—from ritual law to civil disputes, capital legislation, marital status, and beyond—woven into a coherent and autonomous legal corpus. The Midrash is the first comprehensive running commentary of the Pentateuch, marked by its interpretive freedom and creative playfulness. This hands-on companion provides an intimate understanding of how the two texts function and essential tools for engaging with them in depth. With translations, close readings, and analyses of hundreds of primary source materials, this book offers readers a deeper appreciation of the structure, methodology, and enduring impact of the Mishnah and Midrash.

Produktinformation

Utgivningsdatum:2026-02-24
Mått:178 x 254 x undefined mm
Format:Inbunden
Språk:Engelska
Antal sidor:472
Förlag:University of California Press
ISBN:9780520389830
Översättare:Daniel Tabak

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Ishay Rosen-Zvi is Professor of Jewish Philosophy and Talmud at Tel-Aviv University. He is author of Demonic Desires: "Yetzer Hara" and the Problem of Evil in Late Antiquity and coauthor, with Adi Ophir, of Goy: Israel’s Others and the Birth of the Gentile.

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“A rigorous and well-constructed work. It is an introduction to rabbinic literature in the strictest sense of the term: it does not simplify the texts, but makes them readable in their functioning.”

Innehållsförteckning

ContentsPrefacePart I. MishnahIntroduction: The Emergence of Halakhic Literature1. The Form of the Mishnah2. The Mishnah’s Sources and Layers3. The Mishnah’s Legal Sources4. The Editing of the Mishnah5. The Mishnah as a Composition6. Aggadah and Halakhah in the Mishnah7. The Transmission and Textual History of the Mishnah8. The Tosefta and the MishnahEpilogue: The Mishnah and Future ScholarshipPart II. MidrashIntroduction: Understanding Midrash9. Biblical Interpretation in Second Temple Literature10. The Schools of Rabbi Akiva and Rabbi Yishmael11. The Motivations of Midrash12. Midrash’s Conception of the Biblical Text13. The Self-Awareness and Didacticism of Midrash14. Aggadah in the Midrash15. The Midrash and the Mishnah16. The Editing and Transmission of the MidrashEpilogue: The Midrash and Future ScholarshipNotesBibliographyIndex