The Believer and the Modern Study of the Bible - Hardcover

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1618119516 ISBN 13: 9781618119513

Publisher: Academic Studies Press, 2019

Synopsis

The essays in this volume address the conundrum of how Jewish believers in the divine character of the Sinaitic revelation confront the essential questions raised by academic biblical studies.  

The first part is an anthology of rabbinic sources, from the medieval period to the present, treating questions that reflect a critical awareness of the Bible. The second part is a series of twenty-one essays by contemporary rabbis and scholars on how they combine their religious beliefs with their critical approach to the Bible.

About this title

About the Author

Tova Ganzel is the Director of the Midrasha at Bar-Ilan University and one the first trained women’s halakhic advisors (Yoatzot Halacha). She received her PhD from Bar-Ilan’s Department of Bible Studies, and is a renowned figure in the world of women’s Jewish learning. She is the recipient of numerous prestigious academic awards and grants, and is a published author.

Chayuta Deutsch is a writer and editor. She is the author of a best-selling biography on Nechama Leibowitz and other books. Previously, she was Editor of the AKDAMOT journal of Jewish thought. She completed her doctoral dissertation at the Department of Talmud at Bar-Ilan University on the subject of encounters between Sages and Matrons in the Talmud and midrashim.

Yehuda Brandes is President of Herzog College in Gush Etzion and Jerusalem. He is the former head of the Beit Midrash at Beit Morasha in Jerusalem, and the author of many books and articles on Talmud, Jewish law, education, and Jewish philosophy. In his books Agada Lema'aseh and Mada Toratekha, and in many of his articles, he examines the connection between law and legend in the Talmud, exposing both the philosophical aspects of religious law and the practical aspect of the Talmudic legend.

Review

“The translation and publication of The Believer and the Modern Study of Bible augurs a new moment for academic reflection and public discussion.  The essays offer many resources (traditional and contemporary) to enable readers to deal with the matters at hand with intellectual integrity and theological thoughtfulness.  The open discourse in Israel may now have a resonance beyond its linguistic borders.” ―Michael Fishbane, Nathan Cummings Distinguished Service Professor of Jewish Studies, The University of Chicago

“At last, we have an intelligent and courageous book of essays that everyone who is in the midst of a clash of civilizations must read. The book’s tendency to adopt the conclusions of the criticism and to wonder about the believer’s ability to integrate them into their life is intended specifically for Bible scholars who are familiar with biblical scholarship and its findings, but I believe that its contribution to the modern religious discourse will reach even broader religious categories.” ―Jonatan Grossman, Professor of Bible Studies, Bar-Ilan University and Herzog College

Edition details

• Publisher: Academic Studies Press
• Publication date: 2019
• ISBN 10: 1618119516
• ISBN 13: 9781618119513
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 582
• Editor: Ganzel Tova, Brandes Yehudah, Deutsch Chayuta