Introduction to the Talmud and Midrash

Gunter Stemberger's revision of H. L. Strack's classic introduction to rabbinic literature, which appeared in its first English edition in 1991, was widely acclaimed.

Gunter Stemberger and Markus Bockmuehl have now produced this updated edition, which is a significant revision (completed in 1996) of the 1991 volume. Following Strack's original outline, Stemberger discusses first the historical framework, the basic principles of rabbinic literature and hermeneutics and the most important Rabbis. The main part of the book is devoted to the Talmudic and Midrashic literature in the light of contemporary rabbinic research. The appendix includes a new section on electronic resources for the study of the Talmud and Midrash.

The result is a comprehensive work of reference that no student of rabbinics can afford to be without.

H. L. Strack (1848--1922) was Professor of Old Testament at the University of Berlin.

Gunter Stemberger is Professor of Jewish Studies at the University of Vienna.

Markus Bockmuehl is a University Lecturer in Divinity and a Fellow and Tutor at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge.