Synopsis
"The author of this important work is one of the greatest nineteenth century rabbis, whose notes figure prominently in the standard edition of the Talmud. How often does such an authority provide a ser of introductory lectures that continue to speak to the twenty first century student?" -- Rabbi Shalom Carmy, Noted Jewish Thinker and Assistant Professor of Bible and Jewish Philosophy at Yeshiva University "Rabbi Zevi Hirsch Chajes was one of the preeminent representatives of Torah and scholarship in the modern era. His introduction to the Talmud is a classic of rabbinic literature and a fitting expression of the manner in which Torah and wisdom can dwell together in harmony. The renewed availability of this English edition is greatly welcomed." --Rabbi Dr. Jeffrey R. Woolf, Senior Lecturer in Talmud at Bar Ilan University "During my experience of over 40 years teaching, I found that this book gave to my students a broad understanding of the total spectrum about the development of early rabbinic literature in Halacha and Aggadah." --Rabbi Dr. Elazar Hurvitz, Professor of Biblical and Talmudic Literature at Yeshiva University
About the Author
R. Zevi Hirsch Chajes, frequently known as "The Maharatz Chayes," was born in 1805 in Brody, a commercial frontier town in the north east of Galicia. Born to a wealthy family, he received, in addition to his traditional talmudic education, instruction in modern and classical languages and literature, as well as geography, history and philosophy. He was identified at an early age as a prodigy and grew to master the entire talmudic literature as well as that of medieval Jewish philosophy. He studied under a number of great scholars of that time, particularly R. Ephraim Zalman Margulies. At the young age of twenty two, he was called to occupy an important rabbinic position in the district of Zolkiev, Galicia. In this position, he fought against the radical innovations being introduced into Judaism at that time, while also opposing the increasing conservatism among his Orthodox colleagues. Additionally, with his keen intellect and broad knowledge, he was able to produce many works of scientific study of Judaism that were faithful to tradition but modern in their organization and subjects. His works include Torat Nevi'im; Darkhei Hora'ah; Imrei Binah; Minhat Kena'ot; and glosses to the Talmud that were published in the now-standard Romm-Vilna edition of the Talmud. Chajes died prematurely in 1855 at the age of 50, only three years after being appointed to the prestigious post of rabbi of Kalish, Poland.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
