The Classic Midrash: Tannaitic Commentaries on the Bible (Classics of Western Spirituality (Paperback)) - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0809135035 ISBN 13: 9780809135035

Publisher: Paulist Press, 1995

Synopsis

"Paulist Press deserves credit for adding this new dimension to interfaith dialogue." The Jewish Spectator Classic Midrash, The: Tannaitic Commentaries on the Bible translation, introduction and commentaries by Reuven Hammer, preface by Judah Goldin Do you want to come to know He Who Spoke and the world came into being? Learn haggada (rabbinic lore) for by doing that you will come to know He Who Spoke and the world came into being and hold fast to His ways. Sifre Deuteronomy 49 Midrash (from the Hebrew root "to seek out"), which contains both legendary and legal material, is both a process and a product. It reflects the process of searching the text of Scripture in order to better understand it and apply it to life. Begun by the Sages of Israel when the Torah was canonized by Ezra in the fifth century B.C.E., its classic period culminated in the editing of the Tannaitic Midrashim (the "product") in the land of Israel in the fourth to fifth centuries C.E. The classic midrash presented here is a collective work. Although presenting interpretations in the name of individual Sages, it has no one author: rather, it reflects the collective wisdom of the leaders of Pharisaic Judaism which later became Rabbinic Judaism. Each succeeding generation added its own layer and remained a part of the ongoing process. Multiple interpretations are presented. There is no one way of understanding the word of God. There are always new levels of meaning to be uncovered. Midrash is the enemy of fundamentalism. Simplistic, literalistic interpretation of a text is its death knell. Rather than closing the text, midrash opens it up and emphasizes the interaction between the reader and the text. This volume presents and introduction to midrash in general and to these specific Tannaitic works, explaining the history and development of midrash as well as its methodology and message. It then offers translations of major sections of these works, with a commentary to each section and a running commentary to the text to help the reader understand the midrash, its background and its meaning. No student of the Bible should read it without the insight of the classic Sages. No student of religion should neglect the insights of these masters of the spirit. No student of culture and literature should ignore the methods and the products embodied in these creations. No one concerned with the problems of being human in this day and age should ignore the answers to these problems, which are found in these classic works. †

About this title

About the Author

Rabbi Reuven Hammer, PhD, is a world renowned scholar, an inspiring Jewish educator and noted Jewish leader. He was named one of the "Forward 50" a list of the most influential members of the American Jewish community and is a former president of the International Rabbinical Assembly. He is a recipient of the Simon Greenberg Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Rabbinate by the Zeigler Rabbinical School of American Jewish University. A prolific writer, he is the author of many books, including, The Torah Revolution: Fourteen Truths That Changed the World (Jewish Lights) and Entering the High Holy Days, a winner of the National Jewish Book Award.Rabbi Reuven Hammer, PhD, is also available to speak on the following topics: Revolutionary TorahThe Symphony of PrayerMaking Prayer MeanigfulReligion in Israel: Too Much or Too LittlePolitical Ethics in Israel

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Hebrew

Edition details

• Publisher: Paulist Press
• Publication date: 1995
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0809135035
• ISBN 13: 9780809135035
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 576