Rabbinic literature, in the broadest sense, can mean the entire spectrum of Judaism's rabbinic writing/s throughout history. However, the term often used as an exact cognate of the Hebrew term Sifrut Hazal (ספרות חז"ל; "Literature [of our] Sages, [of] blessed memory"), where the latter usually refers specifically to literature from the Talmudic era. The latter, more specific, sense is how the term is normally used in medieval and modern rabbinic writing (where Hazal normally refers only to the sages of the Talmudic era), and in contemporary academic writing (where "rabbinic literature" refers to Talmud, Midrash, and related writings, but hardly ever to later texts).
This article discusses rabbinic literature in both senses. It begins with the classic rabbinic literature of the Talmudic era (Sifrut Hazal), and then adds a broad survey of rabbinic writing from later periods.
The term meforshim, or parshanim is also used in modern-day yeshiva's (i.e. Talmudical academies), denoting the "rabbinical commentaries" of the "commentators", see below for further elucidation.
The oral law
The Mishnah and the Tosefta (compiled from materials pre-dating the year 200) are the earliest extant works of rabbinic literature, explaining Judaism's oral law. Next came the two Talmuds:
The Midrash
Midrash (pl. Midrashim) is a Hebrew word referring to a method of reading details into, or out of, a Biblical text. The term midrash also can refer to a compilation of Midrashic teachings, in the form of legal, exegetical or homiletical commentaries on the Bible.
Later works by category
Jewish law
Halakha is the Jewish way of life. Notable works in this category include:
- The major codes of Jewish law (See the Halakha article)
- The Responsa literature
Jewish thought and ethics
Liturgy
Later works by historical period
Works of the Geonim
The Geonim are the rabbis of Sura and Pumbeditha, in Babylon (650 - 1250) :
Works of the Rishonim (the "early" rabbinical commentators)
The Rishonim are the rabbis of the early medieval period (1250 - 1550)
- The commentaries on the Torah, such as those by Rashi, Abraham ibn Ezra and Nahmanides.
- Commentaries on the Talmud, principally by Rashi, his grandson Samuel ben Meir and Nissim of Gerona.
- Talmudic novellae (chiddushim ) by Tosafists, Nahmanides, Nissim of Geronda , Solomon ben Aderet (RaShBA), Yomtov ben Ashbili (Ritva)
- Works of halakha (Asher ben Yechiel, Mordechai ben Hillel )
- Codices by Maimonides and Jacob ben Asher, and finally Shulkhan Arukh
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Responsa, e.g. by Solomon ben Aderet (RaShBA)
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Kabbalistic works (such as the Zohar)
- Philosophical works (Maimonides, Gersonides, Nahmanides)
- Ethical works (Bahya ibn Paquda, Jonah of Gerona )
Works of the Acharonim (the "later" rabbinical commentators)
The Acharonim are the rabbis from 1550 to the present day.
- Important Torah commentaries include Keli Yakar, Ohr ha-Chayim by Chayim ben-Attar , the commentary of Samson Raphael Hirsch, the commentary of Naftali Zvi Yehuda Berlin and the Jewish Publication Society commentary on the Tanakh.
- Important works of Talmudic novellae include: Pnei Yehoshua, Hafla'ah, Sha'agath Aryei
- Responsa, e.g. by Moses Sofer, Moshe Feinstein
- Works of halakha and codices e.g. Mishnah Berurah by Yisrael Meir Kagan and the Aruch ha-Shulchan by Yechiel Michel Epstein
- Ethical and philosophical works: Moshe Chaim Luzzatto, Yisrael Meir Kagan and the Mussar Movement
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Hasidic works (Kedushath Levi, Sefath Emmeth, Shem mi-Shemuel)
- Philosphical/metaphysical works (the works of the Maharal of Prague, Moshe Chaim Luzzatto and Nefesh ha-Chayim by Chaim of Volozhin)
- Mystical works
- Historical works, e.g. Shem ha-Gedolim by Chaim Joseph David Azulai.
Meforshim
Meforshim is a Hebrew word meaning "(classical rabbinical) commentators" (or roughly meaning "exegetes"), and is used as a substitute for the correct word perushim which means "commentaries". In Judaism this term refers to commentaries by the commentators on the Torah (five books of Moses), Tanakh, the Mishnah, the Talmud, responsa, even the siddur (Jewish prayerbook), and more.
Classic Torah and/or Talmud commentaries have been written by:
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Geonim
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Rishonim
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Rashi (Shlomo Yitzchaki), 12th century France
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Abraham ibn Ezra
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Nahmanides (Moshe ben Nahman)
- Samuel ben Meir, the Rashbam, 12th century France
- Rabbi Levi ben Gershom (known as Ralbag or Gersonides)
- David ben Joseph Kimhi, the Radak, 13th century France
- Joseph ben Isaac, the Bekhor Shor, 12th century France
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Nissim ben Reuben Gerondi, the RaN, 14th century Spain
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Isaac ben Judah Abravanel (1437-1508)
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Obadiah ben Jacob Sforno, 16th century Italy
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Acharonim
- The Vilna Gaon, Rabbi Eliyahu of Vilna, 18th century Lithuania
- The Malbim, Meir Lob ben Jehiel Michael
Classical Talmudic commentaries were written by Rashi. After Rashi the Tosafos were written, which was an omnibus commentary on the Talmud by the disciplies and descendants of Rashi; this commentary was based on discussions done in the rabbinic academies of Germany and France.
Modern Torah commentaries which have received wide acclaim in the Jewish community include:
Modern Siddur commentaries have been written by:
- Rabbi Yisrael Meir Kagan HaCohen, The Chofetz Chaim's Siddur
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Samson Raphael Hirsch, The Hirsch Siddur, Feldheim
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Abraham Isaac Kook, Olat Reyia
- Elie Munk, The World of Prayer, Elie Munk
- Nosson Scherman, The Artscroll Siddur, Mesorah Publications
- Reuven Hammer, Or Hadash, United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism
- My Peoples Prayer Book, Jewish Lights Publishing, written by a team of non-Orthodox rabbis and Talmud scholars.
See also
Bibliography
- Back to the Sources: Reading the Classic Jewish Texts, Barry W. Holtz, (Summit Books)
-
Introduction to Rabbinic Literature Jacob Neusner, (Anchor Bible Reference Library/Doubleday)
- Introduction to the Talmud and Midrash, H. L. Strack and G. Stemberger, (Fortress Press)
- The Literature of the Sages: Oral Torah, Halakha, Mishna, Tosefta, Talmud, External Tractates, Shemuel Safrai and Peter J. (Tomsan Fortress, 1987)
External links
- General
- Links to full text resources
- Glossaries
Last updated: 06-02-2005 13:31:07