The Literature of the Sages, Part One: Oral Torah, Halakha, Mishna, Tosefta, Talmud, External Tractates (Compendia Rerum Iudaicarum Ad Novum Testamentum)

The literary creation of the ancient Jewish teachers or Sages--also called rabbinic literature--consists of the teachings of thousands of Sages, many of them anonymous. For a long period, their teachings existed orally, which implied a great deal of flexibility in arrangement and form. Only gradually, as parts of the amorphous oral tradition became fixed, was the literature written down, a process that began in the third century CE and continued into the Middle Ages. Thus the documents of the rabbinic literature are the result of a remarkably long and complex process of creation and editing. This volume gives a careful and succinct analysis both of the content and specific nature of the various documents, and of their textual and literary forms, paying special attention to the continuing discovery and publication of new textual material. The contributors are all engaged in academic teaching and research in Israel. Incorporating ground-breaking developments in research, their essays give a comprehensive presentation published here for the first time. Title Page......Page 3 Foreword......Page 5 Contents......Page 7 Introduction......Page 15 1. The Historical Background / Isaiah M. Gafni......Page 23 2. Oral Tora / Shmuel Safrai......Page 57 3. Halakha / Shmuel Safrai......Page 143 4. The Minsha - A Study Book of Halakha / Abraham Goldberg......Page 233 5. The Tractate Avot / M. B. Lerner......Page 285 6. The Tosefta - Companion to the Mishna / Abraham Goldberg......Page 305 7. The Palestinian Talmud / Abraham Goldberg......Page 325 8. The Babylonian Talmud / Abraham Goldberg......Page 347 9. The External Tractates / M. B. Lerner......Page 391 1. Source Indications......Page 437 2. Names of Periodicals and Series......Page 439 1. Editions of Gaonic and Medieval Sources......Page 441 2. Secondary Literature......Page 442 Index of Personal Names......Page 459 Index of Geographical Names......Page 467 Index of Sources......Page 469 Shemuel Safrai's description of the literature of the sages primarily focuses on rabbinic literature produced by Jewish scholars during the late Second Temple period and beyond. This body of work encompasses a wide range of texts, including legal discussions, ethical teachings, homiletical interpretations, and narratives. Safrai emphasizes the multifaceted nature of this literature, illustrating how it served not only as a repository of legal rulings (halakha) but also as a source of moral guidance and theological reflection for Jewish communities throughout history. His scholarship highlights the intricate interplay between tradition and innovation within the teachings of the sages, revealing their enduring impact on Jewish thought and practice. 1st Pt. Oral Tora, Halakha, Mishna, Tosefta, Talmud, External Tractates / Editor, Shmuel Safrai. 2nd Pt. Midrash And Targum, Liturgy, Poetry, Mysticism, Contracts, Inscriptions, Ancient Science, And The Languages Of Rabbinic Literature / Edited By Shmuel Safrai ... [et Al.]. Editor, Shmuel Safrai ; Executive Editor, Peter J. Tomson. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. 1st pt. 1st pt. -- editor, Shmuel Safrai. -- 2nd pt. 1st pt.-- editor, Shmuel Safrai.-- 2nd pt.-- edited by Shmuel Safrai ... [et al.].