Textual Sources for the Study of Judaism Annotated edition

Jacket Description/Back: This series aims to meet a fundamental need in the study of religions, namely that for new, reliable translations of major texts. Each volume in the series covers a wide range of literature, including liturgy and legend, folklore and faith, mysticism and modern thought, political issues, poetry and popular writings. Attention is paid to daily religious life as exemplified in worship or in law, as well as to great movements of thought. The translations are accompanied by generous annotation, glosses, and explanations, thus providing valuable aids to understanding the special character of each religion. Biographical Note: Philip S. Alexander is professor of Post-Biblical Jewish Studies and Co-Director of the Machester Centre for Jewish Studies at the University of Manchester. John R. Hinnells is Research Professor in Comparative Religion and Director of the Religious Resource and Research Centre at the University of Derby. Table of Contents: General introductionForeword and acknowledgements1. Introduction1.1. Scripture and tradition1.2. Liturgy1.3. Tales of the saints and scholars1.4. Religious law1.5. Ethical literature1.6. Philosophy and theology1.7. Mysticism1.8. Modern movements, modern thinkers1.9. Religion and politics1.10. Society and the Jews1.11. Chronology2. Scripture and tradition2.1. The Chain of Tradition2.1.1. Mishnah, Pirqei Avot 1:1-18 and 2:8. From Moses to the Tanna'im2.2. The Baraita of Rabbi Ishmael. The thirteen principles by which the Torah is expounded2.3. Bible commentaries2.3.1. Targum Pesudo-Jonathan to Genesis 22:1-19. The sacrifice of Isaac2.3.2. Mekhilta of Rabbi Ishmael to Exodus 19-20. The giving of the Torah on Sinai3. Liturgy3.1. Weekday liturgy3.1.1. The Shema and its benedictions3.1.2. The Amidah (Shemoneh Esreh or Eighteen Benedictions)3.2. Sabbath liturgy3.2.1. Qiddush for Sabbath evening3.2.2. Havdalah service for the end of Sabbath3.3. Passover liturgy3.3.1. Two extracts from the Passover Haggadah4. Tales of the saints and scholars4.1. Honi the Rainmaker (Mishnah, Ta'anit 3:8)4.2. Haninah ben Dosa the Healer (Babylonian Talmud, Berakhot 34b)4.3. Rabban Yohanan ben Zakkai answers a gentile objector (Pesiqta deRav Kahana 4:7)4.4. Rabbi Eliezer goes to study with Yohanan ben Zakkai (Avot deRabbi Natan A,6)4.5. The heavenly voice ("bat qol") is ruled out of court (Babylonian Talmud, Bava Mezi'a 59a-b)4.6. Moses visits Rabbi Aquiva's academy (Babylonian Talmud, Menahot 29b)4.7. The martyrdom of Rabbi Aqiva (Babylonian Talmud, Berakhot 61b)5. Religious law5.1. The Talmud5.1.1. Mishnah, Berakhot 8:1-8. Differences between the House of Shammai and the House of Hillel5.1.2. Babylonian Talmud, Shabbat 73a-75b and 49b. Work forbidden on the Sabbath5.2. The" Shulhan Arukh "5.2.1. "Shulhan Arukh," Hoshen Mishpat 26:1-6. Prohibition against resorting to non-Jewish courts5.2.2." Shulhan Arukh," Yoreh De'ah 335:1-10. Laws regarding visiting the sick5.2.3." Qizzur Shulhan Arukh" 36:1-28. Laws regarding the salting of meat6. Ethical literature6.1. Mishnah, Pirqei Avot. Miscellaneous moral maxims6.2. Bahya ibn Paquda, The Duties of the Heart, Gate 5, ch. 5. The fight against the evil inclination6.3. M. H. Luzzato, "The Path of the Upright," ch. 13. On abstinence7. Philosophy and theology7.1. Sa'adiah Gaon, "The Book of Beliefs and Opinions," Introduction 6. The relationship between faith and reason7.2. Judah Halevi, "The Kuzari," 5:14-19. The teachings of the philosophers and the theologians7.3. Maimonides, "Commentary on the Mishnah," Sanhedrin 10 (Heleq). The thirteen fundamental principles of the Jewish faith8. Mystical literature8.1. Ma'aseh Bere'shit8.1.1. "Sefer Yezirah." The mysteries of creation8.2. Ma'aseh Merkavah8.2.1. "Heikhalot Rabbati "15:1-22:2. The ascent to God's heavenly throne8.3. Qabbalah8.3.1. The Ein Sof and the ten Sefirot ("Zohar," Bo, II 42b-43a [Ra'aya Meheimna])8.3.2. Torah ("Zohar," Be-ha'alotkha, III 152a)8.3.3. The 'other side' ["sitra ahra"] ("Zohar," Terumah, II 173a)8.3.4. Tiqqun ("Zohar," Terumah, II 155a)8.3.5. Exile and redemption ("Zohar," Aharei Mot, III77b and "Zohar," Bo, II 40b [Ra'aya Meheimna])8.3.6. The spiritual constitution of man ("Zohar," Lekh, 183b)9. Modern movements, modern thinkers9.1. Hasidism9.1.1. Shivhei Ha-Besht. The Besht reveals himself to the sect of the Great Hasidim9.1.2. Letter of Zecharish Mendel of Jaroslav. The spiritual exercises of the Zaddiqim9.2. Reform9.2.1. The Pittsburgh platform, 18859.2.2. The Columbus platform, 19379.2.3. Solomon B. Freehof. Responsum concerning the use of an anaesthetic during circumcision9.3. Three modern thinkers9.3.1. Moses Mendelssohn. Judaism as revealed legislation9.3.2. S. R. Hirsch. The dangers of updating Judaism9.3.3. Solomon Schechter. The faith of Catholic Israel10. Religion and politics10.1. Zionist thinkers10.1.1. Theodor Herzl. The Jewish State10.1.2. Ahad Ha-Am (Asher Ginsberg). The deficiencies of Western Zionism10.2. Laws of the State of Israel10.2.1. Declaration of the State of Israel (1948)10.2.2. The Law of Return (1950/1954/1970)10.2.3. Rabbinical Courts Jurisdiction (Marriage and Divorce) Law (1953)10.2.4. Judge Silberg's verdict in the 'Brother Daniel' case (1962)11. Society and the Jews11.1. Richard I's charter to certain Jews in England (1190)11.2. Fourth Lateran Council, 1215. Decrees concerning the Jews11.3. The Ballad of Hugh of Lincoln11.4. The Assembly of Jewish Notables, Paris, 180611.4.1. The questions of the emperor11.4.2. Reply of the assembly to question 311.4.3. Reply of the assembly to question 611.5. Holocaust documents11.5.1. Dieter Wisliceny's account of Himmler's antisemitic 'world view' (Nomvember 1946)11.5.2. Letter from Goring to Heydrich instructing him to implement the 'Final Solution' of the Jewish question (July 1941) AppendicesA. Scriptural readings for Sabbaths ("parashiyyot" for the annual cycle) B. The Jewish liturgical year 5745 (1984-85) NotesBibliographyGlossaryIndexMarc Notes: Reprint. Originally published: Totowa, N. J.: Barnes & Noble Books, 1984. (Textual sources for the study of religion).; Includes bibliographical references and index. Publisher Marketing: Alexander assembles material from Scripture and tradition, through religious law and ethical literature to a section on Society and the Jews, and prefaces the whole with an admirable introduction.--Jonathan Sacks, Jewish Chronicle The texts . . . which are drawn from over two thousand years of history, are usefully divided, annotated and glossed. They enable students to explore the tradition in a new way [and] give a marvellous insight into the richness and liveliness of the Jewish religion and culture: we are given wit and pathos in addition to popular story and religious law.--Janet Trotter, Resource

Contributor Bio:  Alexander, Philip S Philip S. Alexander is professor of Post-Biblical Jewish Studies and Co-Director of the Machester Centre for Jewish Studies at the University of Manchester. John R. Hinnells is Research Professor in Comparative Religion and Director of the Religious Resource and Research Centre at the University of Derby.