TheRabbinicTradition.pptVIP

The Rabbinic Tradition Introduction to Judaism: Lecture 6 January 28, 2008 Goals for Today’s Class What is the relationship between Written and Oral Torah? What are the various modes and forms that Oral Torah takes within Rabbinic Judaism? What other models of scripture and interpretation exist within expressions of Judaism? Written and Oral Torah New Expansive Definition of Torah Import:What is the relationship between two interconnected traditions? Torah = Scripture (written Torah) + Rabbinic Interpretation (oral Torah) Tension: Oral Torah roots legitimacy in Written Torah and transforms meaning of the Written Torah Types of Rabbinic Tradition Halakhah- legal or ritual practice Aggadah- historical recollection or theological speculation Forms of Rabbinic Tradition-The Mishnah Mishnah (“repeated teachings”) Halakhic or aggadic material without reference to a biblical verse Organized into six legal categories Agricultural Laws, Festivals, Women, Holy Things (Sacrifice and Temple), Ritual Purity Redacted around 200 CE Forms of Rabbinic Tradition-The Talmud Halakhic and aggadic commentary on the Mishnah Follows order of the Mishnah Babylonian and Palestinian (mostly halakhic Compiled c. 400 CE and c. 500 Forms of Rabbinic Tradition-The Midrash Halakhic or aggadic traditions transmitted as an explanation of Biblical verse Organized by book of the Bible Multiple compilations Mishnah Avot (p. 13-14) Why start with Moses and Sinai? What does “make a hedge around the Torah” mean? What do you notice about the style of writing? Palestinian Talmud (p. 19) How do the rabbis understand the relationship between Written and Oral Torah? Which is more authoritative and why? Hermeneutic Toolbox What are goals for Rabbinic Interpreters? Read with or against the plain meaning Based on Interpretive principles Inferences based on similar content and analogy Superfluous words have meaning Bound to a text with wide room for interpreting its meaning Bible on Compensation “When peo