1Principal Texts of RabbinicLiteratureFrom last time: Rabbinic Literature Texts organized around M ishnah Texts organized around Scripture (Midrash)For today: Jewish Religion in Late Antiquity Arguing from worldview (Jaffee) Arguing from practice (and gender) (Kramer)November 6, 2006Texts organized around Mishnah Tannaitic1. Tosefta (“the supplement”) Amoraic2. Palestinian Talmud3. Babylonian TalmudTexts organized around Scripture(Midrash) Tannaitic1. “Halachic”: includes concern with legal issues.*** Pentateuch (Exodus-Deuteronomy) only Amoraic (overwhelmingly “ aggadic”)2. “Exegetical” (verse-by-verse progression)3. “Homiletical” (clustering of interpretations aroundselect verses, probably beginning of a readingsection)*** Pentateuch and others.2Religion: Arguing from worldview(Jaffee)Jaffee focuses on worldview (ideology, what peoplethink and know about the world), analyzed along twoaxes: Vertical: God, Torah, IsraelFocus: Rightness with God, maintained through faithfulpractice. Wisdom traditions (e.g. Joshua (Jesus) b. Sira) Philo: experience of the divine through contemplation Horizontal: Exile, MessiahFocus: Historical experience (exile) to be repaired in time(expectation of a savior) Apocalyptic texts (end-time recapitulates beginnings; textsreveal previously secret knowledge) Attested messianic movementsReligion: Arguing from worldview:Rabbis Mishnah: emphasizes vertical, de-emphasizes horizontal (“as if” Temple stillstands, there is still a king, etc.) In later texts: greater emphasis on messianicexpectation (M idrash, Talmud) In addition: also cosmological aspects ofvertical axis (structure of the heavens e.g.),especially in developing mystical tradition.Religion: Arguing from practice(and gender) (Kraemer)Kraemer, writing on women, focuses on practicesrather than ideology Data: inscriptions ( product of day-to-day relations)rather than (or in conjunction with) literary texts Synagogues: prayer and study, but also e ndowmentsand l eadership Aspects of w omen’s piety (again as practice): certainfestivals, “m agic” For a few elite women, possibility of leadingcontemplative life (e.g. Therapeutae
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