1Establishment of MedievalRabbinic Culture Housekeeping issues Cairo Genizah Establishment: “Rabbinization,” Geonim, and theauthority of the Babylonian Talmud Sectarianism: the rise of Karaites Divergent Jewish traditions in Islamic and Christianlands.November 27, 2006Housekeeping Papers due this week Sections are cancelled Dec. 11, 12 Extra Review Sessions (Open) Monday Dec 11, 11:00 (Key 0120) Wed. Dec 13, 11:00 (Room TBA) Extra Credit possibilitiesExtra Credit Possbilities:Secondary Sources Baskin, Jewish Women Choose one chapter Summarize argument Choose primary sources we studied that either support orcontradict the argument. Discuss Cohen, Under Crescent and Cross Using JSTOR on MDUSA (UM Libraries’ database) searchfor reviews of the book. Read five reviews. Try to find at least one positive and atleast one negative review.Give FULL CITATION Discuss: What elements appear most controversial? Whatdo reviewers say is the most important contribution? 500–700 words. 5 pts. Do only one.2Cairo Genizah Cache of documents ofmedieval Jewishcommunity of Cairo Brought to Westernattention through travels ofAgnes Lewis, MargaretWilson (1897), by SolomonSchechter Important for nearly everyaspect of Med. (andancient) J. HistoryEstablishment: “Rabbinization,”Geonim, and the authority of theBabylonian Talmud “Rabbinization”: adoption by Jewishcommunities of rabbinic norms, rules. Not in place at time of redaction of Talmuds Beginnings traceable to before the Muslim/Arabconquests Fostered by centralization of Abbasid Dynasty(750–1258), status of the geonim in Baghdad Text: Letter (pamphlet) of Pirqoi b. BaboiEstablishment (cont’d):Geonim Gaon: “glory” (not, as in modern Hebrew“genius”): title of the heads of the academiesof Sura and Pumbedita By 9th C, while retaining these names,relocated to Baghdad (new city founded bythe Abbasid Caliphs) Claimed prerogatives of judging cases; muchof our knowledge comes from responsa3Establishment (cont’d):Authority of Babyl. Talmud Babylonian Talmud comes to be chief basisfor legal authority and chief curriculardocument of medieval Jewry Reasons: Status of Geonim; successfulpolemical struggles e.g., Sa‘adiah Gaon (10th C), successfully claimsright of Babylonian, not Palestinian academy todetermine calendar On the other hand, in some respects, esp. liturgy,Palestinian rabbinic tradition continues to beinfluentialSectarianism: the rise of Karaites From Aramaic qara’, scripture: the Scripture-alonepeople Complex beginnings: Non- and pre-rabbinic forms of piety (asceticism, mourningthe Temple) Hostile reaction to rabbinization In retrospect attributed to teachings of ‘Anan b. David (8th C) Long period of coexistence between Karaites andRabbanites in well-documented communities (e.g.,Cairo) Stimulated Rabbanite work in grammar,theology/philosophy, exegesis.Divergent Jewish traditions inIslamic and Christian lands. In the Islamic (and post-Islamic) lands Talmud is prolegomenon to a complete education E.g. presuppositions in Maimonides’s Guide In the Ashkenazic lands Bible, Talmud, law substantially made up Jewish education Rashi (1040–1105) and Tosafot (a “school” including Rashi’ssons-in-law and grandsons) reflect both the internalist focus,and (esp. Tosafot) some features of wider Christianintellectual tradition (scholastic dialectic) Scholars of So. France (e.g., Ramban = Moses b.Nahman = Nahmanides) harmonize these