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The TalmudAkibaDominant intellectual/religious figure of the second centuryContributes in the three major areas of studyHalakhaHagada/AgadaMidrash- seeking out, interpretation outside of textHalakhaSystemAvoidance of rigidityTakanot“et la’asot le-ha-shem, heferu toratekha” (Ps. 119.126)Community must be able to bear rulingsHagada/AgadaBoth halakha and aggada attach meaning to biblical textsSpeculativeFolk literature and textSome non-exegetical (Avot)“Organic thinking”Mishna- studyR. Judah the Prince died 217Code? Anthology?Authority from his office—patriarchIncludes individual opinions (Factionalism)LanguageContemporary anthologies of Midrash and braitotMythology of oral lawGemaraTana vs Amora (authority figures of mishnah vs Gemara)Late 4th and early 5th centuryPeriod of imperial chaos (235-285), poverty and decline?Competition with ChristianityPalestinian Talmud: (mishnah + gemara)Expansion and clarification of Mishna (textcreativity)Gemara IIBabylonianMajor centerAbba (Arikha)—pupil of R. JudahRavIntermediary RoleResh Galuta as alternate source of authorityMishnah closes the period- no more arguingShmuel (d. 254) in Neharde’aRav in SuraRav Ashi (375-427) TalmudEastern Aramiac & more HebrewMore voluminous & popular elementsGradual perfectionSaboraimUnified EmpireIslam creates a common zone for tradeShared languageAcceptance of minority status (dhimmi)Neutral society and secular cultureCarfule marking of statusUrban developmentIraqi JewryBaghdadUmayyad Caliphate  Abassid (750)Syria  IraqBenjamin of Teudela c. 1160sLarge populationSelf-Governing CommunityClaim to broad authority derives from CaliphateGaonateInherit the mantle of Talmudic academiesBase their prestige on Talmudic textGaon Ya’akov “Pride of Jacob”Exilarchate (Reish Galuta; Rosh ha-Gola)Claim authority of Davidic lineageMeritocracy and aristocracyJews don’t have institutions, claim to legitimacy is claim to be part of a traditionChallenges to AuthoritySaadia of EgyptArgues on intellectual grounds against old familiesKaraismMyth of ananAmuel ha-NagidUmayyad CaliphateHadai ibn Shaprut (905-975)Court physician and advisorInventor of Spanish independenceLegend of 4 captivesSamuel ibn Naghrela in GranadaChristianityChristendomChristianity infiltrates and inherits Roman EmpireConversion of Constantine (313 Edict of Milan)Tradition of legal religion (Julius Caesar)Late Antique JudaismConversionary activity in first century CERomans 2:17-22JosephusAge of AnxietyStrengthening ties to Palestine and the PatriarchateDiasporic CommunitiesChristian AttitudesJews as deicideJews as recognized communityPauline compromiseRomans 2:12, 3:1-2Eschatological RoleRomans 11:1-18AmbivalenceAugustinePs. 59:11 “do not kill them, or my people may forget”Jews as MuseumJews as living testimonyImplications for social policyJews are the only group allowed to surviveTension filled relationshipChartersBy privilege and not by rightJews and other merchantsTime limitCrisesMoments of tensionBlood libelHost desecrationLangmuir: “rational” versus “pathological” or “chimerical” anti-semitismMiddle AgesWho is a Jewish Intellectual in the Middle Ages?VariationsImportance of family (as opposed to institutions)Geonic aristocraciesMaimonidean dynasty in Spain and EgyptControl of Language & Library AccessJudah Ibn Tibbon- brings training & books from southern to northern SpainSocial CharacteristicsElite? Rabbis and DoctorsInteresting 10th century record of a traveling wool merchant suggests broader baseImmanuel of Rome; poetMobility (Kalonymous ben Kalonymous)Cultural Context: Contact & ConflictIslamic vs Christian worldsHigh cultural level in the Islamic citiesCommon to point to elements of openness under the impact of philosophyExceptions: Almohades in Spain force Joseph ibn Aknin to convertDoes relativism lead to conversionLanguage is shared; cultural competitionKalonymos ben Kalonymos186-1328- Provecal (Catolonia; Italy)Robert of AnjouMore than 30 translations of scholary works between Hebrew, ArabicPoem: Evan BohanLettersTo his brothers from BarcelonaTo his son from NaplesDid he want a gender change?Invention of New CentersPoland- urbanization; population rise; 1648-49Ottoman Turkey (fall of Istanbul 1453; Salonika 1478)Opens the way to land of Israel 1516- SafedNew larger, multi-ethnic communities; new forms of organizationItalyShift to central and northern territoriesSpanish imperial vs local powerEcclesiastical power/traditional toleranceEconomic considerationsLocal independenceChartered communities (Levantines)Venice: ghetto is a method of tolerationPisa/Livorno- trade with E. and W.ConversosAnusim, New Christians, MarranosPrecede expulsion: 1391Forced conversion: 1497 (Portugal)Conversos on the PeninsulaPurity of blood statues 1455 ToledoInquistion 1478State, not PapalPortuguese 1536Irrelevant to JewsOrganized community? (spain;Portugal) 1580-1640 union stimulates Spanish judaizingConversos as SettlersConverso economic influence in a world trade system (mendes/Nasi familiy)Conversos as settlers in South France, Antwerp, new worldCharters to PonentinesOverlap with other Jews in ItalyAmsterdam, Hamburg, LondonReturning JewsAre they jewish?Requirement to convertBring new ideas and relativist approachAmsterdam: Orobio di Castro, Uriel d”Acosta, Benedict SpinozaVenice: Samuel AboabBoundaries are tenuous; concepts are mixed (Circumcision and baptism)History 282 11/12/2012 16:46:00The Talmud- Akiba- Dominant intellectual/religious figure of the second century- Contributes in the three major areas of study- Halakha- Hagada/Agada- Midrash- seeking out, interpretation outside of text- Halakha- System- Avoidance of rigidity- Takanot- “et la’asot le-ha-shem, heferu toratekha” (Ps. 119.126)- Community must be able to bear rulings- Hagada/Agada- Both halakha and aggada attach meaning to biblical texts- Speculative- Folk literature and text- Some non-exegetical (Avot)- “Organic thinking”- Mishna- study- R. Judah the Prince died 217- Code? Anthology?- Authority from his office—patriarch- Includes individual opinions (Factionalism)- Language- Contemporary anthologies of Midrash and braitot- Mythology of oral law- Gemara- Tana vs Amora (authority figures of mishnah vs Gemara)- Late 4th and early 5th centuryo Period of imperial chaos (235-285), poverty and decline?o Competition with Christianity- Palestinian Talmud: (mishnah + gemara)o Expansion and clarification of Mishna (textcreativity)- Gemara II-


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UMD HIST 282 - The Talmud

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