Rabbinic literature
Rabbinic literature, in the broadest sense, can mean the entire spectrum of rabbinic writing throughout history. However, the term often used as an exact cognate of the Hebrew term Sifrut Hazal (ספרות חז"ל; "The Literature of our Sages, of blessed memory"), where the latter usually refers specifically to literature from the talmudic era. The latter, more specific, sense is how the term is normally used in medieval and modern rabbinic writing (where Hazal normally refers only to the sages of the talmudic era), and in contemporary academic writing (where "rabbinic literature" refers to talmud, midrash, and related writings, but hardly ever to later texts).
This article discusses rabbinic literature in both senses. It begins with the classic rabbinic literature of the talmudic era (Sifrut Hazal), and then adds a broad survey of rabbinic writing from later periods.
The oral law
The Mishnah and the Tosefta (compiled from materials pre-dating 200 CE) are the earliest extant works of rabbinic literature, explaining Judaism's oral law. Next came the two Talmuds:
The Midrash
Midrash (pl. Midrashim) is a Hebrew word referring to a method of reading details into, or out of, a Biblical text. The term "midrash" also can refer to a compilation of Midrashic teachings, in the form of legal, exegetical or homiletical commentaries on the Bible.
Later works by category
Jewish law
Halakha is the Jewish way of life. Notable works in this category include:
- The Major Codes of Jewish Law (See halakha article)
- The Responsa literature
Jewish thought and ethics
Liturgy
- The Siddur and Jewish liturgy
- Piyyutim (Classical Jewish poetry)
Later works by historical period
Works of the Geonim
The Geonim are the rabbis of Sura and Pumbeditha, in Babylon (650 CE - 1250 CE) :
Works of the Rishonim
The Rishonim are the rabbis of the early medieval period (1250 CE - 1550 CE)
- The commentaries on the Bible, such as those by Rashi, Abraham ibn Ezra and Nahmanides.
- Commentaries on the Talmud, principally by Rashi, his grandson Samuel ben Meir and Nissim of Gerona.
- Talmudic novellae (chiddushim) by Tosafists, Nahmanides, Nissim of Geronda, Solomon ben Adereth (Rashba), Yomtov ben Ashbili (Ritva)
- Works of halakha (Asher ben Yechiel, Mordechai ben Hillel)
- Codices by Maimonides and Jacob ben Asher, and finally Shulkhan Arukh
- Responsa, e.g. by Solomon ben Adereth (Rashba)
- Kabbalistic works (such as the Zohar)
- Philosophical works (Maimonides, Gersonides, Nahmanides)
- Ethical works (Bahya ibn Paquda, Jonah of Gerona)
Works of the Acharonim
The Acharonim are the rabbis from 1550 CE to the present day.
- Important Bible commentaries include Keli Yakar, Ohr ha-Chayim by Chayim ben-Attar, the commentary of Samson Raphael Hirsch, the commentary of Naftali Zvi Yehuda Berlin and the Jewish Publication Society commentary on the Tanakh.
- Important works of Talmudic novellae include: Pnei Yehoshua, Hafla'ah, Sha'agath Aryei
- Responsa, e.g. by Moses Sofer, Moshe Feinstein
- Works of halakha and codices e.g. Mishna Berura by Yisrael Meir Kagan and the Aruch ha-Shulchan
- Ethical and philosophical works: Moses Chaim Luzzato, Yisrael Meir Kagan and the Mussar Movement
- Hasidic works (Kedushath Levi, Sefath Emmeth, Shem mi-Shemuel)
- Philosphical/metaphysical works (the works of the Maharal of Prague, Moses Chaim Luzzato and Nefesh ha-Chayim by Chayim of Volozhin)
- Mystical works
- Historical works, e.g. Shem ha-Gedolim by Chaim Joseph David Azulai.
See also
Bibliography
- "Back to the Sources: Reading the Classic Jewish Texts", Barry W. Holtz, Summit Books.
- "Introduction to Rabbinic Literature" Jacob Neusner, Anchor Bible Reference Library/Doubleday
- "Introduction to the Talmud and Midrash", H. L. Strack and G. Stemberger, Fortress Press
- Shemuel Safrai and Peter J. Tomsan "The Literature of the Sages: Oral Torah, Halakha, Mishna, Tosefta, Talmud, External Tractates" Fortress, 1987
