Rabbinical literature

In the broadest sense, rabbinic literature encompasses the entire spectrum of religious writings by Jewish scholars from the emergence of rabbinic Judaism to the present day. However, the term is often used as the exact equivalent of the Hebrew term Sifrut Chasal (ספרות חז"ל; "Literature of [our] sages, blessed memory"), which specifically refers to the literature of the Talmudic era, and in this more specific sense the term is used usually used in medieval and modern rabbinical writings (where Chasal usually only refers to the sages of the Talmudic era) and also in contemporary academic writings (where "rabbinical literature" refers to the Talmud , Midrashim and related scriptures, but rarely ever later works).

This article deals with rabbinical literature in both senses. He begins with the classical rabbinical literature of the Talmudic era ( Sifrut Chasal ) and then adds a broad survey of the rabbinical writings of later periods.

The terms Meforschim or Parshanim are also used in modern yeshivot ( Talmudic schools ) and mean “rabbinical commentaries by the commentators”, see below for a more detailed explanation.

Oral law

The Mishnah and Tosefta (compiled from material prior to 200) are the earliest detailed works in rabbinical literature and explain the oral law of Judaism. Mishnah and Gemara together form the Talmud, which has come down to us in two versions:

• Jerusalem Talmud
• Babylonian Talmud

The midrash

Midrash (pl. Midrashim) is a Hebrew word for the interpretation of biblical texts. The term midrash can also be used for a compilation of midrash teachings in the form of legal, exegetical or homiletic commentaries on the Hebrew Bible.

Later works by category

Jewish law

Halacha describes the legal regulations of Jewish life. Important works in this category include:

• the Mishne Torah of Maimonides and its commentaries
• the Arba'a Turim by Jakob ben Ascher and their commentaries
• the Schulchan Aruch by Josef Karo and his comments
• the Responsen literature

Jewish thought and ethics

• Jewish philosophy
• Kabbalah
• Aggada
• the writings of Hasidism
• Jewish Ethics and the Mussar Movement

liturgy

• the siddur and the Jewish liturgy
• Pijjutim (classical Jewish poetry)

Later works based on historical periods

Works of the Geonim

The Geonim are the heads of the Talmudic Academies of Surah and Pumbedita , in Babylonia (650–1250)

• She'iltoth of the Acha'i Gaon
• Halachoth Gedoloth
• Emunoth ve-Deoth ( Saadia Gaon )
• the siddur of Amram Gaon
• Responses

Works of the Rishonim (the "early" rabbinical commentators)

The Rishonim are the rabbis of the early Middle Ages (1250–1550)

• Commentaries on the Torah , e.g. B. those of Rashi , Abraham ibn Ezra and Nachmanides .
• Commentaries on the Talmud , especially by Rashi, his grandson Samuel ben Meir and Nissim von Gerona .
• Talmudic novels ( Chiddushim ) by Tosafists , Rabbenu Tam , Nachmanides, Nissim von Gerona , Solomon ben Aderet (RaShBA), Jomtow ben Aschbili (Ritba)
• Works of Halacha ( Asher ben Jechiel , Mordechai ben Hillel )
• Codices from Isaak Alfasi , Maimonides , Jakob ben Ascher and Shulchan Aruch
• Responses , e.g. B. by Solomon ben Aderet (RaShBA)
• Kabbalistic works (e.g. the Zohar )
• philosophical works (Maimonides, Gersonides , Nachmanides)
• ethical works ( Bachja ibn Pakuda , Jona Gerondi )

Works of the Acharonim (the "late" rabbinical commentators)

The Acharonim are the rabbis from 1550 until today.

• Torah commentaries such as Keli Jakar ( Schlomo Ephraim Luntschitz ), Ohr ha-Chayim by Chajim b. Mose Attar , the commentary by Samson Raphael Hirsch and the commentary by Naftali Zvi Yehuda Berlin .
• talmudic novellas such as B. Pnei Yehoshua , Hafla'ah , Sha'agath Arjei
• Responses, e.g. B. by Moses Sofer , Moshe Feinstein
• Works of the Halacha and Codices, e.g. B. Schulchan Aruch HaRav from Schneor Salman from Liadi , Mishnah Berura from Israel Meir Kagan and Aruch ha-Shulchan from Jechiel Michel Epstein
• ethical and philosophical works by Moshe Chaim Luzzatto , Israel Meir Kagan and the Mussar movement
• Hasidic works ( Tanja , Keduschat Levi , Sefath Emmet , Schem mi-Schemuel )
• philosophical / metaphysical works (by Judah Löw , Mosche Chaim Luzzatto and Nefesch ha-Chayim by Chaim von Woloschyn )
• historical works (e.g. Shem ha-Gedolim by Chaim Joseph David Azulai )

Mefarshim

Mefarschim is a Hebrew word and means classical (rabbinical) commentators, exegetes; it is used as a substitute for the correct word perushim , which means "comments". In Judaism, this term is used for commentaries on the Torah , Tanakh , Mishnah , Talmud , Responses , Siddur and others.

Classic Torah and / or Talmudic commentaries were written by:

• Gaonim
• Saadia Gaon , 10th century, Babylon

• Rishonim
• Rashi (Shlomo Yitzchaki), 12th century, France
• Abraham ibn Ezra
• Nachmanides (Moshe ben Nahman)
• Samuel ben Meir , the Rashbam, 12th century, France
• Rabbi Levi ben Gerschom (called Ralbag or Gersonides )
• David Kimchi , the Radak, 13th century, France
• Joseph ben Isaak , the Bechor Schor, 12th century, France
• Nissim ben Reuben Gerondi , the RaN, 14th century, Spain
• Isaac ben Juda Abravanel (1437–1508)
• Obadja ben Jacob Sforno , 16th century, Italy

• Aharonim
• The Gaon of Vilnius , Rabbi Eliyahu of Vilna, 18th century, Lithuania
• The Malbim , Meir Loeb ben Jehiel Michael

Classic Talmud commentaries were written by Rashi . After Rashi there was Tosafos , a general commentary on the Talmud by the students and successors of Rashi; This comment was based on discussions in the rabbinical academies in Germany and France.

Some of the modern Torah commentaries that are widely accepted in the Jewish community include:

Orthodox:

• Ha-Ketav veha-Kabbalah by Rabbi Jaakov Zwi Meckelenburg
• Haemek Davar from Rabbi Naftali Zvi Jehuda Berlin
• Torah Temimah by Baruch ha-Levi Epstein
• the Torah commentary by Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch
• Sefat Emet ( Lips of Truth ), Jehuda Arjeh Leib von Ger, 19th century, Europe
• Pentateuch and Haftaroth by Joseph H. Hertz
• Soncino Books of the Bible
• Nechama Leibowitz , a well-known Torah scholar
• the Chofetz Chaim

conservative Judaism:

• the five-volume JPS Commentary on the Torah by Nahum M. Sarna, Baruch A. Levine, Jacob Milgrom, and Jeffrey H. Tigay
• Etz Hayim: A Torah Commentary by David L. Lieber, Harold Kushner and Chaim Potok

Modern Siddur Commentaries were written by:

• Rabbi Yisrael Meir Kagan HaCohen, The Chofetz Chaim's Siddur
• Samson Raphael Hirsch, Hirsch Siddur
• Abraham Isaak Kook , Olat Reyia
• The Authorized Daily Prayer Book with commentary by Joseph H. Hertz
• Elie Munk, The World of Prayer , Elie Munk
• Nosson Scherman, The Artscroll Siddur , Mesorah Publications
• Reuven Hammer, Or Hadash , United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism
• My Peoples Prayer Book , Jewish Lights Publishing, written by a team of non-Orthodox rabbis and Talmud scholars