Rabbinic literature
Rabbinic literature, in the broadest sense, is any literature written by Rabbis concerning Judaism. It is better restricted though, to that literature which has achieved some degree of canonicity among Jews (or at least some Jews).
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2 Mishna and Talmud 3 Geonim 4 Rishomim 5 Acharonim 6 Bibliography |
Pre-mishnaic
Pre-mishnaic (until 200 C.E.):
Mishna and Talmud
Mishnaic and Talmudic period (until 500 C.E.):- The Mishnah (the Oral law) and Tosefta (additions to the Mishna)
- The Talmud (analysis of the Mishna):
- Talmud Bavli (the Babylonian Talmud)
- Talmud Yerushalami (the Talmud of the Land of Israel, also called the Palestinian Talmud).
- The various Midrash compilations (Sifra, Sifre, Mechilta, Midrash Rabba)
Geonim
Geonic literature:- She'iltoth of Acha'i Gaon
- Halachoth Gedoloth
- Emmunoth ve-Deoth (Saadia Gaon)
- The Siddur by Amram Gaon
- Responsa
Rishomim
Rishonic literature:- 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)
Acharonim
Acharonic literature:- Bible commentaries:
- Glosses: Keli Yakar, Ohr ha-Chayim by Chayim ben-Attar, Samson Raphael Hirsch, Naphtali Yehuda Zwi Berlin
- Novellae:
- Talmudic novellae: 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
- Ethical and philosophical works:
- Ethical works by 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 the Chayim Joseph David Azulai.
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