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    First Steps in the Talmud: A Guide to the Confused
    First Steps in the Talmud: A Guide to the Confused
    First Steps in the Talmud: A Guide to the Confused
    Ebook222 pages5 hours

    First Steps in the Talmud: A Guide to the Confused

    By Jacob Neusner

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    About this ebook

    The Talmud is a confusing piece of writing. It begins no where and ends no where but it does not move in a circle. It is written in several languages and follows rules that in certain circumstances trigger the use of one language over others. Its components are diverse. To translating it requires elaborate complementary language. It cannot be translated verbatim into any language. So a translation is a commentary in the most decisive way. The Talmud, accordingly, cannot be merely read but only studied. It contains diverse programs of writing, some descriptive and some analytical. A large segment of the writing follows a clear pattern, but the document encompasses vast components of miscellaneous collections of bits and pieces, odds and ends. It is a mishmash and a mess. Yet it defines the program of study of the community of Judaism and governs the articulation of the norms and laws of Judaism, its theology and its hermeneutics, Above all else, the Talmud of Babylonia is comprised of contention and produces conflict and disagreement, with little effort at a resolution No wonder the Talmud confuses its audience. But that does not explain the power of the Talmud to define Judaism and shape its intellect. This book guides those puzzled by the Talmud and shows the system and order that animate the text.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherRowmanLittlefield
    Release dateJul 10, 2012
    ISBN9780761854364
    First Steps in the Talmud: A Guide to the Confused
    Author

    Jacob Neusner

    Jacob Neusner is Distinguished Service Professor of the History and Theology of Judaism; Senior Fellow, Institute of Advanced Theology, Bard College, in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York.

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    • 4/5
      In this book, Neusner takes a single chapter of the talmud (5th chapter of brachot), and analyzes the text in the Mishnah, Tosefta, Babylonian Talmud, and Palestinian Talmud. For each of them he translates the text into English, and goes through it critically in his standard outline form. Essentially you get to be an armchair quarterback as he goes through the text and see how he derives insight into it.I have only limited experience studying Talmud, and have read a few other English language books on the subject. I didn't find anything in this book to be earth shattering, but it certainly was useful to see how a great academic mind like Neusner's handles differences between the four texts treatment of the same subject. Many of his insights and revelations are universally applicable and have provided me with greater insight and understanding to other areas of the Talmud.To the best of my knowledge, this is the only book that accomplishes its goals in this fashion. Many other books on the Talmud discuss it in general fashion, and provide the same information, but do not show how it is applied. There are also some Talmudic translations which lack Neusner's critical analysis and insight. I would certainly not make it a "must read" for a person getting into Talmud study, but it was interesting.

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