Description
Book SynopsisThe Talmud chronicles the early development of rabbinic Judaism through the writings and commentaries of the rabbis whose teachings form its foundation. However, this key religious text is expansive, consisting of 63 books containing extensive discussions and interpretations of the Mishnah accumulated over several centuries. Sifting through the huge number of names mentioned in the Talmud to find information about one figure can be tedious and time-consuming, and most reference guides either provide only brief, unhelpful entries on every rabbi, including minor figures, or are so extensive that they can be more intimidating than the original text. In Essential Figures in the Talmud, Dr. Ronald L. Eisenberg explains the importance of the more than 250 figures who are most vital to an understanding and appreciation of Talmudic texts. This valuable reference guide consists of short biographies illustrating the significance of these figures while explaining their points of view with numerou
Trade ReviewAlthough Essential Figures in the Bible and Essential Figures in the Talmud were not published as a set, they complement one another nicely....The Talmud is the masterwork of rabbinic Judaism, comprised of the Mishnah—a written compilation of rabbinic oral commentaries and discussions on the first five books of the Hebrew Bible—and the Gemarra, a rabbinic commentary on the Mishnah. Eisenberg’s handy volume brings together information on more than 250 of the more than 2,000 rabbis and scholars mentioned in the Talmud. Entries usually include passages from the Talmud that nicely introduce the wisdom of these Jewish sages in their own words. These A-Z volumes are concise and informative and are recommended for theological and research libraries as well as academic and large public libraries with extensive Judaica collections. * Booklist *
The Talmud has been compared to an ocean that is most difficult to navigate. This handy reference book provides short biographies of all the key scholars of the Talmud, including those of the Mishnah and the Gemara and of both the Babylonian and the Jerusalem Talmuds. As such, it is an invaluable tool for anyone who studies a “page of Gemara,” which inevitably will make mention of one or more such scholars and will necessitate a biographical reference to such luminaries as Hillel or Akiva, or the hundreds of other less known rabbinical scholars. Written in clear, easily understood language, Essential Figures in the Talmud is a book that will greatly facilitate the understanding of Judaism’s law and lore. -- Mordecai Schreiber, author of Hearing the Voice of God: In Search of Prophecy
Table of ContentsPreface Acknowledgments Introduction List of Abbreviations List of Rabbis without Patronymics Essential Figures in the Talmud Appendix A: Chronological List of Rabbis Appendix B: Maps of Talmudic Academies Glossary Bibliography About the Author
