Layers, Layers

Revadim editions of Arvei Pesahim , and Hamafkid recently catalogued at JNUL. The Hayman revolution continues.

New JSQ

More on the famous rabbinic "canonization" sugya at Bava Bathra 15a:


Eran Viezel, writes about Divrei Hayamim in the latest Jewish Studies Quarterly, with an unfortunately unwieldly title: "Ezra katav sifro veyahas shel divrey ha-yamim askeh? Nehemiah ben-Hakalya: On the Author of Chronicles in Bava Batra 15a."

The Seafaring Rabbi

Tall Tales

The Rabbah b. Hanna tales at the beginning of the fifth chapter of Bava Bathra have always enjoyed wide fascination. Now we have a collection of traditional commentary on the tales. ‫ אגדתא דבי רב (Ashdod, 5770), put out by a cerain Makhon Limud Aggada. For a cultural and folkloristic perspective, see Reuven Kiperwasser, ‫ in Sifrut u-Mered (5768 מסעות של רבה בר בר חנה

Concepts of "Religion" in Late Antiquity

The modern concept of "religion" as applied to ancient and medieval times has been deconstructed, debated, and (for some) discarded. Much of the research has focused on the use of "religion" since the Enlightenment and particularly in more recent anthropological studies. One thinks of JZ Smith's Religion, religions, religious and Talal Assad's Genealogies of Religion. Much less has been done with evolving notions of religion in late antiquity, and still less outside of the Roman Empire. This is a question dear to Daniel Boyarin's research, but one which I submit will be reconsidered, and challenged from a different angle at an upcoming SBL session.* In class a week and a half ago, we examined the development of the Iranian term daēnā /dēn in Avestan and Middle Persian texts, with an eye towards the evolution of a notion of religion. In this line, Adam Becker's fresh article in Late Antiquity 2.2 (2009) has much to add to the uses of religion, or more accurately "fear" in the late antique Christian East. He of course touches on Jews and Zoroastrians as well.

* History and Literature of Early Rabbinic JudaismJoint Session With: History and Literature of Early Rabbinic Judaism, Religious World of Late Antiquity, Social History of Formative Christianity and Judaism
11/23/20091:00 PM to 3:30 PMRoom: Studio 7 - MR
Theme: Jews and Christians in the Sasanian Empire

Tosefta Kefshuta

Hebrewbooks.org just published their latest list, which includes an edition of Midrash Aseret Hadibrot and further volumes of Lieberman's Tosefta Kefshuta.

The Talmud and its World

Department of Self Promotion

The ubiquitous Menachem Butler has put together a series of live on-line lectures for Torah in Motion which begin November 9th, 2009. Topics include Bible, Medieval Jewish philosophy, modern rabbinic history, and rabbinic bibliography. Dan Rabinowitz will deliver a series on the always popular topic of rabbinic forgeries and censorship. This blogger will be speaking on Sundays on "The Talmud and its World."

Talmudica Journalica

More Rabbinic than JSIJ...Discuss

Shamma Friedman announces a new online journal for Talmud and rabbinic literature, called Oqimta.
(Hat tip: Paleojudaica)