Rabbinic literature

See also: Chazal, Rabbinic Judaism, and Oral Torah

Rabbinic literature, in its broadest sense, is the entire corpus of works authored by rabbis throughout Jewish history.^[1] The term typically refers to literature from the Talmudic era (70–640 CE),^[2] as opposed to medieval and modern rabbinic writings. It aligns with the Hebrew term Sifrut Chazal (Hebrew: ספרות חז״ל), which translates to “literature [of our] sages” and generally pertains only to the sages (Chazal) from the Talmudic period. This more specific sense of "Rabbinic literature"—referring to the Talmud, Midrashim (Hebrew: מדרשים), and related writings, but hardly ever to later texts—is how the term is generally intended when used in contemporary academic writing. The terms mefareshim and parshanim (commentaries and commentators) almost always refer to later, post-Talmudic writers of rabbinic glosses on Biblical and Talmudic texts.

Mishnaic literature

The Midr'she halakha, Mishnah, and Tosefta (compiled from materials pre-dating the year 200 CE) are the earliest extant works of rabbinic literature, expounding and developing Judaism's Oral Law, as well as ethical teachings. Following these came the two Talmuds:

• The Jerusalem Talmud, c. 450 CE
• The Babylonian Talmud, full canonization of all the previous texts c. 600 CE.
• The minor tractates (part of the Babylonian Talmud)

The earliest extant material witness to rabbinic literature of any kind is the Tel Rehov inscription dating to the 6th–7th centuries, also the longest Jewish inscription from late antiquity.^[3] Meanwhile, the earliest extant Talmudic manuscripts are from the 8th century.

The Midrash

Main article: Midrash

Midrash (pl. Midrashim) is a Hebrew word referring to a method of reading details into, or out of, a biblical text. The term midrash also can refer to a compilation of Midrashic teachings, in the form of legal, exegetical, homiletical, or narrative writing, often configured as a commentary on the Bible or Mishnah. There are a large number of "classical" Midrashic works spanning a period from Mishnaic to Geonic times, often showing evidence of having been worked and reworked from earlier materials, and frequently coming to us in multiple variants. A compact list of these works [based on (Holtz 2008)] is given below; a more thorough annotated list can be found under Midrash. The timeline below must be approximate because many of these works were composed over a long span of time, borrowing and collating material from earlier versions; their histories are therefore somewhat uncertain and the subject of scholarly debate. In the table, "n.e." designates that the work in question is not extant except in secondary references.

Extra-canonical rabbinical literature ("n.e." designates "not extant")

Estimated date	Exegetical	Homiletical	Narrative
Tannaitic period (till 200 CE)	Mekhilta of Rabbi Ishmael Mekhilta of Rabbi Shimon Mekilta le-Sefer Devarim (n.e.) Sifra Sifre Sifre Zutta	Alphabet of Akiba ben Joseph (?)	Seder Olam Rabbah
400–650 CE	Genesis Rabbah Midrash Tanhuma Lamentations Rabbah	Leviticus Rabbah
650–900 CE	Midrash Proverbs Ecclesiastes Rabbah	Deuteronomy Rabbah Pesikta de-Rav Kahana Pesikta Rabbati Avot of Rabbi Natan	Pirkei de-Rabbi Eliezer Seder Olam Zutta Tanna Devei Eliyahu
900–1000 CE	Midrash Psalms Exodus Rabbah Ruth Zuta Lamentations Zuta
1000–1200	Midrash Aggadah of Moses ha-Darshan Midrash Tadshe
Later	Yalkut Shimoni Midrash ha-Gadol Ein Yaakov Numbers Rabbah		Sefer ha-Yashar

Later works by category

Aggada

Main article: Aggadah

• Alphabet of Rabbi Akiva
• Ein Yaakov
• Legends of the Jews
• Midrash HaGadol
• Midrash Hashkem
• Midrash Rabba
• Midrash Shmuel
• Midrash Tehillim
• Pesikta de-Rav Kahana
• Pesikta Rabbati
• Pirke De-Rabbi Eliezer
• Seder Olam Rabbah
• Seder Olam Zutta
• Sefer HaAggadah
• Sefer haYashar (midrash)
• Smaller midrashim
• Tanhuma
• Tanna Devei Eliyahu
• Tseno Ureno
• Yalkut Shimoni

Hasidic thought

Further information: Hasidic Judaism § Literature, and Hasidic philosophy § Writings

• Keter Shem Tov
• Tzavaat HaRivash
• Toledot Yaakov Yosef
• Ben Porat Yosef, Tzafnat Paneach, and Ketonet Pasim
• Magid Devarav L'Yaakov
• Or Torah
• Menachem Zion
• Meor Einayim and Yesamach Lev
• Noam Elimelech
• Menorat Zahav
• Avodat Yisrael
• Pri Ha'Aretz and P'ri Ha'Eitz
• Kedushas Levi
• Bet Aharon
• Yosher Divrei Emes
• Tanya (Likutei Amarim)
• Torah Or/Likutei Torah
• Likutei Moharan
• Sippurei Ma'asiyot ("Rabbi Nachman's Stories")
• Sichot HaRan
• Be'er Mayim Hayyim
• Siduro Shel Shabbos
• Avodas HaLevi
• Mei Hashiloach
• Kol Simcha
• Bnei Yissachar
• Imrei Elimelech and Divrei Elimelech
• Aish Kodesh
• Sefas Emes
• Imrei Emes
• Shem Mishmuel
• Likkutei Sichos
• Nesivos Sholom
• Darchei Noam

Hebrew poetry

Main article: Hebrew poetry

• Biblical poetry
• Medieval Hebrew poetry

Jewish liturgy

Main article: Jewish liturgy

• Piyyut
• Siddur

Jewish philosophy

Main article: Jewish philosophy

See also: Category:Medieval Jewish philosophers

• Chovot HaLevavot
• Derech Hashem
• Emunah Ubitachon
• Emunot v'Dayyot
• Kad ha-Kemach
• Kuzari
• Moreh Nevukhim (Guide for the Perplexed)
• Milchamot Hashem (Wars of the Lord)
• Nefesh Ha-Chaim
• Or Adonai
• Perek Chelek
• Philo
• Sefer ha-Ikkarim
• Sefer ha-Chinuch

Kabbalah

Main article: Kabbalah

• Etz Chaim
• Maggid Mesharim
• Pardes Rimonim
• Sefer haBahir
• Sefer Raziel HaMalakh
• Sefer Yetzirah
• Tikunei haZohar
• Tomer Devorah
• Zohar

Jewish law

Main article: Halakha

See also: History of responsa in Judaism

• Arba'ah Turim
• Aruch HaShulchan
• Beit Yosef
• Ben Ish Hai
• Chayei Adam and Chochmat Adam
• Darkhei Moshe
• Halachot Gedolot
• Kaf HaChaim
• Hilchot HaRif
• Kessef Mishneh
• Kitzur Shulchan Aruch
• Levush Malchut
• Minchat Chinuch
• Mishnah Berurah
• Mishneh Torah
• Responsa literature
• Sefer ha-Chinuch
• Sefer Hamitzvot
• Sefer Mitzvot Gadol
• Shulchan Aruch
• Shulchan Aruch HaRav
• Yalkut Yosef

Musar literature

Main article: Musar literature

• Mesillat Yesharim
• Orchot Tzaddikim
• Sefer Chasidim
• Shaarei Teshuva
• Sefer ha-Yir'ah
• Chovot ha-Levavot
• Ma'alot ha-Middot
• Mishnat R' Aharon
• Mikhtav me-Eliyahu
• Tomer Devorah
• Sichos Mussar
• Pele Yoetz
• Kav ha-Yashar
• Kad HaKemah
• Madreigat Ha'Adam
• Shemonah Perakim

Later works by historical period

Works of the Geonim

The Geonim are the rabbis of Sura and Pumbeditha, in Babylon (650 - 1250) :

• She'iltoth of Acha'i [Gaon]
• Halachot Gedolot
• Halachot Pesukot, by Rav Yehudai Gaon
• Emunoth ve-Deoth (Saadia Gaon)
• The Siddur by Amram Gaon
• Responsa

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

The Rishonim are the rabbis of the early medieval period (1000 - 1550)

• The commentaries on the Torah, 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.
• Commentaries on the Mishnah, such as those composed by Maimonides, Obadiah of Bertinoro, and Nathan ben Abraham
• Talmudic novellae (chiddushim) by Tosafists, Nahmanides, Nissim of Gerona, Solomon ben Aderet (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 Aderet (RaShBA)
• Kabbalistic works (such as the Zohar)
• Philosophical works (Maimonides, Gersonides, Nahmanides)
• Ethical works (Bahya ibn Paquda, Jonah of Gerona)

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

The Acharonim are the rabbis from 1550 to the present day.

• Important Torah commentaries include Keli Yakar (Shlomo Ephraim Luntschitz), Ohr ha-Chayim by Chayim ben-Attar, the commentary of Samson Raphael Hirsch, and the commentary of Naftali Zvi Yehuda Berlin.
• Important works of Talmudic novellae include: Pnei Yehoshua, Hafla'ah, Sha'agath Aryei
• Responsa, e.g. by Moses Sofer, Moshe Feinstein
• Works of halakha and codices e.g. Mishnah Berurah by Yisrael Meir Kagan and the Aruch ha-Shulchan by Yechiel Michel Epstein
• Ethical and philosophical works: Moshe Chaim Luzzatto, Yisrael Meir Kagan and the Mussar Movement
• Hasidic works (Kedushath Levi, Sefath Emmeth, Shem mi-Shemuel)
• Philosophical/metaphysical works (the works of the Maharal of Prague, Moshe Chaim Luzzatto and Nefesh ha-Chayim by Chaim of Volozhin)
• Mystical works
• Historical works, e.g. Shem ha-Gedolim by Chaim Joseph David Azulai.

Mefareshim

Mefareshim is a Hebrew word meaning "commentators" (or roughly meaning "exegetes"), Perushim means "commentaries". In Judaism these words refer to commentaries on the Torah (five books of Moses), Tanakh, Mishnah, Talmud, the responsa literature, or even the siddur (Jewish prayerbook), and more.

Classic Torah and Talmud commentaries

Classic Torah and/or Talmud commentaries have been written by the following individuals:

• Geonim
  • 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
  • Gersonides, also known as Levi ben Gershom or Ralbag)
  • David Kimhi, the Radak, 13th century France
  • Joseph ben Isaac Bekhor Shor, 12th century France
  • Nissim of Gerona, also known as Nissim ben Reuben Gerondi, or the RaN, 14th century Spain
  • Isaac Abarbanel (1437–1508)
  • Obadiah ben Jacob Sforno, 16th century Italy
• Acharonim
  • The Vilna Gaon, also known as Elijah ben Solomon Zalman, 18th century Lithuania
  • The Malbim, Meir Leibush ben Yehiel Michel Wisser

Classical Talmudic commentaries were written by Rashi. After Rashi the Tosafot were written, which was an omnibus commentary on the Talmud by the disciples and descendants of Rashi; this commentary was based on discussions done in the rabbinic academies of Germany and France.^{[citation needed]}

Modern Torah commentaries

Modern Torah commentaries which have received wide acclaim in the Jewish community include:

• Haemek Davar by Rabbi Naftali Zvi Yehuda Berlin
• The Chofetz Chaim
• Torah Temimah of Baruch ha-Levi Epstein
• Kerem HaTzvi, by Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch Ferber
• Sefat Emet (Lips of Truth), Yehudah Aryeh Leib of Ger, 19th century Europe
• The "Pentateuch and Haftaras" by Joseph H. Hertz
• Uebersetzung und Erklärung des Pentateuchs ("Translation and Commentary of the Pentateuch") by Samson Raphael Hirsch
• Nechama Leibowitz, a noted woman scholar
• HaTorah vehaMitzva ("The Torah and the Commandment") by Meïr Leibush, the "Malbim"
• Ha-Ketav veha-Kabbalah by Rabbi Yaakov Tzvi Mecklenburg
• The Soncino Books of the Bible
• Richard Elliot Friedman's Commentary on the Torah (2001)

Modern Siddur commentaries

Modern Siddur commentaries have been written by:

• Rabbi Yisrael Meir Kagan HaCohen, The Chofetz Chaim's Siddur
• Samson Raphael Hirsch, The Hirsch Siddur, Feldheim
• Abraham Isaac Kook, Olat Reyia
• The Authorised Daily Prayer Book with commentary by Joseph H. Hertz
• Elie Munk, The World of Prayer, Elie Munk
• Nosson Scherman, The Artscroll Siddur, Mesorah Publications
• Jonathan Sacks, in the Authorised Daily Prayer Book of the British Commonwealth (the new version of "Singer's Prayer Book") as well as the Koren Sacks Siddur.
• Reuven Hammer, Or Hadash, a siddur commentary built around the text of Siddur Sim Shalom, United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism
• My Peoples Prayer Book, Jewish Lights Publishing, written by a team of non-Orthodox rabbis and Talmud scholars.

See also

• Judaism portal
• Jewish portal

• Jewish commentaries on the Bible
• Judaism § Religious texts
• List of Jewish prayers and blessings
• List of rabbis
• Rabbinic Judaism
• Torah databases (electronic versions of traditional Jewish texts)
• Yeshiva § Curriculum

Biblical figures in rabbinic literature

• Adam in rabbinic literature
• Daniel in rabbinic literature
• Esther in rabbinic literature
• Ezra in rabbinic literature
• Haman in rabbinic literature
• Jethro in rabbinic literature
• Joab in rabbinic literature
• Job in rabbinic literature
• Moses in rabbinic literature
• Noah in rabbinic literature
• Samson in rabbinic literature
• Simeon in rabbinic literature

References

1. Jenson, Jeff. "LibGuides: A Guide to Jewish Studies: Rabbinic Literature". libguides.gustavus.edu. Retrieved 2024-12-07.
2. Safrai 1969, p. 305, 307.
3. Fine, Steven; Koller, Aaron J. (2014). Talmuda de-Eretz Israel: archaeology and the rabbis in late antique Palestine. Studia Judaica. Center for Israel studies. Boston: De Gruyter. pp. 231–237. ISBN 978-1-61451-485-5.

Bibliography

• Holtz, Barry W. (2008) [1984]. Back to the Sources: Reading the Classic Jewish Texts. Simon & Schuster. ISBN 9781439126653.
• 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)
• The Literature of the Sages: Oral Torah, Halakha, Mishnah, Tosefta, Talmud, External Tractates, Shemuel Safrai and Peter J. Tomson (Fortress, 1987)
• Safrai, S. (1969). "The Era of the Mishnah and Talmud (70–640)". In Ben-Sasson, H.H. (ed.). A History of the Jewish People. Translated by Weidenfeld, George. Harvard University Press (published 1976). pp. 305–382. ISBN 9780674397316.

External links

General

• A survey of rabbinic literature
• A timeline of Jewish texts
• Comprehensive listing by category - Global Jewish Database
• Judaica archival project
• Chapters On Jewish Literature
• Online Resources for the Study of Rabbinic Literature

Links to full text resources

• The Sefaria Library
• Mechon Mamre
• Sages of Ashkenaz Database
• Halacha Brura and Birur Halacha Institute
• The Electronic Torah Warehouse
• hebrewbooks.org
• seforimonline.org
• Primary Sources @ Ben Gurion University Archived 2011-05-14 at the Wayback Machine
• Young Israel library Archived 2013-03-14 at the Wayback Machine

Glossaries

• Judaic glossary
• Sources@JTS
• Glossary/Bibliography