Transcript Oct 29
Friday Breslauer: pp. 95-115 8 • • • • • Rabbi’s study bible Mikra’ot Gedolot Torah or Tanakh text Full Masorah Targums Commentaries Cross-references. Commentators • RASHI 11 century France “Plain Meaning” • Ibn Ezra 11-12 century born: Spain. Rational, linguistic, anti Karaite Astrological RAMBAN: R. Moses ben Nahman Nahmanides: 13th century Spain. . • Traditional yet influenced by Kabbalah • Secret Knowledge contained in Torah. http://www.ucalgary.ca/~elsegal/Talmud Map/MG.html Printing press • Allows text and commentary together • Allows wider distribution of texts. • Less control over teaching, etc. Medieval Judaism 700-1500 • Jews under Christianity and Islam – Prosperity / Persecution • Cultural differentiation – Sephardic – Ashkenazic In Islamic lands • Jews and Christians “Protected People” – “People of the Book” – Much Freedom, but still second class citizens – Special taxes. Abbasid dynasty 747 ce • Baghdad • Rationalistic philosophy • Pluralistic, tolerant • Hierarchical Islam and Judaism • Islam: Sunna traditions of Muhammad. Proper Islamic life • Judaism: Oral Torah becomes authoritative for Jews. curiouser and curiouser… • Compilation of Sunna may have been influenced by Oral Torah • Judaism thrived when it could be made to appear more like Islam. Karaite movement • Second half of 8th century • “Written” Torah interpreted by tradition. • BUT: No second canon of “Oral Torah” No Rabbinic authorities. Karaites • Similar to Sunni Islam • Qur’an and Hadith / Sunnah – Tradition not authority figures Anan ben David • Early Karaite leader. 8th century • Accused Rabbinate of corrupting scripture 8th- 11th century. • Rabbinic Judaism defended Rational Authentic • Described in Islamic terms: – Scripture and tradition 750-950 • Islamic expansion – Middle East – North Africa – Spain – Much of Turkey still under Christian Byzantium Jewish leadership • Exiliarch: political leader of Babylonian Jews • Geonim: Leaders of Babylonian Jewish academies. • Tensions between political/economic and religious leadership. Israel and Diaspora • Tensions between Jewish leadership in Israel and in Diaspora. • Calendar Last Geon • Saadiah al-Fayumi (882-942). • Addressed Karaite challenge. Saadia • Rationalist • Hebrew follows rational principles (Like Arabic) • Bible into Arabic • God knowable through the intellect Muslim influence Abbasid dynasty collapse • 10th century. • New centres: Egypt and Spain • Jewish life decentralizes Rise of Trade • Jewish Caravan traders • India Africa Spain Christian regions. Jewish Traders • Commerce between Islamic and Christian lands. • Some Jews become very wealthy. 9 -11 century • North African, Spanish Jews prosper • Talmud commentators • RESPONSA: Rabbinic answers to questions of Halakhah. Jewish Spain • Golden Age. 10-12 century. • Philosophy • Ibn Ezra Spain 12-13 century • Christian Re-conquest • Islamic rulers Distinctive clothes Jews barred from important posts. Forced conversion to Islam • Many Jews flee to Christian regions Maimonides • Guide for the Perplexed – 13 principles • Mishnah Torah – Summary of Halakhah. 11-12 century • African Muslim dynasties remove protection laws for Jews. Re-conquest • Jews used to resettle Spain by Christian armies. • Initially given some protection. Second class citizens