ISBN : 9780197264744
This volume brings together studies by experts in the rabbinic literature of late antiquity and by specialists in the history of the Jews in that period in order to reveal the value of rabbinic material as historical evidence and the problems and issues which arise in its exploitation. A substantial introductory section discusses the current state of knowledge about Palestine in this period and debates about the difficulties involved in editing and dating rabbinic texts. Specific core texts and text categories are then introduced to the reader in a series of ten discrete studies. The volume concludes with six thematic analyses which illustrate the use and limitations of rabbinic evidence for cultural, religious, political, economic and social history. This volume will be essential reading for all scholars concerned with the history of the later Roman Empire.
Introduction
PART I: THE ISSUES
1. Using Rabbinic Literature as a source for the History of Late-Roman Palestine: Problems and Issues
2. The Palestinian Context of Rabbinic Judaism
3. Research into Rabbinic Literature: An attempt to define the Status Quaestionis
4. The Status Quaestionis of Research into Rabbinic Literature
5. Current Views on the Editing of the Rabbinic Texts of Late Antiquity: Reflections on a debate after twenty years
PART II: THE RABBINIC TEXTS
6. The State of Mishnah Studies
7. The Tosefta and its Value for Historical Research: Questioning the historical reliability of case stories
8. Halakhic Midrashim as Historical Sources
9. The Talmud Yerushalmi
10. Problems in the use of the Bavli for the History of Late-Roman Palestine: the example of Astrology
11. Literary Structures and Historical Reconstruction: the example of Amoraic Midrash
12. The Future of Ancient Piyyut
13. Targum
14. The Epistle of Sherira Gaon
15. Hekhalot Literature and the Origins of Jewish Mysticism
PART III: HISTORY
16. 'Rabbinic Culture' and Roman Culture
17. Material Culture and Daily Life
18. Rabbinic Literature and the History of Judaism in Late Antiquity: Challenges, methodology, and new approaches
19. Rabbinic Perceptions of Christianity and the History of Roman Palestine
20. Politics and Administration
21. Economics and Society
Conclusion
