A pdf has been placed on Moodle with selections from Jewish Scriptures and other writings. Read the Talmudic selection on Rabbinic authority that appears on p. 20 of the pdf (p. 372 of the text). Explain the significance of the debate recounted here. Place the text in historical context, and explain the role of debate between Rabbis about the meaning of scripture during this particular period of Jewish history. Also say what you make of G*d (the Holy One) laughing, as reported by Elijah. 2 pages, typed and double-spaced. Due Monday April 18th. first take home essay for midterm Strategies for writing short papers Good Strategies Trust your own ability to read and interpret the text. Read the text carefully, and make use of relevant sections of the textbook to help make sense of the context in which the text you are considering appears. Put your explanation in your own words. Think of how you might explain what you’ve learned to a friend who asked you about the class you’re taking. Bad Strategies Quoting the powerpoint slides used in class. Going online to find how others have interpreted this text. This can be helpful as part of the process of developing your own interpretations, but don’t lean too heavily on outside sources. Plagiarizing online sources. Forgetting to provide the explanation asked for in the assignment. Differing views of scriptures The traditional Jewish view is that Moses wrote the Torah after receiving its contents as a revelation on Mt. Sinai. Modern scholarship holds that the text of Torah is a redaction, a reconstruction done after the return from Babylon which united several strands of literature into one document. This view is known as the documentary hypothesis (see p. 93 of Religions of the West Today for a more detailed account of this viewpoint). Judaism in a Hellenic world As a result of the Diaspora, Jews found themselves scattered across the Hellenized Mediterranean world. Ideas drawn from Greek philosophy, mathematics, and science dominated this era. The application of reason (logos) as part of a systematic investigation of nature was the ruling principle, while the guidance provided by prophetic revelation was seen as limited in scope. Given the differences between Hellenic and Judaic cultures, questions of how to maintain Jewish identity outside of the traditional homeland became more pressing and difficult to answer. Some Jews became assimilated to the wider culture, while others formed isolated Jewish communities, such as the Essenes. Intellectually, allegorical interpretation was developed as a means of integrating Judaism with Greek philosophy; this is a method of reading texts symbolically. Philo of Alexandria is a good example of a Jewish thinker who engages in this kind of reading of the traditional scriptures. Apocalyptic Judaism “Apocalypse” is derived from a Greek word meaning “unconcealed” or “out of hiding,” hence it indicates a revelation or disclosure by .

1. A pdf has been placed on Moodle with selections from Jewish
Scriptures and other writings. Read the Talmudic selection on
Rabbinic authority that appears on p. 20 of the pdf (p. 372 of
the text). Explain the significance of the debate recounted here.
Place the text in historical context, and explain the role of
debate between Rabbis about the meaning of scripture during
this particular period of Jewish history. Also say what you
make of G*d (the Holy One) laughing, as reported by Elijah.
2 pages, typed and double-spaced.
Due Monday April 18th.
first take home essay for midterm
Strategies for writing short papers
Good Strategies
Trust your own ability to read and interpret the text.
Read the text carefully, and make use of relevant sections of the
textbook to help make sense of the context in which the text you
are considering appears.
Put your explanation in your own words. Think of how you
might explain what you’ve learned to a friend who asked you
about the class you’re taking.
Bad Strategies
Quoting the powerpoint slides used in class.
Going online to find how others have interpreted this text. This
can be helpful as part of the process of developing your own
interpretations, but don’t lean too heavily on outside sources.
Plagiarizing online sources.
Forgetting to provide the explanation asked for in the
assignment.

2. Differing views of scriptures
The traditional Jewish view is that Moses wrote the Torah after
receiving its contents as a revelation on Mt. Sinai.
Modern scholarship holds that the text of Torah is a redaction, a
reconstruction done after the return from Babylon which united
several strands of literature into one document. This view is
known as the documentary hypothesis (see p. 93 of Religions of
the West Today for a more detailed account of this viewpoint).
Judaism in a Hellenic world
As a result of the Diaspora, Jews found themselves scattered
across the Hellenized Mediterranean world.
Ideas drawn from Greek philosophy, mathematics, and science
dominated this era. The application of reason (logos) as part of
a systematic investigation of nature was the ruling principle,
while the guidance provided by prophetic revelation was seen as
limited in scope. Given the differences between Hellenic and
Judaic cultures, questions of how to maintain Jewish identity
outside of the traditional homeland became more pressing and
difficult to answer.
Some Jews became assimilated to the wider culture, while
others formed isolated Jewish communities, such as the Essenes.
Intellectually, allegorical interpretation was developed as a
means of integrating Judaism with Greek philosophy; this is a
method of reading texts symbolically. Philo of Alexandria is a
good example of a Jewish thinker who engages in this kind of
reading of the traditional scriptures.
Apocalyptic Judaism
“Apocalypse” is derived from a Greek word meaning
“unconcealed” or “out of hiding,” hence it indicates a revelation
or disclosure by G*d.
In the centuries following the return from exile, as Jewish
communities came into contact with other cultures to a greater

3. extent than before, some Jews withdrew into isolated
communities. In these communities, the idea that God’s plan
for the world was still in place (and hence yet to be revealed)
led to a variety of apocalyptic traditions.
It was in this context that the traditions surrounding the coming
of the Moshiach developed.
Moshiach: the anointed one
The Moshiach (or Mashiah) will be both a spiritual and a
secular ruler, a human appearing in the end times. Jewish
eschatology holds that this will inaugurate “The World To
Come,” not an afterlife but rather a period of peace and
prosperity for the world.
He will restore the temple in Jerusalem.
He will be of the line of David.
He will be a great military leader, and also a judge who
establishes Jewish Law.
In every generation, the potential exists for the Moshiach to
arise, should conditions on Earth call for it (either great
sinfulness or great goodness).
Christians believe that Jesus was the Moshiach, but Jews do not
accept this claim, believing instead that The World To Come
still lies in the future.
The “Dual Torah”
Jews believe that in addition to the written Torah handed to
Moses at Sinai, there was an oral tradition also transmitted at
Sinai but never written down until after the destruction of the
second temple. This oral tradition became the Mishnah. Not all
movements of Judaism accept this tradition, as some movements
focus simply on the traditional written Torah.
More Texts of Judaism

4. Mishnah: written down around 200 c.e., these are rabbinical
commentaries on the Torah (also believed to be the oral Torah).
Gemara: These texts are completed between 400 and 600 c.e. by
Jewish communities in Jerusalem and Babylonia (there are two
distinct collections of commentary). These are Rabbinical
commentaries on the Mishnah.
Talmud: Talmud comprises both Mishnah and Gemara. The
Talmudic tradition of commentary and interpretation continues
to this day. While it is mainly a scholarly tradition, the idea
that continual discussion and debate over the meaning of
scriptural texts is at the heart of Jewish experience for anyone
who identifies as a Jew.
Midrash: these “investigations” are commentaries written by
Rabbis in the early centuries of the common era. Midrash has
come to be a general term for any commentary on scripture
intended to provide advice for Jews seeking guidance in life.
Halakha: Jewish Law
“the path that one walks.”
Mitzvot: commandments from the Torah.
Gezirah: (“a fence around the Torah”) laws instituted by Rabbis
to help uphold the Mitzvot (e.g., a requirement to not even
handle implements of work on Shabbat, things like pencils,
calculators, etc.).
Takkanah: laws instituted by Rabbis, but with no special
reference to the Torah (e.g., the requirement to light candles on
Hanukkah).
Minhag: customs which have been recognized as having the
status of law (e.g., extending the observance of holidays to a
second day so that the astronomical timing of the day will not
be interfered with).
Rabbinical Judaism
The age of cogency (640 – 1800 c.e.) saw a growth in the

5. power of Rabbis (teachers) within the Jewish community.
Rabbis are authorities on Halakah, and they advise Jews on
difficult questions of legal and moral interpretation.
It is the Rabbis who develop and maintain the Mishnah and
Talmud, systematizing the substance of Jewish belief.
The 13 principles of faith developed by Moses Ben Maimon
(Maimonides) is an emblematic statement of Rabbinical
authority.
Officials of the Jewish Community
Kohein: a priest who is charged with the duty of carrying out
sacrifice in the Temple; traditionally identified as descendants
of Aaron. (Levites were also charged with special duties
pertaining to the maintenance of the temple.)
Rabbi: a teacher; someone well-versed in halakah; Rabbis are
not necessarily kohein and so do not perform any sacrificial
rituals.
Chazzan: a cantor who leads the group attending synagogue in
singing and prayers.
Synagogue:
The House of Assembly and Prayer
Synagogue is the term used by Conservative Jews to refer to the
place of worship; this word literally means “house of assembly”
(Hebrew: beit k’nesset).
Reform Jews call it a temple, since they believe that the ancient
temple is remade wherever and whenever they gather.
Orthodox Jews call it a Shul (derived from the German word for
school; a place of learning).
The synagogue is the center of the Jewish community, and it

6. serves as
The place of worship or prayer
The place for rituals, such as the Bar Mitzvah
A place for social gatherings
A Torah Scroll
Every Synagogue has a Torah scroll (called a Sefer Torah), kept
in an Ark (Hebrew: aron kodesh, or holy cabinet). This Ark has
both a curtain and doors, which are opened and closed as part of
worship services. The ark usually faces Jerusalem. In front of
this is an oil lamp, satisfying the mitzvah to keep a light
burning outside the Ark. A bimah (altar) is placed in front of
the Ark, and the scroll is placed here to be read from during
services.
In Orthodox synagogues, women are separated from men,
sometimes by a curtain or a wall. (This is meant to minimize
distraction for the men while they are praying.)
Aron Kodesh Torah Scroll on Bimah