The Authority of the Divine Law - A Study in Tannaitic Midrash

This book explores the various rationales offered by Jewish groups in late antiquity for the authority of the Divine Law. While Second Temple groups tended to look towards philosophy or metaphysics to justify the Divine Law's authority, the tannaim formulated legal arguments. These arguments link to a set of issues regarding the tannaim's conception of Divine Law and of Israel's election.

List of contents

Acknowledgments

1. Introduction: The Authority of the Divine Law over the Chosen People
2. Pre-Tannaitic Conceptions of the Divine Law’s Authority
3. “You Are My Slaves”: The Authority of the Divine Law in Akivan Midrash
4. “May I Be Your King?”: The Authority of the Divine Law in Ishmaelian Midrash
5. Contextualizing the Tannaim’s Legal Arguments
6. Setting the Boundaries: Tannaitic Attitudes Towards Non-Israelites and Conversion
7. The Contingency or Eternality of Israel’s Election
8. Is the Israelite Sinner Still an Israelite?
9. Into the Bavli

Conclusion

Appendix—Tannaitic Sources Regarding the Primordial Roots of Israel’s Election and of the Divine Law
References
Index

About the author

Yosef Bronstein received rabbinic ordination and a PhD in Talmudic Studies from Yeshiva University. He is the Rosh Bet Midrash of Machon Zimrat Ha'aretz, a community learning center and rabbinical training program in Efrat, Israel, and also teaches Jewish philosophy at Yeshiva University's Isaac Breuer College. He is the coauthor of Reshimot Shiurim al Masekhet Kiddushin (Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik's Talmud lectures on tractate Kiddushin) and the author of Engaging the Essence: The Philosophy of the Lubavitcher Rebbe (forthcoming from Maggid Books).

Product details

• Authors: Yosef Bronstein
• Publisher: Ingram Publishers Services
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Release: 12.03.2024, delayed
• EAN: 9798887194127
• ISBN: 979-8-88719-412-7
• No. of pages: 242
• Series: Judaism and Jewish Life
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Religion/theology > Judaism; Non-fiction book > Philosophy, religion > Religion: general, reference works; PHILOSOPHY / Religious, RELIGION / Judaism / History, PHILOSOPHY / History & Surveys / Ancient & Classical, RELIGION / Philosophy, RELIGION / Judaism / Talmud, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Jewish Studies, RELIGION / Judaism / Theology, Religion & beliefs, History of Religion, Jewish Studies, Judaism, Religious issues & debates, RELIGION / Biblical Studies / Old Testament / General, Systems of law: Jewish Law, Judaism: Sacred Texts, Judaism: theology, Philosophy & Religion, Jewish philosophy