The Meanings of Death in Rabbinic Judaism

"The Meanings of Death in Rabbinic Judaism" is the first study of death and the mourning practices of Judaism's founders-the Rabbis of late antiquity. David Kraemer examines the earliest canonical texts-the Mishnah, the Tosefta, the Midrashim, and the Talmud-to decipher what ancient Jewish death rituals were. Through his examination of these vital Jewish texts, he is able to discover the unexpected irrational foundations of these beliefs. He also includes a discussion of evidence from the largest Jewish burial complex in antiquity, Beth Shearim, and an interpretation of the death rituals recorded in the Babylonian Talmud.

List of contents

1 The presence of death 2 Jewish death customs before the rabbis 3 Early rabbinic death-practices: The evidence of the Mishnah 4 Early expansions and commentaries: The testimony of the Tosefta and Tannaitic Midrashim 5 Jewish death-practices in reality: The catacombs at Beth Shearim 6 Jewish death-practices in early Byzantine Palestine: The Yerushalmi and Aggadic Midrashim 7 Law as commentary: The Bavli on death and burial 8 The Bavli interprets the mourner 9 Post-Talmudic developments in Jewish death-practice 10 A personal theological postscript

About the author

David Kraemer is Professor of Talmud and Rabbinics at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America in New York.

Summary

This is the first study of the death and mourning practices of the founders of Judaism - the Rabbis of late antiquity. The author outlines the rituals described in early texts and interprets them to uncover the beliefs which caused their foundation.

Product details

• Authors: David Kraemer, Kraemer David
• Publisher: Taylor and Francis
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 23.09.1999
• EAN: 9780415211833
• ISBN: 978-0-415-21183-3
• No. of pages: 182
• Weight: 500 g
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > History > Antiquity; Non-fiction book > Philosophy, religion > Religion: general, reference works; SOCIAL SCIENCE / Death & Dying, HISTORY / Ancient / General, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Sociology of Religion, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Jewish Studies, Religion: general, Relating to Jewish people and groups, Sociology: death and dying, Social groups: religious groups and communities, Judaism: sacred texts and revered writings, Judaism: Sacred Texts