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Judaic Texts - with Hebrew fonts

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A Jewish Studies Research Guide

 

Introduction:

This guide provides an introduction to the core texts of Jewish religious writing. Works are described and traditional Hebrew names are correlated with Greek and English equivalents as well as Library of Congress Subject Heading (LCSH) terms required for searching library catalogs. Examples of titles available in the UCSC Library collection are cited. (Note: Library holdings will be found in "McHenry Stacks" -- the open shelves in McHenry Library -- unless noted otherwise.) The organization follows the traditional historical development of Judaic literature beginning with the Torah, the various sources of commentary, especially the Talmud, and other texts through to modern teachings.

Further reading: Back to the sources : reading the classic Jewish texts. BM496.5.B33 1984.


Note: Hebrew text requires browser text encoding setting for Unicode UTF-8.

 

TANAKH - תנ״ך - The Written Law - The Hebrew Bible

 

TANAKH (or TANACH), the Jewish name for the Bible, is an acronym derived from the first letter of its three parts: תורה (Torah), נביאים (Nevi'im or Prophets), and כתובים (Ketuvim or Writings). Though also referred to as the "Old Testament" or Septuagint, TANAKH differs slightly in content and organization from later compilations of the texts. (In addition, the term "Old Testament" with its implication that the TANAKH has been superseded by a newer testament raises other issues for Jews.  Researchers may also encounter another less-common synonym for the Hebrew Bible, Mikra or Miqra, as in the Mikra'ot Gedelot or Commentators' Bible.

 

Further reading: Jewish Virtual Library http://http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/Tanakh.html

 

sample titles:

  • Soncino books of the Bible. 14 volumes BS1151 .S65 1985
  • Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia. BS715 1977a
  • JPS Hebrew-English Tanakh : the traditional Hebrew text and the new JPS translation. BS895 .J4 1999
  • The Jewish study Bible : Jewish Publication Society Tanakh translation. BS895 .J4 2004
  • online texts: JPS Bible and A Hebrew - English Bible
  • Audio Version current weekly portion from 1985 JPS Tanakh


 

Torah - תורה - Pentateuch - Five Books of Moses

 

Torah is the core text of Judaism, the source for everything else--the laws, rituals, and commentary--that follows. While the term "Torah" can be used in a number of ways, for our purposes here it refers specifically to the first five books of TANAKH. However, it can be worth knowing some of its other meanings. For instance, the word "torah" literally means "teaching" or "law" and is used in frequently in this general sense. "Torah" may refer to the entire TANAKH (Written Law) or the TANAKH plus the later commentary (Oral Law). The handwritten scroll containing the Five Books of Moses used in Jewish rituals is more properly called a Sefer Torah (Book of Torah).

 

A printed volume of Torah may also be called a Chumash (derived from Hebrew root for "five").  Many editions of Torah include scholarly commentaries representing either compilations of interpretations or the work of a single writer.  Editions are often referred to by the author's or publisher's name, these being the more distinctive designator: e.g., Hirsch, Hertz, Alter, Plaut, Stone, JPS, Soncino.  Many editions of Torah will also include additional readings from other parts of the TANAKH, called Haftarah, inserted into the text.  Yet another special form of printed Torah text is a Tikkun Torah, which shows the text as it appears in the Torah scroll, without vowels or cantillation marks, often paired with a version of the Masoretic text, including vowels and cantillation.  A Tikkun is used for preparing to chant from the scroll or, in some cases, by scribes who are producing a scroll. 

 

example of text as it appears in a Sefer Torah

 

Organization: The Hebrew names for the books of Torah are derived from the first significant word in the text:  ראשית (Bereishit), שמות (Sh'mote), ויקרא (Vayikra), במדבר (Bamidbar), and דברימ (Devarim).  While Torah editions are organized by the same book, chapter and verse designations (e.g. Genesis 1:1) familiar to most readers, Jews also divide the text into fifty-four parsha (or sedrot or portions).  Again named according to the first significant word in the text (e.g. "Parashat Noach", "Parashat Chayei Sarah"), the parsha are read in sequence during the year.   It is typical for commentary and discussion of the Torah to focus on the content of the parsha as discrete units and therefore they form the overall organizing scheme for the Torah.   Other Judaic texts reference the Torah according to parsha and some (notably the Zohar) follow their organizational structure.  The parashat ha-shavuah ("weekly portion") changes on Shabbat and is indicated on the Jewish calendar.

 

Researchers working with Torah texts will need to be familiar with the Library of Congress Subject Heading (LCSH) form used to identify them by title or subject in most library catalogs (including CRUZCAT and MELVYL).  It will also be helpful to recognize the various other names and designation by which they are known.

 

Books of the Torah

Hebrew English/Greek LCSH

sample titles:

תורה

Torah

Pentateuch Bible. O.T. Pentateuch
בראשית
Bereishit
Genesis Bible. O.T. Genesis
שמות
Sh'mote
Shemoth
Exodus Bible. O.T. Exodus
ויקרא
Vayikra
Leviticus Bible. O.T. Leviticus
במדבר
Bamidbar
B'midbar
Numbers Bible. O.T. Numbers
דברימ
Devarim
Deuteronomy Bible. O.T. Deuteronomy

For a listing of individual parsha, see http://www.jewfaq.org/readings.htm#Weekly


 

The remaining texts that comprise TANAKH are divided into Nevi'im (נביאים or Prophets) and Ketuvim (כתובים or Writings.

 

Nevi'im - Prophets

Hebrew English/Greek LCSH
נביאים
Nevi'im
Prophets Bible. O.T. Prophets
Yehoshua Joshua Bible. O.T. Joshua
Shoftim Judges Bible. O.T. Judges
Shmuel Samuel 1 & 2 Bible. O.T. Samuel
Melachim Kings 1 & 2 Bible. O.T. Kings
Yishayah Isaiah Bible. O.T. Isaiah
Yeremiyah Jeremiah Bible. O.T. Jeremiah
Yechezche'el Ezekiel Bible. O.T. Ezekiel
Hoshea Hosea Bible. O.T. Hosea
Yoel Joel 1 & 2 Bible. O.T. Joel
Amos Amos Bible. O.T. Amos
Ovadiyah Obadiah Bible. O.T. Obadiah
Yonah Jonah Bible. O.T. Jonah
Michah Micah Bible. O.T. Micah
Nachum Nahum Bible. O.T. Nahum
Chavakuk Habukkuk Bible. O.T. Habukkuk
Tzefaniyah Zephaniah Bible. O.T. Zephaniah
Chaggai Haggai Bible. O.T. Haggai
Zechariyah Zechariah Bible. O.T. Zechariah
Malachi Malachi Bible. O.T. Malachi

 

Ketuvim - Writings - Hagiographa

Hebrew English/Greek LCSH
כתובים
Ketuvim
Writings
Scriptures
Hagiographa
Bible. O.T. Hagiographa
Tehillim Psalms Bible. O.T. Psalms
Mishlei
Mishle
Proverbs Bible. O.T. Proverbs
Eyov
Iyov
Job Bible. O.T. Job
Shir haShirim Song of Songs
Song of Solomon
Bible. O.T. Song of Songs
Ruth
Rut
Ruth Bible. O.T. Ruth
Eichah Lamentations Bible. O.T. Lamentations
Kohelet Ecclesiastes Bible. O.T. Ecclesiastes
Esther
Ester
Esther Bible. O.T. Esther
Daniyel Daniel Bible. O.T. Daniel
Ezra Ezra
Nechemiyah
Bible. O.T. Ezra
Bible. O.T. Nehemiah
Divrei haYamim Chronicles 1 & 2 Bible. O.T. Chronicles

sample titles:

  • The JPS Bible Commentary series. [individual volumes cataloged separately]
  • The Haftarah Commentary. BM670.H3 P58 1996
  • The Women's Haftarah Commentary. BS1225.53 .W66 2004
  • [see also items listed under TANAKH above]

 

Rabbinic Literature - Oral Law - Talmud - תלמוד

The rabbinic literature includes the written record of the oral discourses that have come down to us as the Talmud. The term Talmud, in general usage, has come to represent the entire body of rabbinic commentary and disputation written down as the Mishnah, Tosefta, Midrash, and Gemara. However, Talmud is the proper name of the Gemara, the commentary on the Mishnah.

 

The Mishnah (משנה) is the written record the rabbis' oral discussions and decisions that took place over centuries until it was set down about 200 C.E. The text is organized into six major Sedarim or Orders and within these the Masekhetot or Tractates (see the table below). The Mishnah is also sometimes called Shas for Shisha Sedarim ("six orders"). The Tosefta is another, separate compilation of oral discourses but it does not have the authority of the Mishnah, largely because it was not carried forward by subsequent commentary. The Talmud or Gemara (גמרא) is the written record, primarily in Aramaic, of the oral rabbinic commentaries on the Mishnah. The Gemara commentary appears with the text of the Mishnah passage under discussion. While the Talmud is organized according to the Tractates of the Mishnah, not all of the Mishnah's Tractates are represented (or did not survive to our time) and not in the same sequence (see the table below). Further, there are two "editions" of the Talmud, known as the Bavli (בבלי or Babylonian) and the Yerushalmi (ירושלמי or Jerusalem or Palestinian or Israeli or Western) Talmuds, representing two major Jewish communities in the early centuries of the Diaspora. The Bavli is considered the more authoritative and is usually referred to simply as the Talmud. further reading: "Mishnah" and "Talmud" JewishEncyclopedia.com

Orders and Tractates of the Mishnah and Talmud: The following table lists the major sections (Orders) and the individual sections (Tractates) that make up the Mishnah. These are correlated with the Tractates of the Babylonian and Jerusalem Talmuds, numbered according to the sequence in which they normally appear.

 

משנה
Mishnah
תלמוד
Talmud
סדר
Seder
Order
מסכת
Masekhet
Tractate
בבלי
Bavli
ירושלמי
Yerushalmi
זרעים
Zeraim

Seeds
Berakhot 1 1
Pe'ah   2
Demai   3
Ki'layim   4
Shevi'it   5
Terumot   6
Ma'aserot   7
Ma'aser Sheni   8
Hallah   9
Orlah   10
Bikkurim   11
 
מועד
Mo'ed

Festival
Shabbat 1 1
Eruvin 2 2
Pesahim 3 3
Shekkalim   5
Yoma 8 4
Sukkah
Sukah
9 6
Betzah 4 8
Rosh Hashanah 7 7
Ta'anit 10  
Megillah 11 9
Mo'ed Katan 6 11
Hagigah 5 10
 
נשים
Nashim

Women
Yevamot 1 1
Ketubot
Ketubbot
2 3
Nedarim 5 4
Nazir 6 6
Sotah 7 2
Gittin 4 5
Kiddushin 3 7
משנה
Mishnah
תלמוד
Talmud
סדר
Seder
Order
מסכת
Masekhet
Tractate
בבלי
Bavli
ירושלמי
Yerushalmi
נזיקין
Nezikin

Damages
Bava Kamma 1 1
Bava Metzia 2 2
Bava Batra 3 3
Sanhedrin 5 4
Makkot 7 5
Shevu'ot 6 6
Eduyot    
Avodah Zarah 4 7
Avoth    
Horayot 8 8
 
קדשים
Kodishim

Holy Things
Zevahim 1  
Menahot 2  
Hullin 4  
Bekhorot 3  
Arakhin 5  
Temurah 6  
Keritot 7  
Me'ilah 8  
Tamid 9  
Middot    
Kinnim    
 
טהרות
Tohorot

Purities
Keilim    
Oholot    
Negaim    
Parah    
Tohorot    
Mikvaot    
Niddah 1 1
Makhshirin    
Zavim    
Tevui Yom    
Yadayim    
Uktzin    
 

sample subject headings:

  • Mishnah.
  • Mishnah. Avot -- Commentaries
  • Talmud
  • Talmud. Bava mezia
  • Talmud Yerushalmi
  • Tosefta.

sample titles:

  • Shishah Sidre Mishnah. BM497 1952
  • The Mishnah : a new translation ... Yad Avraham [Artscroll]. BM497 1982
  • Talmud Bavli. Oversize BM499 1947
  • The Babylonian Talmud ... Translated into English [Soncino]. BM499.5.E5 1935 35 vols.
  • The Talmud of the land of Israel : a preliminary translation and explanation. BM498.5.E5 1982 35 vols.

The Mishnah and Talmud, while often concerned with legal matters or Halakhah (הלכה = "law" or "path"), also contain non-legal discussion or Aggadah (אגדה = "discourse"). Much of this aggadic material is in the form of stories, such as legends, parables and folklore. Some of this material, along with similar discourses from other sources, has been collected in various works under the general heading of Midrash (מדרש = "interpretation"). The accounts contained in the Midrash may illustrate points of law or elaborate on the stories in the Torah or provide insights into Jewish culture.

 

Responsa (שאלות ותשובות = She'elot u-Teshubot = "Questions and Answers") are discourses and judgments in the form of letters. Earlier Responsa were incorporated into the Mishnah and Talmud. In more recent times these are the primary means of addressing the application of the law codes to contemporary issues and circumstances. There are different collections of Responsa corresponding to the different branches of Judaism.

Further reading: "She'elot u-Teshubot" [Responsa] JewishEncyclopedia.com

sample titles:

  • Sayings of the Fathers; or, Pirke Aboth. BM506.A2 1945
  • Midrash rabah ha-mevo'ar. BM517 .M64 1983
  • The Midrash [Soncino]. BM517.R3A3 1939
  • Legends of the Jews. BM530.G513
  • The Book Of Legends = Sefer Ha-Aggadah : legends from the Talmud and Midrash. BM516.B52 E5 1992
  • American Reform responsa BM197.C46 1983
  • Soncino Classics Collection. [electronic resource] McHenry MERC Disk 1643
  • Bar Ilan's Judaic Library. [electronic resource] McHenry Media Center Disk 3132

The Codes of Law

The Law Codes represent further attempts to distill and organize the earlier body of legal decisions in order to make them more accessible. Though these are usually the work of individual scholars and despite their reductive and sometimes controversial nature, the Codes hold a significant place in Jewish law. For instance, the modern Responsa are based on the Law Codes rather than on the earlier sources.

 

Two of the more important and well-known codes are the Mishneh Torah (משנה תורה = "second law" = Code of Maimonides) by Moses ben Maimon (aka Rambam or Maimonides, 1135-1204) and the Shulkhan Aruch (or  שולחן ערוך = "set table" = Code of Jewish Law) by Yosef Karo (1488-1575). The Library's edition of the Code of Maimonides is not yet complete and a complete English translation of the Shulkhan Aruch has not been published. Many available editions of the Codes are compilations of entries from these and other sources.

sample headings:

  • Maimonides, Moses, 1135-1204. Mishneh Torah
  • Karo, Joseph ben Ephraim, 1488-1575. Shulhan 'arukh

 

sample titles:

  • Mishneh Torah hu ha-yad ha-hazakah ..
    BM545 .M62 1960
  • The code of Maimonides.
    BM545 .M62
  • Code of Jewish law (Kitzur Shulhan Aruh) A compilation of Jewish laws and customs.
    BM560.G322 1961

Kabbalah - קבלה

Instruction in Kabbalah (or Cabala or Qabbalah or "the receiving"), the Jewish mystical tradition, was once reserved for men deemed well-grounded in Talmud and Torah and old enough to withstand the confusion brought on by its insights. Nowadays classes and books offer instant access to all who are interested. The current notoriety of Kabbalah  fueled by aggressive marketing and celebrity endorsements is only the most recent episode in a long history of controversies.

 

The origins of Kabbalah are fittingly obscure. The first written Kabbalistic text (Sefer Ha-Bahir) dates from the 12th century. The Jewish enlightenment ("Haskalah" 18th CE - see below) suppressed mystical teachings in favor of rational approaches to belief and practice. The 20th century has seen a revival of Kabbalistic teachings and increasing influence on other Jewish teachings. Once-esoteric concepts such as Shekhinah, a feminine aspect of the divine, and tikkun olum ("repairing the world") have been incorporated into the wider tradition with a growing influence on Jewish thought and ritual.

sample headings:

  • Cabala
  • Cabala -- Early works to 1800
  • Sefirot (Cabala)
  • Zohar

 

sample titles:

  • The Bahir. BM525.A412 K36 1995
  • The Zohar. BM525.Z6 1931
  • Sefer Yetzirah = The Book of Creation. BM525.A412 K37 1990

Modern Teachings

Judaism continues evolving and its ability to reassess teachings and adapt to new circumstances is especially apparent in the development of new teachings and movements during the modern era. Insightful, inspired and charismatic leaders, thinkers and teachers have continued the tradition of ongoing revelation of their classical predecessors. Some have helped spark new movements bringing renewed vitality to Jewish discourse and practice. The following provides a sampling of key teachers, the movements they help found, and writings that illustrate their contributions to modern Jewish thought.

Teachers, Movements, Writings:

 

Hasidism : The Baal Shem Tov (1698-1760)
  • The Hasidic anthology; tales and teachings of the Hasidim... BM198.N4 1934
  • The Hasidic parable. BM532 .W46 2001
  • Tales of the Hasidim. BM198.B7783 1975
  • In praise of Baal Shem Tov [Shivhei ha-Besht] BM755.I8D613

 

Haskalah / Enlightenment : Moses Mendelssohn (1729-86), Aaron Halle-Wolfssohn (1754-1835), and Joseph Perl (1773-1839)

  • Jerusalem, or, On religious power and Judaism / Moses Mendelssohn. BM565.M413 1983
  • Moses Mendelssohn and the Enlightenment B2693.A75 1994
  • Antonio's devils : writers of the Jewish enlightenment and the birth of modern Hebrew and Yiddish literature PN6067 .D38 2004

 

Reform (Liberal) Judaism : Abraham Geiger (1810-1874) and Isaac Mayer Wise (1819-1900)

  • The reform movement in Judaism. BM197.P55 1930a
  • Response to modernity : a history of the Reform Movement in Judaism. BM197.M48 1988

 

Modern Orthodox Judaism : Samson Raphael Hirsch (1808-1888)

  • Judaism eternal; selected essays from the writings of Samson Raphael Hirsch BM45.H4822 1956
  • Timeless Torah : an anthology of the writings of Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch. BM45.H4823 1957

 

Conservative (Masorti) Judaism : Solomon Schechter (1847-1915)

  • Conservative Judaism in America : a biographical dictionary and sourcebook McHenry Reference BM750.N33 1988
  • A guide to Jewish religious practice. BM700.K54

 

Reconstruction : Mordecai Kaplan (1881-1983)

  • Judaism As A Civilization BM197.7 .K26 1981
  • Dynamic Judaism : the essential writings of Mordecai M. Kaplan BM45 .K3824 1991

 

Jewish Renewal : Shlomo Carlebach (1925-1994) and Zalman Schachter-Shalomi (1924- )

  • The fifty-eighth century : a Jewish renewal sourcebook. in process
  • Trusting the Spirit: Renewal and Reform in American Religion electronic resource

 

Feminism :

  • Judith Antonelli. In The Image Of God : A Feminist Commentary On The Torah. BS1225.3 .A58 1995
  • Marcia Falk. The book of blessings. BM665 .F35 1996
  • Tirzah Firestone. The Receiving : Reclaiming Jewish Women's Wisdom. BM729.W6 F57 2003
  • Elyse Goldstein. ReVisions: Seeing Torah Through A Feminist Lens. BS1199.W7 G67 2001
  • Blu Greenberg. On women & Judaism : a view from tradition. BM729.W6G73 1985
  • Susannah Heschel. On being a Jewish feminist : a reader. BM729.W6 O6 1983
  • Judith Plaskow. Standing again at Sinai. BM729.W6P55 1991
  • Tamar Ross. Expanding The Palace Of Torah. BM729.W6 R67 2004
  • Avivah Gottlieb Zornberg. Genesis : the beginning of desire. BS1235.3 .Z67 1995
  • Shoshana Pantel Zolty. And all your children shall be learned : women and the study of Torah in Jewish law and history. BM726 .Z65 1993

 

sample headings:

  • Bible. O.T. Pentateuch - Feminist criticism
  • Conservative Judaism
  • Feminism - Religious aspects - Judaism
  • Hasidism
  • Haskalah
  • Jewish renewal
  • Judaism - History - Modern period, 1750-
  • Judaism - Works to 1900
  • Orthodox Judaism
  • Reform Judaism - History
  • Reconstructionist Judaism

 

Other Modern Teachers :

 
Walter Benjamin (1892-1940) philosopher
  • Selected writings. PT2603.E455 A26 1996
Gershom Scholem (1897-1982) Kabbalah scholar
  • Kabbalah. BM526.S35
  • Major trends in Jewish mysticism. BM723.S35 1961
Martin Buber (1878-1965) philosopher
  • I and Thou. BM723 .B753 1988
  • Moses; the revelation and the covenant. BS580.M6B8 1958
  • On Judaism. BM45.B813 1972
Abraham Joshua Heschel (1907-1972) theologian, activist
  • God in Search of Man: A Philosophy of Judaism. BM561.H46
  • The Sabbath : its meaning for modern man. BM685 .H4 1996
Aryeh Kaplan (1934-1983) theologian
  • The Living Torah = The Five Books Of Moses : A New Translation... BS1223 1981
  • The Aryeh Kaplan reader. BM45.K372 1983
Jacob Neusner (1932- ) theologian, Talmud translator
  • Judaism in modern times : an introduction and reader. BM195 .N49 1995
  • The modern study of the Mishnah. BM497.8.N48
Adin Steinsaltz (1937 - ) theologian, Talmud translator
  • The essential Talmud. BM503.5 .S79913 1976b
  • We Jews : who are we and what should we do? DS143 .S74 2005

Liturgy

Jewish prayers and rituals are largely situational, relating to specific times and events. Thus there are prayers for different cycles of time -- daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly -- as well for most occurances -- waking, meals, going to the bathroom, going to bed, births, illness, death, travel, or seeing a rainbow -- that one may encounter along the way. Subsequently these different types of prayers are collected into different types of prayer books according to their time and setting.

The most common prayerbook is the Siddur (סדור pl. Siddurim) which come in several different versions. A complete Siddur contains prayers for daily observances, Shabbat (Sabbath), the new month. the annual festivals and holidays, and special occasions. Tehillim (תהלימ = Psalms) are included as readings for special occasions.

 

Special Siddur editions cover selected parts of these observances. A prayerbook for the major annual holidays and festivals is called a Machzor (מחזור or Mahzor in the library catalog). In traditional Jewish practice where women were not taught Hebrew, special editions called Tkhines, written in Yiddish and edited accordingly, were published.

 

Another special collection of prayers and readings is the Haggadah (הגדה pl. Haggadot), the text read during the Pesach Seder (Passover meal). Hundreds, if not thousands, of Haggadah editions have been published, each reflecting its community and times. Of local note is the Santa Cruz Haggadah (BM674.75 .R64 1991) with its New Age approach to recounting the Exodus.

 

Collections including the blessings after a meal (Birkat HaMazon) and other blessings for rituals in the home are called Benchers. And, while not strictly prayerbooks, editions of Psalms (Tehillim) are often used for private prayer and meditation.

sample headings:

  • Judaism - Liturgy - Texts
  • Siddurim - Texts
  • High Holidays -- Liturgy -- Texts
  • Mahzorim - Texts
  • Haggadot - Texts
  • Grace at meals - Judaism
  • Jewish hymns
  • Bible. O.T. Psalms

sample titles:

  • The complete ArtScroll siddur : weekday/Sabbath/festival : a new translation and anthologized commentary. BM674.243 .S35 1990
  • The authorised daily prayer book. BM675.D3H4 1948
  • Gates of prayer ... for the house of mourning. BM675.D3 Z6628 1978
  • Seyder Tkhines : the forgotten book of common prayer for Jewish women. BM675.T4 Z554 2004
  • Hours of devotion : Fanny Neuda's book of prayers for Jewish women BM667.W6 N4 2007
  • Mahzor le-Rosh ha-Shanah ule-Yom ha-Kipurim = High holiday prayer book. BM675 .H5 Z64819 1951
  • The women's Haggadah. BM674.795.B76 1994
  • Passover Haggadah. [Artscroll]. BM675.P4E4 1982

 

Updated 10 October 2009 || Contact Lee Jaffe (ldjaffe@ucsc.edu)

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