Sifrei Kodesh

In addition to the classic printings of Tanakh which don't include many more commentaries than Rashi and Targum Onkelos, there is the Mikraot Gedolot edition which was first published in the early sixteenth century. Commentaries in the Mikraot Gedolot on the Torah are generally those of Abraham ibn Ezra (Sefer ha-Yashar), Nachmanides, Rabbi Shlomo Ephraim Luntschitz (the Keli Yakar), Chaim ibn Attar, and the translation and commentary attributed to Rabbi Jonathan ben Uzziel, known as Targum Pseudo-Jonathan, all in addition to Rashi and Targum Onkelos; while commentaries on Nakh are those of Rashi, Rabbi David Altschuler, Rabbi David Kimhi, Rabbi Joseph Kara, and on some volumes, Rabbi Obadiah ben Jacob Sforno (the Sforno or Sepornu).

Among the numerous commentaries of Tanakh not published in the Mikraot Gedolot are the

Aside from the Bible, there were several writings of Jewish religious significance in

As stated earlier, Jewish belief is that the Pentateuch is of Mosaic authorship, meaning that it was dictated by God to Moses. Later writings, the Nevi'im and Ketuvim, were, according to tradition, written by Jewish prophets. For over a thousand years, these books, known as Tanakh, were more or less the sole writings of Judaism. However, there was much material that was not written down, and instead memorized. Known as the Oral Torah, it includes over five hundreds laws learned out from Talmudical hermeneutics as well as the laws given to Moses at Sinai (Hebrew: הלכה למשה מסיני, romanized: Halakhah leMoshe miSinai). However, circa 200 C.E., much of the Oral Torah was written down, and is known as the Mishnah (the Zohar, a book chronicling the hidden parts of the Torah, was written down as well around this time by Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai). Three hundred years later the Talmud was written, expounding on the Mishnah.

Mishnah

For generations, the

[Rabbi Judah ha-Nasi] gathered together all the traditions, enactments, interpretations, and expositions of every position of the Torah, that either came down to Moses, our teacher, or had been deduced by the courts in successive generations.^[13]

A similar project was carried out by Rabbi Hiyya bar Abba and his student Rabbi Hoshaiah, known as the Tosefta. A collection of statements not included in the Mishnah was compiled by Rabbi Oshiya and Bar Kappara, known as Baraitot.

Talmud

Circa 349,

In the past years, there have been numerous commentaries written on the Talmud. While the most commonly referenced commentaries are those of Rashi and Tosafot, and as mentioned, are printed in the margins of the Talmud, other famous commentaries (which often are recognized as Halakhic works as well) include the

(Chiddushei Reb Aryeh Leib).

Kabbalah

Main articles: Kabbalah and Primary texts of Kabbalah

The term

Tanna who lived in the second century, although it was lost for many years. However, it was discovered in Spain in the thirteenth century and transcribed by hand numerous times, leading to changes between the texts. Between 1558 and 1560, it was printed in Mantua based on ten different manuscripts in order to glean the correct text. A separate printing took place in Cremona around the same time, using only six manuscripts, leading to differences in the two printings.^[28]

The Zohar was largely expounded on by Rabbi

Chaim Vital.^[29]

Halakha

Main article: Halakha

Jewish law, known in Hebrew as Halakha, was transcribed first in the Mishnah and later in the Talmud, with the differing opinions spread out over sixty three tractates. However, later rabbis — namely the Geonim of the Early Middle Ages, the Rishonim of the High and Late Middle Ages, and the Acharonim of modern times — wrote more conclusive works. Many of these works are responsa (she'eilot u'teshuvot in Hebrew), printed questions and answers.

The Geonim, the leaders of Jewry in the

Achai Gaon

.

The Rishonim, the leading rabbis of the Middle Ages after the Geonim, have left many written Halakhic works, including the Piskei HaRosh of Rabbi Asher ben Yechiel^[30] and the Sefer HaHalakhot of Rabbi Yitzchak Alfasi,^[31] both of which are often published in the back of the Talmud; and the Arba'ah Turim, also known as the Tur, of Rabbi Yaakov ben Asher, a four volume work written in attempt to organize Jewish law.^[32]

Rambam

Main article: Mishneh Torah

Rabbi

Yitzchak Zev Soloveitchik;^[35] and by his grandson Rabbi Meshulam Dovid Soloveitchik, titled Chiddushei Rabbeinu Meshulam Dovid Halevi.^[36] A student of Rabbi Chaim Soloveitchik, Rabbi Isser Zalman Meltzer wrote his own commentary on the Rambam, titled Even HaEzel.^[37]

Halakhic works of Acharonim

Likely the most monumental Halakhic work ever written, Rabbi

Many Halakhic works of the Acharonim are responsa. These include the Igros Moshe of Rabbi Moshe Feinstein,^[42] the Noda B'Yehudah of Rabbi Yechezkel Landau,^[41] She'eilot U'teshuvot Rabbi Akiva Eiger of Rabbi Akiva Eiger,^[43] Beis HaLevi by Rabbi Yosef Dov Soloveitchik,^[44] Shevet HaLevi of Rabbi Shmuel Wosner, and Tzitz Eliezer of Rabbi Eliezer Waldenberg. Another notable Halakhic work is the Chofetz Chaim, dealing with the laws of proper speech, and written by Rabbi Yisrael Meir Kagan.^[45]

Hasidism

Also known as chasidus,

In the teachings of Hasidic masters, one comes across a new way of approaching God and the spiritual. Neither Kabbalah nor philosophy, but experience is the proper way to approach God. "Serve God with gladness!" "Taste and see that God is good!" "For me the closeness of God is best!"... The Hasidic masters used the language of Kabbalah and to a lesser extent that of Jewish philosophy, to teach the average individual how he could experience God.^[46]

The first Hasidic book to be published, Toldot Yaakov Yosef by Rabbi

While the study of musar (spiritual and

• Ancient Hebrew writings
• Rabbinic literature

Explanatory notes

References

Citations

Bibliography

• Bamberger, Rabbi Moshe (2017). Great Jewish Classics (First ed.). Brooklyn, NY:
  ISBN 978-1-4226-1950-6
  .
• Spiro, Ken (2011). Crash Course in Jewish History. Southfield, MI:
  ISBN 978-1-56871-532-2
  .
• Zakon, Rabbi Nachman (June 2003). The Jewish Experience: 2,000 Years (Second ed.). Brooklyn, NY: Mesorah Publications, Ltd.
  ISBN 1-57819-496-2
  .