Treasury Of Judaism, Vol. 1 »

This is the second volume of a set of anthologies that sets forth the statements of the formative canon of influential Rabbinic Judaism on three large topics: the calendar, the life cycle, and theology. Focusing on the seminal period of normative Judaism, Jacob Neusner presents in three parts the teachings of Rabbinic Judaism in late antiquity, the first six centuries of the Common Era. The topical abstracts, which deal with the sacred calendar (volume one), events in the life cycle (volume two), and theological expositions (volume three), are presented in documentary sequence, from the Mishnah, ca. 200, through the Bavli or Talmud of Babylonia, ca. 600. This is the story told in abundant selections of Rabbinic classics of the age, the first centuries C.E., in which the two Talmuds and Midrash came to closure.

About the Author:
Jacob Neusner is Distinguished Service Professor of the History and Theology of Judaism and Senior Fellow of the Institute for Advanced Theology at Bard College. He is also a member of the Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton, NJ, and a Life Member of Clare Hall, Cambridge University

Preface     ix
The Mishnah     1
Circumcision and Israel     1
Circumcision on the Sabbath     2
Coming of Age     4
From Father to Son     4
Obligations of Men and Women to the Commandments     5
Obligations of Husbands and Wives to One Another     6
The Tosefta     9
Sukkot: Blessings     9
Blessings for Various Occasions     10
Circumcision     14
Circumcision Blessing     14
Commandments for Women     15
Creation of Man Alone     15
The Father's Obligations to the Son     16
Haburot [Associations] for Various Purposes     17
Marks of Maturity     18
Matches for Marriage     19
Old Age     21
Prayers: Brief and Occasional     21
All Mourn the Sage Who Dies     23
Teaching a Trade to One's Children     23
Study of the Torah versus Learning a Trade     23
Why No Sex between Free Agents     24
Why No Sex with a Married Woman     25
Mekhilta Attributed to R. Ishmael     27
Honoring Parents     27
Sifra     31
Israel Keeps Itself Pure     31
Sexual Prohibitions     33
Sifre to Numbers     39
Abbreviating Prayer     39
Genesis Rabbah     41
How to Die     41
Marrying Off One's Daughters     45
Leviticus Rabbah     47
Circumcision     47
Dietary Laws and their Meaning     51
Making Matches for Marriage     61
Prohibited Marriages     62
Providing for the Future     66
Sexual Transgression     68
Ruth Rabbah     73
Proper Conduct of Israelite Women     73
Pesiqta deRab Kahana     75
Childlessness     75
Keeping the Commandments     76
Torah Study     77
The Fathers According to Rabbi Nathan     81
Death. How to Die     81
The Impulse to Do Evil     82
The Impulse to Do Evil Older than the Impulse to Do Good     83
Loving Kindness     84
Study the Torah in Youth     84
Study the Torah in Youth and in Old Age     85
The Talmud of the Land of Israel     87
Circumcision     87
Rabbi's Death and His Last Wishes. The Death of Other Sages     91
Precedence of Master over Father, Man over Woman     98
Husbands and Wives     101
Mourning Rites: The Mourner's Conduct     109
Mourning Rites: Special Rules     118
Obligations of Parents and Children     146
Prayers of Sages     158
The Talmud of Babylonia     161
Accounting for Long Lifetimes     161
Behavior in the Presence of the Corpse. The Soul Visiting the Sick     164
Celebrating the Bride     167
Chastity and Adultery     169
Conversion in General     171
Daughters and Wives, with Special Reference to Hosea     185
Deaths of Various Sages and how their Mastery of the Torah Afforded Them Special Standing after Death     190
Definition of a Minor     193
Divorce/The Evils of Divorce, Particularly of an Aging Wife     194
Dying without Sons     195
Honor of Mother and Father     196
Losing One's Temper and Taking a Vow     200
Marrying a Woman of Bad Name or Her Daughter     201
Meal as a Religious Duty     202
Martyrdom: Giving One's Life for the Sanctification of the Divine Name     203
Mourner Forbidden to Work     204
Mourning for Next of Kin     213
Mourning for Sages     215
Mourning for Thirty Days     222
Mourning Rites: Sources in Scripture     224
Old Age     230
Poverty     232
Praying the Prayer, Reciting the Shema     234
Proper Conduct     236
Sexual Obligations of a Husband to a Wife     238
Sexual Relations     241
Visiting the Sick     245
The Widow after Husband's Death. The Death of Rabbi     251
Wives and Marriage     258
Women Exempt from Commandments     262