Rabbinic literature, in its broadest sense, can mean the entire spectrum of rabbinic writings
throughout Jewish history. However, the term often refers specifically to literature from
the Talmudic era, as opposed to medieval and modern rabbinic writing, and thus corresponds
with the Hebrew term Sifrut Hazal (Hebrew: ספרות חז"ל‎ "Literature [of our]
sages," where Hazal normally refers only to the sages of the Talmudic era). This more
specific sense of "Rabbinic literature"—referring to the Talmudim, Midrash (Hebrew: מדרש‎),
and related writings, but hardly ever to later texts—is how the term is generally intended
when used in contemporary academic writing. On the other hand, the terms meforshim and
parshanim (commentaries/commentators) almost always refer to later, post-Talmudic writers
of rabbinic glosses on Biblical and Talmudic texts.
This article discusses rabbinic literature in both senses. It begins with the classic
rabbinic literature of the Talmudic era (Sifrut Hazal), and then adds a broad survey of rabbinic
writing from later periods.
== Mishnaic literature == The Mishnah and the Tosefta (compiled from
materials pre-dating the year 200 CE) are the earliest extant works of rabbinic literature,
expounding and developing Judaism's Oral Law, as well as ethical teachings. Following these
came the two Talmuds:
The Jerusalem Talmud, c. 450 CE The Babylonian Talmud, c. 600 CE
The minor tractates (part of the Babylonian Talmud)
== The Midrash == Midrash (pl. Midrashim) is a Hebrew word referring
to a method of reading details into, or out of, a biblical text. The term midrash also
can refer to a compilation of Midrashic teachings, in the form of legal, exegetical, homiletical,
or narrative writing, often configured as a commentary on the Bible or Mishnah. There
are a large number of "classical" Midrashic works spanning a period from Mishnaic to Geonic
times, often showing evidence of having been worked and reworked from earlier materials,
and frequently coming to us in multiple variants. A compact list of these works [based on (Holtz
1984)] is given below; a more thorough annotated list can be found under Midrash. The timeline
below must be approximate because many of these works were composed over a long span
of time, borrowing and collating material from earlier versions; their histories are
therefore somewhat uncertain and the subject of scholarly debate. In the table, "n.e."
designates that the work in question is not extant except in secondary references.
== Later works by category ==
=== Aggada ===
Ein Yaakov Midrash Rabba
=== Hasidic thought ===
Kedushas Levi Tanya
=== Hebrew poetry ===
Biblical poetry Medieval Hebrew poetry
=== Jewish Liturgy ===
Piyyut Siddur
=== Jewish philosophy ===
Bachya ibn Pakuda Chovot HaLevavot
Emunot v'Dayyot Guide for the Perplexed
Isaac Israeli ben Solomon Kuzari
Or Adonai Philo
Sefer ha-Ikkarim Wars of the Lord
=== Kabbalah ===
Etz Hayim Pardes Rimonim
Sefer haBahir Sepher Yetzirah
Tikunei haZohar Zohar
=== Jewish law ===
Arba'ah Turim Aruch HaShulchan
Beit Yosef Chayei Adam
Darkhei Moshe Hilchot HaRif
Kitzur Shulchan Aruch Minchat Chinuch
Mishnah Berurah Mishneh Torah
Responsa literature Sefer ha-Chinuch
Sefer Hamitzvot Shulchan Aruch
Shulchan Aruch HaRav
=== Musar literature ===
Mesillat Yesharim Orchot Tzaddikim
Sefer Chasidim Shaarei Teshuva
== Later works by historical period ==
=== Works of the Geonim === The Geonim are the rabbis of Sura and Pumbeditha,
in Babylon (650 - 1250) :
She'iltoth of Acha'i [Gaon] Halachoth Gedoloth
Emunoth ve-Deoth (Saadia Gaon) The Siddur by Amram Gaon
Responsa
=== Works of the Rishonim (the "early" rabbinical commentators) ===
The Rishonim are the rabbis of the early medieval period (1000 - 1550)
The commentaries on the Torah, such as those by Rashi, Abraham ibn Ezra and Nahmanides.
Commentaries on the Talmud, principally by Rashi, his grandson Samuel ben Meir and Nissim
of Gerona. Commentaries on the Mishnah, such as those
composed by Maimonides, Obadiah of Bertinoro, and Nathan ben Abraham
Talmudic novellae (chiddushim) by Tosafists, Nahmanides, Nissim of Gerona, Solomon ben
Aderet (RaShBA), Yomtov ben Ashbili (Ritva) Works of halakha (Asher ben Yechiel, Mordechai
ben Hillel) Codices by Maimonides and Jacob ben Asher,
and finally Shulkhan Arukh Responsa, e.g. by Solomon ben Aderet (RaShBA)
Kabbalistic works (such as the Zohar) Philosophical works (Maimonides, Gersonides,
Nahmanides) Ethical works (Bahya ibn Paquda, Jonah of
Gerona)
=== Works of the Acharonim (the "later" rabbinical commentators) ===
The Acharonim are the rabbis from 1550 to the present day.
Important Torah commentaries include Keli Yakar (Shlomo Ephraim Luntschitz), Ohr ha-Chayim
by Chayim ben-Attar, the commentary of Samson Raphael Hirsch, and the commentary of Naftali
Zvi Yehuda Berlin. Important works of Talmudic novellae include:
Pnei Yehoshua, Hafla'ah, Sha'agath Aryei Responsa, e.g. by Moses Sofer, Moshe Feinstein
Works of halakha and codices e.g. Mishnah Berurah by Yisrael Meir Kagan and the Aruch
ha-Shulchan by Yechiel Michel Epstein Ethical and philosophical works: Moshe Chaim
Luzzatto, Yisrael Meir Kagan and the Mussar Movement
Hasidic works (Kedushath Levi, Sefath Emmeth, Shem mi-Shemuel)
Philosophical/metaphysical works (the works of the Maharal of Prague, Moshe Chaim Luzzatto
and Nefesh ha-Chayim by Chaim of Volozhin) Mystical works
Historical works, e.g. Shem ha-Gedolim by Chaim Joseph David Azulai.
== Meforshim == Meforshim is a Hebrew word meaning "commentators"
(or roughly meaning "exegetes"), Perushim means "commentaries". In Judaism these words
refer to commentaries on the Torah (five books of Moses), Tanakh, Mishnah, Talmud, the responsa
literature, or even the siddur (Jewish prayerbook), and more.
=== Classic Torah and Talmud commentaries ===
Classic Torah and/or Talmud commentaries have been written by the following individuals:
Geonim Saadia Gaon, 10th century Babylon
Rishonim Rashi (Shlomo Yitzchaki), 12th century France
Abraham ibn Ezra Nahmanides (Moshe ben Nahman)
Samuel ben Meir, the Rashbam, 12th century France
Rabbi Levi ben Gershom (known as Ralbag or Gersonides)
David ben Joseph Kimhi, the Radak, 13th century France
Joseph ben Isaac, also known as the Bekhor Shor, 12th century France
Nissim ben Reuben Gerondi, the RaN, 14th century Spain
Isaac ben Judah Abravanel (1437–1508) Obadiah ben Jacob Sforno, 16th century Italy
Acharonim The Vilna Gaon, Rabbi Eliyahu of Vilna, 18th
century Lithuania The Malbim, Meir Lob ben Jehiel MichaelClassical
Talmudic commentaries were written by Rashi. After Rashi the Tosafot were written, which
was an omnibus commentary on the Talmud by the disciples and descendants of Rashi; this
commentary was based on discussions done in the rabbinic academies of Germany and France.
=== Modern Torah commentaries === Modern Torah commentaries which have received
wide acclaim in the Jewish community include:
Haemek Davar by Rabbi Naftali Zvi Yehuda Berlin The Chofetz Chaim
Torah Temimah of Baruch ha-Levi Epstein Kerem HaTzvi, by Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch Ferber
Sefat Emet (Lips of Truth), Yehudah Aryeh Leib of Ger, 19th century Europe
The "Pentateuch and Haftaras" by Joseph H. Hertz
Uebersetzung und Erklärung des Pentateuchs ("Translation and Commentary of the Pentateuch")
by Samson Raphael Hirsch Nechama Leibowitz, a noted woman scholar
HaTorah vehaMitzva ("The Torah and the Commandment") by Meïr Leibush, the "Malbim"
Ha-Ketav veha-Kabbalah by Rabbi Yaakov Tzvi Mecklenburg
The Soncino Books of the Bible
=== Modern Siddur commentaries === Modern Siddur commentaries have been written
by:
Rabbi Yisrael Meir Kagan HaCohen, The Chofetz Chaim's Siddur
Samson Raphael Hirsch, The Hirsch Siddur, Feldheim
Abraham Isaac Kook, Olat Reyia The Authorised Daily Prayer Book with commentary
by Joseph H. Hertz Elie Munk, The World of Prayer, Elie Munk
Nosson Scherman, The Artscroll Siddur, Mesorah Publications
Jonathan Sacks, in The Authorised Daily Prayer Book of the British Commonwealth (the new
version of "Singer's Prayer Book") as well as the Koren Sacks Siddur.
Reuven Hammer, Or Hadash, a siddur commentary built around the text of Siddur Sim Shalom,
United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism My Peoples Prayer Book, Jewish Lights Publishing,
written by a team of non-Orthodox rabbis and Talmud scholars.
== See also ==
Jewish commentaries on the Bible
Judaism#Jewish religious texts List of Jewish prayers and blessings
List of rabbis Moses in rabbinic literature
Rabbinic Judaism Simeon in rabbinic literature
Torah databases (electronic versions of traditional Jewish texts)
== Bibliography == Back to the Sources: Reading the Classic Jewish
Texts, Barry W. Holtz, (Summit Books) Introduction to Rabbinic Literature Jacob
Neusner, (Anchor Bible Reference Library/Doubleday) Introduction to the Talmud and Midrash, H.
L. Strack and G. Stemberger, (Fortress Press) The Literature of the Sages: Oral Torah, Halakha,
Mishnah, Tosefta, Talmud, External Tractates, Shemuel Safrai and Peter J. Tomson (Fortress,
1987)
== External links ==
=== General === A survey of rabbinic literature
A timeline of Jewish texts Comprehensive listing by category - Global
Jewish Database Judaica archival project
Chapters On Jewish Literature Online Resources for the Study of Rabbinic
Literature
=== Links to full text resources === Mechon Mamre
Sages of Ashkenaz Database Halacha Brura and Birur Halacha Institute
The Electronic Torah Warehouse hebrewbooks.org
seforimonline.org Primary Sources @ Ben Gurion University
Young Israel library
=== Glossaries === Judaic glossary
Sources@JTS Glossary/Bibliography