Friday

1. Friday Breslauer: pp. 95-115

2. 8 Rabbi’s study bible Mikra’ot Gedolot • Torah or Tanakh text • Full Masorah • Targums • Commentaries • Cross-references.

3. Commentators • RASHI 11 century France “Plain Meaning” • Ibn Ezra 11-12 century born: Spain. Rational, linguistic, anti Karaite Astrological

4. RAMBAN: R. Moses ben Nahman Nahmanides: 13th century Spain.. • Traditional yet influenced by Kabbalah • Secret Knowledge contained in Torah.

5. http://www.ucalgary.ca/~elsegal/TalmudMap/MG.html

6. Printing press • Allows text and commentary together • Allows wider distribution of texts. • Less control over teaching, etc.

7. Medieval Judaism700-1500 • Jews under Christianity and Islam • Prosperity / Persecution • Cultural differentiation • Sephardic • Ashkenazic

8. In Islamic lands • Jews and Christians “Protected People” • “People of the Book” • Much Freedom, but still second class citizens • Special taxes.

9. Abbasid dynasty747 ce • Baghdad • Rationalistic philosophy • Pluralistic, tolerant • Hierarchical

10. Islam and Judaism • Islam: Sunna traditions of Muhammad. Proper Islamic life • Judaism: Oral Torah becomes authoritative for Jews.

11. curiouser and curiouser… • Compilation of Sunna may have been influenced by Oral Torah • Judaism thrived when it could be made to appear more like Islam.

12. Karaite movement • Second half of 8th century • “Written” Torah interpreted by tradition. • BUT: No second canon of “Oral Torah” No Rabbinic authorities.

13. Karaites • Similar to Sunni Islam • Qur’an and Hadith / Sunnah • Tradition not authority figures

14. Anan ben David • Early Karaite leader. 8th century • Accused Rabbinate of corrupting scripture

15. 8th- 11th century. • Rabbinic Judaism defended Rational Authentic • Described in Islamic terms: • Scripture and tradition

16. 750-950 • Islamic expansion • Middle East • North Africa • Spain • Much of Turkey still under Christian Byzantium

17. Jewish leadership • Exiliarch: political leader of Babylonian Jews • Geonim: Leaders of Babylonian Jewish academies. • Tensions between political/economic and religious leadership.

18. Israel and Diaspora • Tensions between Jewish leadership in Israel and in Diaspora. • Calendar

19. Last Geon • Saadiah al-Fayumi (882-942). • Addressed Karaite challenge.

20. Saadia • Rationalist • Hebrew follows rational principles (Like Arabic) • Bible into Arabic • God knowable through the intellect Muslim influence

21. Abbasid dynasty collapse • 10th century. • New centres: Egypt and Spain • Jewish life decentralizes

22. Rise of Trade • Jewish Caravan traders • India Africa Spain Christian regions.

23. Jewish Traders • Commerce between Islamic and Christian lands. • Some Jews become very wealthy.

24. 9 -11 century • North African, Spanish Jews prosper • Talmud commentators • RESPONSA: Rabbinic answers to questions of Halakhah.

25. Jewish Spain • Golden Age. 10-12 century. • Philosophy • Ibn Ezra

26. Spain 12-13 century • Christian Re-conquest • Islamic rulers Distinctive clothes Jews barred from important posts. Forced conversion to Islam • Many Jews flee to Christian regions

27. Maimonides • Guide for the Perplexed • 13 principles • Mishnah Torah • Summary of Halakhah.

28. 11-12 century • African Muslim dynasties remove protection laws for Jews.

29. Re-conquest • Jews used to resettle Spain by Christian armies. • Initially given some protection. Second class citizens