The rise of rabbinic authority in social context and the development of Jewish intellectualism.

My interest in Jewish history is broad and inchoate.

I wondered about the transition from temple Judaism to synagogue Judaism, so I scarfed up a book at Borders on The Ancient Synagogue by Lee Levine. I found that fascinating. To develop the interest aroused I got and read From the Maccabees to the Mishnah by Shaye Cohen. It was thin but solid.

I've wanted to get on, through the development of the Talmuds, to the European involvement of Rabbis in the synagogues and the development of Jewish intellectualism towards Maimonides, all as the people moved here and there in various circumstances of geography, politics, economics. To that end I have, full of hope, just ordered History of the Jews in the Second through Seventh Century of the Common Era edited by Jacob Neusner.

I have read Paul Johnson's history. It was informative, but it didn't address my interests fully (I also felt that it addressed Christian interests more than I had expected). I have seen in another thread the recommendation for Norman Cantor's book; it is available through Barnes and Noble, but there's little description of it on their site.

So I have a few questions. Is Neusner going to be good for me? It looked like it might be an obscure book, so I don't count on getting an answer. What else might I read to fill out the areas in which I have read? What should I read to get from the Talmud to Maimonides or thereabouts? I am looking for, I guess, college level works even if they are not text books.

Robert

This general subject is of particular interest to me, too. I'm involved in a study of Judaism, particularly during and following the "Babylonian Captivity", and the process whereby Jewish Priests wrested control over the people, after the destruction of the Kingdom.

Somewhat like you, I'm groping in the dark for sources and unbiased facts ... .

Rood

Reading the notes to the life of Moses Maimonides that I read recently, I fear that the scholarship may be there but in German, French, and Hebrew. In the dim past I have actually officially studied all of those languages; I am competent in none of them although I can remember the French alphabet.

The notion of authority in the history of the Jews strikes me as fascinating, although my emphasis is later as the rabbis became local leaders, out of the yeshiva into the synagogue. But earlier authority is interesting, too; how did the Maccabees develop warrior, political, and religious authority all at once?

Please keep us posted if you find something.

Robert

While reading Rabbi Akiba's Messiah: The Origins of Rabbinic Authority by Daniel Gruber--which note is a Jewish Christian book, I came across mention of a book put out by Cambridge Univ. Press this past December that sounds like it might be good, here's the link to the Amazon product page: The Three Crowns: Structure of Communal Politics in Early Rabbinic Jewry by Stuart A. Cohen. I've added it to my Wishlist.

(ETA: Amazon's page on this particular book has a feature to Search Inside by clicking on the photo.)

The Three Crowns was original copyrighted in 1990. From Lee Levine I know that a lot has developed in the history of the synagogue since then. Nevertheless, I really liked the table of contents and expect my next book order will include it. Daniel Gruber's book is a little harder to find, but I'm going to try to keep it in mind.

Thank you, EncompassedRunner; I had no leads until now.

Robert

You're welcome.

I just joined this group today. Kind of recruiting for an Isaiah study group I have started. Would love for your members here to look over the group and topics to see if you might care to contribute.

Here is a link to a thread started on Chapter 1. http://www.librarything.com/topic/67707

I apologize for this off topic intrusion, and promise not to repeat.