Friday Breslauer: pp

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

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

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

dMap/MG.html

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

Medieval Judaism Jews under Christianity and Islam –Prosperity / Persecution Cultural differentiation –Sephardic –Ashkenazic

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

Abbasid dynasty 747 ce Baghdad Rationalistic philosophy Pluralistic, tolerant Hierarchical

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

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.

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

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

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

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

Islamic expansion –Middle East –North Africa –Spain –Much of Turkey still under Christian Byzantium

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

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

Last Geon Saadiah al-Fayumi ( ). Addressed Karaite challenge.

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

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

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

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

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

Jewish Spain Golden Age century. Philosophy Ibn Ezra

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

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

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

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