Rabbinic Judaism - Talmud, Midrash and Kabbalah: Law, Legend and Mysticism
Rabbi Geoffrey W Dennis

This course is designed to introduce the student to the foundational documents of Rabbinic Judaism:
Mishnah, and Gemara (Collectively known as Talmud), Midrash, and Early Jewish Mysticism. Emphasis
will be given to reading texts in translation as a means to understanding the literary, legal, moral, and
theological underpinnings of Judaism.

Required texts:

Neusner, J., The Mishnah: An Introduction

Holtz. B., Back to the Sources

Topics:

1) The Chain of Tradition: Rabbinic History and Self-Understanding

2) What is Mishnah?
MAI pp.1-39

3) The Mishnah in Context
MAI pp. 10-120

4) Mishnah and the Oral Tradition
MAI pp. 200-230


5) Mishnah and its Assumptions
MAI pp. 121-199

6) Reading Mishnah: Halakhah - Shavuot 8; Yoma 8:9; Eduyot 1:1-5

7) Reading Mishna: Ethics Nedarim 9:1-2

8) Reading Mishana: Theology - Berakhot 6:1-2; Sanhedrin 10:1

9) What is Midrash?
BTS pp. 177-186

10) The Literary History of Midrash
BTS pp. 177-211

11) Reading Midrash: Narrative Expansion - Tanhuma on the Akedah
James Kugel,

12) Reading Midrash: Parables - Lamentations Rabbah on the Destruction of the Temple
Stern, David, Imitatio Hominum

13) Reading Midrash: Creative Philology - Baba Batra 64a
Fishbane, Michael Al Tikrei

14) Reading Midrash: Intertextuality - Genesis Rabbah on the Creation.
Daniel Boyarin, Lock to a Key

15) Reading Midrash: Theology - Song of Songs Rabah, on the Messianic Era
Green, Arthur, Song of Songs In Early Jewish Mysticism

16) Exegetical Midrash: Readings from Mekhilta deRabi IshmaeI

17) Homiletical Midrash: Readings from Leviticus Rabbah

18) What is Talmud?
BTS pp. 129- 136

19) The Structure of Talmud: Reading a Page
BTS pp. 134- 175

20) Reading Talmud: Halakhic Passages - Baba Kamma 83b; BB 3Oa; Ber. 35a-b
CJRT: Halakhah,

21) Reading Talmud: Aggadic Passages

22) Reading Talmud: Ethics - BM 58b-59a.

23) Reading Talmud: Theology: Berachot 3a; 5a; Baba Metza 59a-b

24) Merkavah Mysticism: The Evidence of the Talmud

25) Speculative Mysticism: Mystical readings of Song of Songs

26) Experimental Mysticism: Sefer Yetzirah

27) Experiential Mysticism: Sefer Heichalot

28) Talmud, Midrash and Kabbalah: Into the Medieval Period