How Important Was the Destruction of the Second Temple in the Formation of Rabbinic Judaism?

by Jacob Neusner

Overview

The destruction of the First Temple (586 B.C.E.), destruction of the Second Temple (70 C.E.), and the defeat of the Bar Kokhba (132-135 C.E.) are discussed in great detail in the covenantal theology of the Torah and Scripture. In this new work, Jacob Neusner uses extensive textual evidence to explore the importance of the second temple's destruction and the aforementioned events in the creation of Rabbinic Judaism. Neusner ultimately proposes that the destruction of the second temple merely reinforced the existing theological system, which posed the following choice: keep the Torah and prosper, or rebel against the Torah and suffer God's wrath. This detailed analysis is an important new exploration into the foundations of Rabbinic Judaism.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780761833413
Publisher:	University Press of America
Publication date:	11/10/2005
Series:	Studies in Judaism , #175
Pages:	348
Product dimensions:	6.98(w) x 8.96(h) x 1.08(d)

About the Author

Jacob Neusner is Research Professor of Theology and Senior Fellow of the Institute of Advanced Theology at Bard College. He is also a Member of the Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton, New Jersey, and Life Member of Clare Hall at Cambridge University, England. He has published numerous books with University Press of America on Jewish studies, particularly Rabbinic Judaism.

Table of Contents

1 Preface 2 586, 70, and 132-135 in the Mishnah 3 586, 70, and 132-135 in the Tosefta and Abot 4 586, 70, and 132-135 in the Mekhilta Attributed to R. Ishmael 5 586, 70, and 132-135 in Sifra 6 586, 70, and 132-135 in Sifre to Numbers 7 586, 70, and 132-135 in Sifre to Deuteronomy 8 586, 70, and 132-135 in the Talmud of the Land of Israel 9 586, 70, and 132-135 in Genesis Rabbah 10 586, 70, and 132-135 in Leviticus Rabbah 11 586, 70, and 132-135 in Pesiqta DeRab Kahana 12 586, 70, and 132-135 in Esther Rabbah I and Ruth Rabbah 13 586, 70, and 132-135 in Song of Songs Rabbah 14 586, 70, and 132-135 in the Fathers According to Rabbi Nathan 15 586, 70, and 132-135 in Lamentations Rabbah 16 586, 70, and 132-135 in the Talmud of Babylonia 17 The Documentary Distribution of the Compositions on 586, 70, and 132-135 18 How Important Was the Destruction of the Second Temple in the Formation of Rabbinic Judaism? Some Reconsiderations

Editorial Reviews

He [Neusner] has gathered an impressive sourcebook that, along with his pointed and even poignant commentary, at times reads like a new addition to the rabbinic canon... his study gives us greater insight into the profound depths of their biblical worldview. Further, he helps us to see how, in their interpretations and applications of Scripture, the Word of God continued to live, instruct, and make claims upon the people of God.

Letter and Spirit