The Emergence of Judaism

Christine Elizabeth Hayes is Professor of Religious Studies in Classical Judaica at Yale University. She is the author of Between the Babylonian and Palestinian Talmuds (1997) and Gentile Impurities and Jewish Identities (2002).

Although the ethnic-religious tradition that became classical Judaism solidified around 100 CE, its roots are found in the ancient biblical tales of the Israelites. Stories of the descent into Egypt, the Exodus under Moses, and the eventual rise of the Israelite monarchy are essential to understanding classical rabbinic Judaism. Through the lens of modern biblical scholarship, Hayes explores the shifting cultural contexts-the Babylonian exile, the Roman Empire, the Byzantine period, the rise of Christianity-that affected Jewish thought and practice, and laid the groundwork for the Talmudic era and its modern legacy.Thematic chapters explore the evolution of Judaism through its beginnings in biblical monotheism, the Second Temple Period in Palestine, the interaction of Hellenism and Judaism, the spread of rabbinic authority, and the essence of ethno-religious Jewish identity. Biographical sketches of key figures from patriarchs to prophets, and primary selections from the Hebrew bible, the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Talmud, and others, allow for a greater understanding of an ancient movement, and provide a solid introduction to the origins of one of the world's most influential religions.

Thematic chapters, biographical sketches and primary documents illuminate the emergence of the Jewish tradition, from the Israelites to the modern era.

Series Foreword by Bella VivanteviiPrefacexiiiChronology of EventsxviiChapter 1. The Emergence of Judaism to 650 c.e.: A Narrative Overview1Chapter 2. Biblical Israel: Many Voices15Chapter 3. Themes of Biblical Literature29Chapter 4. From Biblical Israel to Second Temple Judaism43Chapter 5. From Second Temple Judaism to Rabbinic Judaism57Chapter 6. Topics in Rabbinic Judaism71Chapter 7. Judaism through the Ages87Biographies: Literary and Historical Figures99Primary Documents123Glossary169Annotated Bibliography175Index193Photo essay follows Chapter 7