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"This is the third edition of Shaye J. D. Cohen's important and seminal work on the history and development of Judaism between 164 BCE to 300 CE. Cohen's synthesis of religion, literature, and history offers deep insight into the nature of Judaism at this key period, including the relationship between Jews and Gentiles, the function of Jewish religion in the larger community, and the development of normative Judaism and other Jewish sects. Cohen offers students more than just history, but an show more understanding of the social and cultural context of Judaism as it developed into the formative period of rabbinic Judaism. This new edition includes a brand-new chapter on the parting of ways between Jews and Christians in the second century CE. From the Maccabees to the Mishnah remains the clearest introduction to the era that shaped Judaism and provided the context for early Christianity."-from Amazon.com show lessTags
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A comprehensive analysis of Judaism and its experiences in the Second Temple Period and the transition into the Rabbinic period.
The author begins by establishing definitions and a basic description of the history of the times. He explores the relationship between Jews and Gentiles and their cultural connections and separations, the range of Gentile reactions to Jews, the practices and beliefs of the "religion" of the Jews throughout the period; the community of the people and its institutions; the existence and nature of the sects (or lack thereof); text and canon; development of rabbinic Judaism; he concludes with the separation of Judaism and Christianity.
Throughout the author is in conversation with fellow scholars. I appreciated his show more insistence that Second Temple Judaism (and Gentile paganism, for that matter) were not creedal, based on belief, as Christianity and Islam would be, but orthopraxic in nature. He challenges assessments of the reasons for the separation of Judaism and Christianity and is far more sanguine about the "dominance" of the rabbis in Judaism during the Roman and early Byzantine periods.
It seems at times that the author is a little too overbearing with the reassessments (dare I say deconstruction?) of some previously commonly held views, especially about the relationship between "Judaism" and "Christianity"; it assuredly was a bit more fluid than a stark dichotomy but in the reassessment Jewish people conveniently seem much less specifically anti-Christian. Perhaps meager evidence is evidence in and of itself; perhaps it is only an indication of how much has been lost.
Nevertheless, overall, an important work for understanding the developments within Judaism through the Second Temple Period into the Rabbinic era.
**--galley received as part of early review program show less
The author begins by establishing definitions and a basic description of the history of the times. He explores the relationship between Jews and Gentiles and their cultural connections and separations, the range of Gentile reactions to Jews, the practices and beliefs of the "religion" of the Jews throughout the period; the community of the people and its institutions; the existence and nature of the sects (or lack thereof); text and canon; development of rabbinic Judaism; he concludes with the separation of Judaism and Christianity.
Throughout the author is in conversation with fellow scholars. I appreciated his show more insistence that Second Temple Judaism (and Gentile paganism, for that matter) were not creedal, based on belief, as Christianity and Islam would be, but orthopraxic in nature. He challenges assessments of the reasons for the separation of Judaism and Christianity and is far more sanguine about the "dominance" of the rabbis in Judaism during the Roman and early Byzantine periods.
It seems at times that the author is a little too overbearing with the reassessments (dare I say deconstruction?) of some previously commonly held views, especially about the relationship between "Judaism" and "Christianity"; it assuredly was a bit more fluid than a stark dichotomy but in the reassessment Jewish people conveniently seem much less specifically anti-Christian. Perhaps meager evidence is evidence in and of itself; perhaps it is only an indication of how much has been lost.
Nevertheless, overall, an important work for understanding the developments within Judaism through the Second Temple Period into the Rabbinic era.
**--galley received as part of early review program show less
A very informative book, well-written and present a survey of one of the more rarely discussed aspect of Roman empire and its relationship with Judaism.
A comprehensive analysis of Judaism's development from the early years of the Roman Empire to the period of rabbinic Judaism, describing the religion, literature, and history of the period, the relationship between Jews and Gentiles, formation of the biblical canon, and the roots of rabbinic Judaism.
NO OF PAGES: 251 SUB CAT I: Intertestament Studies SUB CAT II: First Century Judaism SUB CAT III: DESCRIPTION: This book explores the extraordinary period of Jewish history that gave rise to rabbinic Judaism and Christianity. It begins with an examination of the period from the 160s B.C.E. to 63 B.C.E., when the Maccabees ruled the Jews.NOTES: SUBTITLE:
NO OF PAGES: 251 SUB CAT I: Intertestament Studies SUB CAT II: First Century Judaism SUB CAT III: DESCRIPTION: This book explores the extraordinary period of Jewish history that gave rise to rabbinic Judaism and Christianity. It begins with an examination of the period from the 160s B.C.E. to 63 B.C.E., when the Maccabees ruled the Jews.NOTES: SUBTITLE:
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Shaye J. D. Cohen received a B.A. in classics from Yeshiva College in 1970, a M.A. in Judaica and rabbinic ordination at the Jewish Theological Seminary, and a second M.A. and a Ph.D. in ancient history at Columbia University. A director and professor of Judaic Studies at Brown University, he previously worked at the Jewish Theological Seminary as show more Dean of the Graduate School, and was a visiting Professor of History at Columbia University. Holding a keen interest in the history of Judaism and its social and legal boundaries, his published works include Josephus in Galilee and Rome: His Vita and Development as a Historian and From the Maccabees to the Mishnah: A Profile of Judaism. He has also written numerous articles and book chapters on the menstrual taboo in Judaism. He has received numerous honors, including the Faculty Fellow and Whiting Fellow from Columbia University, the Fellowship from the Memorial Foundation for Jewish Culture, and the Fellow of the American Academy for Jewish Research. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
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Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- From the Maccabees to the Mishnah
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- Reviews
- 5
- Rating
- (3.54)
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- English
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- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 6
- ASINs
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