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Neusner on Judaism
J. Neusner

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Jacob Neusner has published more than 1000 books and articles, scholarly and academic, popular and journalistic, and is one of the most published humanities scholars in the world. Over a period of fifty years he has made significant, insightful and challenging contributions to the study of Rabbinic Judaism, particularly in the disciplines covered in the three volumes which make up Neusner on Judaism: the study of history (volume 1), literature (volume 2), and religion and theology (volume 3). These unique volumes of selective writings by Jacob Neusner, with new introductions by the author, offer scholars an invaluable resource in the field of Judaic Studies.In retrospect, Jacob Neusner's most significant contribution to the study of Judaism may well lie in the unprecedented set of questions which he addresses to the classical texts of Rabbinic Judaism. It is precisely these novel questions, and the answers he extracts from the texts, that demonstrate how these ancient discussions address the enduring issues posed by human existence. Not only has Professor Neusner brought this formative period in Jewish history to life, then, he can also take singular credit for introducing the study of Rabbinic Judaism into the secular academy. This generous selection of papers, the fruit of a lifetime of scholarly accomplishment, will earn the gratitude of students of the field for generations to come. Neil Gillman, Aaron Rabinowitz and Simon H. Rifkind Professor of Jewish Philosophy at The Jewish Theological Seminary of America, USA Jacob Neusner is one of the most facinating and influencial Judaica scholars of the latter twentieth century. Firmly focussed upon the world of the Rabbinic sages, Neusner's scholarly career has progressed from his early study of Talmudic history to his work on Rabbinic religion, literary studies and now theology-- all based upon exactly the same sources. Neusner's questions, always penetrating, will continue to enrich scholarly discourse for decades to come. Steven Fine, Jewish Foundation Chair of Judaic Studies, University of Cincinnati. Jacob Neusner is not only the most influential scholar of ancient Judaism, but also its most prolific and controversial. Neusner on Judaism will be as much about Neusner as about Judaism. For those who like passion, no-holds-barred confrontation, clarity of method and purpose, and intolerance of the mediocre, this volume will be a joy. It will afford the reader a view of recent scholarship in Judaism that is trenchant, illuminating and unique in its scope and vision. Philip R Davies, University of Sheffield, UK Professor Neusner is one of those prodigious minds, intensely luminous and fabulously fertile, that God bestows on humanity once in a long time! Background noise and diversionary tactics aside, no scholar had produced anything remotely close to what Professor Neusner accomplished in the field of Judaic Studies. His writings are insightful, challenging, and exceptionally lucid. A reprint of his major articles is a rare opportunity to penetrate the intimate world of what must be regarded as the most important Jewish scholar of our time. Professor José Faur, Bar-Ilan University, Israel Jacob Neusner, the most prolific scholar of the humanities in the 20th century, has demonstrated to scholar and layperson alike that Rabbinic Judaism can be analyzed and understood and that the enterprise is exceedingly enriching both intellectually and spiritually. His groundbreaking translations, commentaries, syntheses and textbooks constitute more than one thousand titles (most of them multi-volumed) issued by university presses, scholarly presses and trade publishers. Many of these works can be found in virtually every public and university library around the globe. In the two volumes of NEUSNER ON JUDAISM the author celebrates his 70th birthday by sharing with a wide audience a selection from among his hundreds of articles and book reviews originally published in the flagship journals of religion, theology, and Judaic studies. These articles and reviews provide the detailed argumentation, which breathes new life into the philological-historical methodology, in which Neusner's famous programmatic volumes are grounded. Mayer I. Gruber, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beersheva, Israel Almost alone, Jacob Neusner has made the study of Judaism into an authentic academic profession. His scholarship--prodigious and original--pioneered the application of critical academic inquiry and standards of judgment to the classical sources of Judaism. Neusner's rigorous and disciplined analyses of rabbinic texts reveal the vitality and creativity of ancient Judaism and display its relevance to the broader study of humanity and society. His research has created an integrated field of study marked by substantive learning and intellectual achievement. Neusner asks important and urgent questions and answers them with reason and evidence. Because of its open perspective, Neusner's scholarship shows why ancient Judaism is both interesting and consequential--why Judaism matters. In the humanities and social sciences--as well as in Judaic Studies--the impact and influence of Jacob Neusner's scholarship will be felt for generations. William Scott Green, University of Rochester, New York Professor Jacob Neusner is the most versatile writer on Judaism in the early centuries of the Christian Era. His many studies include seminal works on the methods to be used in the study of Jewish history and biography in that period. His main argument is that the information included in the relevant sources can be assessed on a paradigmatic (true by implication) level only, not as a live report of current events and lives. In other fields of studies Professor Neusner has explored the methods of (or the philosophy behind) collecting and presenting Halakhic materials in the major documents of the time, Mishnah and Tosefta. In yet another series of studies, Neusner has explored the various principles at work in the various processes of category formations of Halakhic materials in these documents. Many of his studies attempt to reconstruct the principal theological notions and guidelines in the documents at hand. The range of his studies is enormous. They are of great relevance not only to the understanding of Judaism as a religion in late antiquity, but also to the understanding of Judaism vis-a-vis Christianity. Professor Neusner has also extensively translated all the major documents of Judaism in its post-biblical formative age (the early centuries of the Christian era). In this manner he made these documents available to a large readership that is interested but has to rely on readable translations. The publication of an impressive sample of his articles will do great service to the academic and learned community. It shows not only what is important in Judaism of the time, but also what is interesting and intellectually stimulating and inspiring. The general public will find in these volumes a show case of enlightening and informative materials. Professor Ithamar Gruenwald, Tel Aviv University, Israel.