Midrash
 |
| Category |
| Jews · Judaism · Denominations |
|---|
| Orthodox · Conservative · Reform |
| Haredi · Hasidic · Modern Orthodox |
| Reconstructionist · Renewal · Rabbinic · Karaite |
| Jewish philosophy |
| Principles of faith · Minyan · Kabbalah |
| Noahide laws · God · Eschatology · Messiah |
| Chosenness · Holocaust · Halakha · Kashrut |
| Modesty · Tzedakah · Ethics · Mussar |
| Religious texts |
| Torah · Tanakh · Talmud · Midrash · Tosefta |
| Rabbinic works · Kuzari · Mishneh Torah |
| Tur · Shulchan Aruch · Mishnah Berurah |
| Ḥumash · Siddur · Piyutim · Zohar · Tanya |
| Holy cities |
| Jerusalem · Safed · Hebron · Tiberias |
| Important figures |
| Abraham · Isaac · Jacob/Israel |
| Sarah · Rebecca · Rachel · Leah |
| Moses · Deborah · Ruth · David · Solomon |
| Elijah · Hillel · Shammai · Judah the Prince |
| Saadia Gaon · Rashi · Rif · Ibn Ezra · Tosafists |
| Rambam · Ramban · Gersonides |
| Yosef Albo · Yosef Karo · Rabbeinu Asher |
| Baal Shem Tov · Alter Rebbe · Vilna Gaon |
| Ovadia Yosef · Moshe Feinstein · Elazar Shach |
| Lubavitcher Rebbe |
| Jewish life cycle |
| Brit · B'nai mitzvah · Shidduch · Marriage |
| Niddah · Naming · Pidyon HaBen · Bereavement |
| Religious roles |
| Rabbi · Rebbe · Hazzan |
| Kohen/Priest · Mashgiach · Gabbai · Maggid |
| Mohel · Beth din · Rosh yeshiva |
| Religious buildings |
| Synagogue · Mikvah · Holy Temple / Tabernacle |
| Religious articles |
| Tallit · Tefillin · Kipa · Sefer Torah |
| Tzitzit · Mezuzah · Menorah · Shofar |
| 4 Species · Kittel · Gartel · Yad |
| Jewish prayers |
| Jewish services · Shema · Amidah · Aleinu |
| Kol Nidre · Kaddish · Hallel · Ma Tovu · Havdalah |
| Judaism & other religions |
| Christianity · Islam · Catholicism · Christian-Jewish reconciliation |
| Abrahamic religions · Judeo-Paganism · Pluralism |
| Mormonism · "Judeo-Christian" · Alternative Judaism |
| Related topics |
| Criticism of Judaism · Anti-Judaism |
| Antisemitism · Philo-Semitism · Yeshiva |
Midrash (Hebrew: מדרש; plural midrashim) is a Hebrew word referring to the exposition or exegesis of a biblical text. The term can also refer to a specific compilation of midrashic teachings.
The two basic types of midrash are known as Midrash Haggadah, regarding ethical or spiritual exposition of a text, and Midrash Halakhah, referring to the exegesis of biblically based Jewish law. Exegesis from an ethical or devotional point involves a greater freedom of speculation than expositions aimed at determing of legal maxims. Midrashic tradition may be further divided into four interpretive categories: peshat (simple meaning), remez (hints, clues), derash (interpretation), and sod (mystical or "secret").
Methodology
Many different exegetical methods are employed to derive deeper meaning from a text. This is not limited to the traditional thirteen textual tools attributed to the Tanna Rabbi Ishmael, which are used in the interpretation of Halakha (Jewish law). Presence of superfluous words or letters, chronology of events, parallel narratives or other textual anomalies are often a springboard for interpretation of segments of Biblical text. In many cases, a dialogue is expanded manifold: handfuls of lines in the Biblical narrative may become long philosophical discussions. It is unclear whether the Midrash assumes these dialogues took place in reality or if this refers only to subtext or religious implication.
The "classical" Midrash starts off with a seemingly unrelated sentence from the Biblical books of Psalms, Proverbs or the Prophets. This sentence later turns out to metaphorically reflect the content of the rabbinical interpretation offered.
Some Midrash discussions are highly metaphorical, and many Jewish authors stress that they are not intended to be taken literally. Rather, other midrashic sources may sometimes serve as a key to particularly esoteric discussions. Later authors maintain that this was done to make this material less accessible to the casual reader and prevent its abuse by detractors.
Midrashic exegesis was the interpretation methodology of choice for certain authors of the New Testament.
Forms of midrashic literature
Both legal and general midrashim were at first preserved only orally. The written compilation of midrashic tradition began commenced in the second century CE.
Halakhic midrashim were first collected in Mishnah, traditionally ascribed to Rabbi Judah haNasi in the late second century. Here, biblical verses function as a proof-text of a law's authenticity. However, many rabbinical laws have no direct biblical source, but are believed to be part of the Oral Law revealed to Moses at Sinai simultaneously with the written Torah. The Mishnah itself does not generally cite a scriptural basis for its laws, but basis them on the opinions or the early rabbinical sages known as the Tannaim. However, later rabbinical tradition in the Talmud and other halakhic sources often connected Mishnaic law with the scriptures through the tradition of Midrash.
The aggadic (or haggadic) midrashim are sometimes referred to as aggadah or haggadah, a loosely-defined term describing any non-legal discourse in classical rabbinic literature. Aggadic exegesis involves a much greater freedom of exposition than its legal counterpart, often including highly speculative and legendary material. These aggadic explanations could be highly philosophical or mystical, invovling all kinds of biblical subjects, such as the patriarchs and matriarchs, angels, demons, paradise, hell, the Messiah, Satan, feasts and fasts, parables, miracles, and satirical assaults on those who practice idolatry.
The following is a typical example of a midrashic interpretation:
- "And God saw all that He had made, and found it very good. And there was evening, and there was morning, the sixth day." (Genesis 1:31)—Rabbi Nahman said in Rabbi Samuel's name: "'Behold, it was good' refers to the inclination to good; and 'Behold, it was very good' refers to the inclination to evil. Can then the inclination to evil be 'very good?' That would be extraordinary! But without the inclination to evil, no man would build a house, take a wife and beget children—Genesis Rabbah 9:7
Collections of midrashim often contain two or more rabbinical opinions on the same subject, often diametrically opposed to one another. Thus, while Rabbi Samuel calls the the tendency to evil (yetzer harah) "very good," others claim that is was among among the four things which God regretted having having created (Suk. 52a, b) and identify it with Satan (B. B. 16a).
Classical midrashic compilations
| Rabbinical Eras |
|---|
Early collections
- Mekhilta. There are two versions of this midrashic collection. One is Mekhilta of Rabbi Ishmael, the other is Mekhilta of Rabbi Simeon bar Yochai. The former is still studied today, while the latter was used by many medieval Jewish authorities. The bar Yochai text was popularly circulated in manuscript form from the eleventh through sixteenth centuries, but it was lost for all practical purposes until it was rediscovered and printed in the nineteenth century, and thus fell into disuse. The text of Rabbi Ishmael is halakhic commentary on Exodus, concentrating on the legal sections, namely chapters 12-35. It derives various halakha from biblical verses. This midrashic collection was redacted into its final form around the third or fourth century, and its contents indicate that its sources are some of the oldest midrashim, dating back possibly to the time of Rabbi Akiva in the early second century. The Mekhilta of Simeon bar Yochai is based on the similar core material as Mekhilta of Rabbi Ishmael but eventually emerged as a distinct work. It covers Exodus 3-35 and is roughly dated to near the fourth century.
- Sifra on Leviticus. This work is traditionally believed to follow the tradition of Rabbi Akiva with additions from the school of Rabbi Ishmael. The core of this text developed in the mid-third century as a critique and commentary of the Mishnah, although subsequent additions and editing went on for some time afterwards.
- Sifre on Numbers and Deuteronomy, going back mainly to the schools of the same two rabbis. This work is mainly a halakhic midrash, but includes a long aggadic part in sections 78-106. References to it in the Talmud, and in the later rabbnical literature indicate that the original core of Sifre was on the Book of Numbers, Exodus and Deuteronomy. However, transmission of the text was imperfect, and by the Middle Ages, only the commentary on Numbers and parts Deuteronomy remained. The core material is thought to have been redacted around the middle of the third century.
- Sifre Zutta (The small Sifre). This work is a halakhic commentary on the book of Numbers. The text was only partially preserved in medieval works, while other portions were discovered by the modern Rabbi Solomon Schechter in his research in the famed Cairo Geniza. It seems to be older than most other midrash, coming from the early thirdcentury.
- Midrash Tadshe (called also Baraita de-Rabbi Pinehas ben Yair). This midrash is peculiar in several respects, varying in many statements from other midrashim and having a very loose structure. It has a strongly symbolic tendency, and it plays much on groups of numbers. It also shows a strong relationship to the Book of Jubilees.
Midrash Rabbah
- Midrash Rabbah. Widely studied are these great midrashic commentaries on the various different books of the Bible. The Midraish Rabbah is not a cohesive work, but a collection from different authors, in various locales, in different historical eras.
- Bereshith Rabba also called Genesis Rabbah. This text dates from the sixth century CE. A midrash on Genesis, it offers explanations of words and sentences and aggadic interpretations and expositions, many of which are only loosely tied to the text. It is often interlaced with maxims and parables. Its redactor drew upon earlier rabbinic sources, including the Mishnah, Tosefta, and the halakhic midrashim. It was probably redacted sometime in the early fifth century.
- Shemot Rabba, Exodus Rabbah (eleventh and twelfth century)
- Vayyiqra Rabba, Leviticus Rabbah (middle seventh Century)
- Bamidbar Rabba, Numbers Rabbah (twelfth century)
- Devarim Rabba, Deuteronomy Rabbah (tenth century)
- Shir Hashirim Rabba, Song of Songs Rabbah (probably before the middle of ninth century)
- Ruth Rabba, (same date as foregoing)
- Eicha Rabba (seventh century). Also called Lamentations Rabbah it was probably redacted sometime in the fifth century.
Other collections
- Midrash Qohelet, on Ecclesiastes (probably before middle of ninth century).
- Midrash Esther, on Esther (c. 940 C.E.).
- The Pesikta, a compilation of homilies on special Pentateuchal and Prophetic lessons (early eighth century), in two versions, namely the Pesikta Rabbati
and the Pesikta de-Rav Kahana
- Pirqe Rabbi Eliezer (eighth century of later), a midrashic narrative of the more important events of the Pentateuch.
- Tanchuma or Yelammedenu on the whole Pentateuch (ninth century). This work's midrashim often consist of a halackic introduction, followed by several poems, and exposition of the biblical verses, and the messianic conclusion. The two most important Tanchuma collections are Midrash Tanhuma Ha Nidpas (sometimes referred to as Midrash Tanhuma Yelamdenu) and a later manuscript published by Solomon Buber usually known as Midrash Tanhuma Buber.
- Midrash Tehillim, on the Psalms.
- Midrash Mishlé, a commentary on the book of Proverbs.
- Seder Olam Rabbah (or simply Seder Olam). Traditionally attributed to the tannaitic Rabbi Yose ben Halafta, but now thought to be much later, this work covers topics from the creation of the universe to the construction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem.
- Yalkut Shimoni. A collection of midrashim on the entire Hebrew Bible, containing both halakhic and aggadic commentaries. It was compiled by Shimon ha-Darshan in the thirteenth century CE and is collected from over 50 other midrashic works.
- Tanna Devei Eliyahu. This work stresses the reasons underlying the commandments, the importance of knowing Torah, prayer, and repentance, and the ethical and religious values that are learned through the Bible. It is not a compilation but a uniform work with a single author.
- Alphabet of Akiba ben Joseph, a midrash on the names of the letters of the Hebrew alphabet
Later and contemporary midrash
The tradition of midrash is by no means limited to the above collections. For example, the Talmud contains many midrashic passages, not all of which are specifically halakhic. The vast literature of later rabbinical commentaries is replete with midrashim on every variety of biblical subject. Indeed, any rabbinical (or even non-rabbinical) exegesis of a biblical text may be said to be a midrash, and the term can even be applied to non-Jewish interpretations of a text from the Hebrew Bible.
In Christian tradition, Saint Paul frequently engaged in midrashic argument in his letters by justifying his views with the words "as it is written," followed by a verse of Jewish scripture (Romans 9:13, Romans 11:26, 1 Corinthians 1:19, etc.). Jesus engaged in halakhic midrash in his famous Sermon on the Mount when he said, for example: "It has been said, 'Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.' But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery." (Mt. 5:31-32) Later and contemporary Christian commentators on Old Testament texts may also be said to be engaging in a "Christian midrash."
A wealth of literature and artwork has been created in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries by people aspiring to create "Contemporary Midrash." Forms include poetry, prose, Bibliodrama (the acting out of Bible stories), murals, masks, and music.
See also
External links
All links retrieved August 7, 2008.
- Sacred Texts: Judaism: Tales and Maxims from the Midrash. www.sacred-texts.com
- Prophetic Midrash. www.propheticmidrash.com
- abridged translations of Tanchuma. www.sacred-texts.com
Credits
New World Encyclopedia writers and editors rewrote and completed the Wikipedia article in accordance with New World Encyclopedia standards. This article abides by terms of the Creative Commons CC-by-sa 3.0 License (CC-by-sa), which may be used and disseminated with proper attribution. Credit is due under the terms of this license that can reference both the New World Encyclopedia contributors and the selfless volunteer contributors of the Wikimedia Foundation. To cite this article click here for a list of acceptable citing formats.The history of earlier contributions by wikipedians is accessible to researchers here:
The history of this article since it was imported to New World Encyclopedia:
Note: Some restrictions may apply to use of individual images which are separately licensed.
