Midrash

Midrash (Hebrew מדרשׁ Midras, plural midrashim ) is the interpretation of religious texts in rabbinic Judaism.

Word Meaning

The word " midrash " is the Hebrew verb darash ( דרש ) basis, which means in general " search", but " seek God " the importance or " God's answer (on a current problem ) in the scriptures search" has. With the process of exegetical midrash, based on the present -laying of scriptures is meant, so first " research, study ," then " interpretation " and " teaching " (ie, "theory", in contrast to the "doing", ma'ase ). Under Midrash refers to both the process of studying and its result, ie literary works containing biblical interpretations. Midrashim relate to, among other authoritative religious texts of the Tanakh and can be found in the Bible, the Talmud and in some texts the Midraschliteratur. He may be in written or oral form. The darshan is the signature boom, the preacher, or derived from, the exhorter. The Drascha is how Midrash itself, an interpretation of Scripture or sermon. The conceptual demarcation to peshat, ie to "simple", the literal meaning of an expression is not always easy. A Targum, that is, a translation of the Bible may contain points which are transmitted interpretive in the sense of Midrash.

The first mention of bet midrash, " House of Study ", found in Sir 51,23 EU.

History

The Midrash is safe at first an oral form of the interpretation of Scripture. The first written examples can be found, however, already in the Bible itself For example, the Books of Chronicles can be understood as Midrashim (Pl. of midrash ) on the books of Samuel and Kings. Even in the Jewish community at Qumran ( about 130 BC to 70 AD) there was Midrashim ( pesher ).

However, the greatest importance was the Midrash in the period of rabbinic Judaism from the year 70 AD From this period the essential written documents. These are separate collections of texts that emerged alongside the works of the Mishnah and the Talmud. The origin of the Midrashim is predominantly Palestine, the Babylonian Jewry has contributed little to this genus.

Molding

We distinguish between two main forms of Midrash. However, a clear distinction is often difficult, so that mixed forms are found:

Halachic Midrashim

The Halacha is the interpretation of statutory provisions in Judaism. Accordingly, halakhic midrashim deal solely with texts of the Torah, especially the biblical books of Exodus through Deuteronomy. Because of their origin in the halakhic midrashim Tannaitic time are also called Tannaitic Midrashim.

The following works with a textual base stock from Tannaitic time among the halachic Midrashim (selection):

• Mekhilta de Rabbi Ishmael ( interpretations of the Book of Exodus, final editing after 250, first edition Konstantin Opel 1515)
• Sifra: interpretations of the book of Leviticus, probably originated after 180; Sifra ( סִפְרָא, Aramaic = " book" ); Lev. was in the ancient Jewish school system for the first book, which began the lesson, even Torat Kohanim (the study of the priests / Priests Act) dewe or Sifra ( debe ) Rab / book from the school of Rab, called halachic / Tannaitic midrash on Leviticus / Vayikra, the whole Leviticus verse by verse, often word for word, commented ( first edition Konstantin Opel 1523. concordance as Kosovsky, Otsar Leschon ha - Tannaim Sifra, 4 vols, New York - Jerusalem from 1967 to 1969 ); the development time for Sifra is discussed differently (dated to the 6th century ), the basic constituent of the text is at least from time Tannaitic
• Sifre: Sifre Numbers ( interpretations of the Book of Numbers, were probably after 250 ); Sifre Deuteronomy ( interpretations of the book of Deuteronomy ): Sifre ( Aramaic " the books " ) and Sifre dewe Raw ( " books from the school Raws " ), halachic ( but large haggadic shares ) Midrash to Numbers and Deuteronomy, probably out of school Ishmael ( SifreNum ) or from the schools of Ishmael and Akiba ( SifreDeut ); Sifre originally the name of all Tannaitic Pentateuchkommentare, since the Middle Ages the name comments to Num and Deut; a single work, but different collections in much worse condition than tradition Mechilta or Sifra, emergence time after 250 (?); Not to be confused Sifre with Sifre Zutta ( " the small Sifre ", also: Sifre Suta or Sifre shel panim acherim ), halakhic Midrash Bamidbar / Numbers, survives only in fragments, possibly the oldest halakhic Midrash, going back to the expanded group of school Rabbi Akiba

Haggadic midrashim

Non Statutory interpretation is called rabbinic Judaism Aggada (also: Haggadah ). Haggadic Midrashim (accordingly: haggadic midrashim ) deal thus with the narrative parts of the Bible and are also referred to as homiletic. The most important works in this genre ( collective name for all these some completely different works: Midrash Rabba, "the great midrash " ) are:

• Bereshit Rabbah / Genesis Rabbah / GenRabba (also: Bereshit de Rabbi Oschaja / Bereshit Rabba de Baraita ): Auslegungsmidrasch to the book of Genesis contains many later additions (especially the interpretations to Jacob's blessing), originated in the 5th century; not to be confused with the medieval Midrash Bereshit Rabbati compilation, which probably dates from the 11th century

• Wajjiqra Rabbah / Leviticus Rabbah / LevRabba (also: Haggadat Wajjiqra / Haggadah de - Wajjiqra etc. ) incurred in Palestine Homilienmidrasch to the book of Leviticus, contains a large collection of proverbs, the oldest homiletic midrash, from 37 sermons consisting that the follow in Palestine synagogues usual three-year reading cycle, the first edition emerged in the 5th century, Constantine Opel 1512

• ECHA Rabbati / Lamentations Rabbah / KlglRabba / ECHA Rabbati [ EKHA Rabbati ] (also: Megillat echa, Megillat echa Rabba, Midrash Lamentations, Aggadat EKHA [ Rabbati ], Megillat EKHA [ Arukh ], Midrash Qinot, Midrash EKHA ): Commentary on Lamentations, originated in the 5th century, final editing in the 7th century; contains is equal to the biblical scripture 5 chapters and collects numerous traditions and legends about the two Jewish revolts against Rome; also representation of the martyrdom of the seven " Maccabean brothers."

• The Pesiqta de - Rav Kahana / Pesikta de Raw Kahana / PRK (also: short Pesiqta [ Pesiqta: "Section ", " decision " ] called ): Palestinian collection of sermons on various scripture readings ( from the Torah or the Prophets), here on various feast days and " excellent sabbaths ", named after Rabbi Kahana ( not the author, but at the beginning of the common ), who lived in the 3rd or 4th century; the oldest collection of its kind, produced in 300, most likely around the middle of the 5th century; PRK closely related to LevRabba ( five parashiyot shared)

• Pesiqta Rabbati / PesR (also: Pesiqta Gedola, Pesiqta rabbeta ): " Human Interest " Palestinian Homiliensammlung to various scripture readings (various Jewish festivals and " excellent " Sabbaths on ), the "great " because they have a larger number of homilies as the de - Rav Kahana Pesiqta contains; many parts of the text stock much older, a single work, produced in 500

Tanchuma

• Tanchuma or Jelammedenu ( Yelamdenu ): in Palestine after the 8th century arising, Midrash Rabbah not group counted more popular homilies midrash and group of such midrashim to the whole Pentateuch; the name comes from the Tanchuma amoraim Tanchuma bar Abba (. Rabbine of Palestine towards the end of the 4th century ), because several homilies begin: "So Rabbi Tanchuma has launched bar Abba "; Jelammedenu called the Midrash after halachic introductory Jelammedenu rabbenu, " it will teach us of our master "; there are divergent text traditions, in their tradition DtnRabba heard as well as parts of ExRabba, NumRabba and parts from the PesR ( Pesiqta Rabbati )

Expenditure

• E. E. Hallewy: Midrash Rabbah. 8 volumes. Tel Aviv from 1956 to 1963.
• Moses Aryeh Mirkin: Midrash Rabbah. 11 volumes. Yavnah, Tel Aviv from 1956 to 1967.

Translation

• Harry Freedman, Maurice Simon (Ed.): Midrash Rabbah. Translated into English. 10 volumes. Soncino, London, 1939.