although Jews Constituted The Largest Minority In Medieval Europe, They Tend To Be Largely Ignored In General Studies Of The Middle Ages, With The Result That Their History And Culture Are Both Overlooked And Misunderstood. jews And Judaism In The Middle Ages Attempts To Correct That Situation By Presenting, In Clear And Accessible Language, An Introduction To Jewish Thought As Well As To Medieval Jewish History And Texts. this Volume Examines The Everyday Life Of Medieval Jews In Both Christian And Muslim Environments, Looks At The Causes Of Medieval Anti-semititism And Anti-judaism, And Includes A Brief History Of The Persecutions To Which Medieval Jews Were Subjected. Despite Popular Opinion Today, Medieval Jewish Life Consisted Of Far More Than Persecution And Suffering, And The Volume Examines Jewish Accomplishments In The Fields Of Biblical Commentary, Literature, Philosophy, And Mysticism, Demonstrating That Jewish Life, While Often Difficult, Also Had Its Creative And Glorious Side. Because The Talmud Was The Most Important Jewish Text Throughout The Middle Ages, This Volume Introduces Readers To The Intricacies Of That Long And Involved Work, Which Helped To Shape Medieval Christianity.
steinberg Offers An Accessible And Lively History Of The Jewish Experience In The Middle Ages For Both Scholars And Non-scholars While Also Providing Insight Into Christianity And Islam By Comparing And Contrasting The Three Major Abrahamic Faiths Of The Medieval World. His Extenisve Citations Encourage Further Exploration For Readers Interested In Pursuing The Subject.
multicultural Review

Theodore L. Steinberg

Greenwood Publishing Group, Incorporated

Westport, Conn.: Praeger Publishers

Praeger; Bloomsbury

ABC-CLIO, LLC

Praeger series on the Middle Ages, Westport, Conn, 2007

United States, United States of America

New Edition, 2007

December 30, 2007

US, 2007

Includes bibliographical references (p. [273]-284) and index

Although Jews constituted the largest minority in medieval Europe, they tend to be largely ignored in general studies of the Middle Ages, with the result that their history and culture are both overlooked and misunderstood. Jews and Judaism in the Middle Ages attempts to correct that situation by presenting, in clear and accessible language, an introduction to Jewish thought as well as to medieval Jewish history and texts.
This volume examines the everyday life of medieval Jews in both Christian and Muslim environments, looks at the causes of medieval anti-Semititism and anti-Judaism, and includes a brief history of the persecutions to which medieval Jews were subjected. Despite popular opinion today, medieval Jewish life consisted of far more than persecution and suffering, and the volume examines Jewish accomplishments in the fields of biblical commentary, literature, philosophy, and mysticism, demonstrating that Jewish life, while often difficult, also had its creative and glorious side. Because the Talmud was the most important Jewish text throughout the Middle Ages, this volume introduces readers to the intricacies of that long and involved work, which helped to shape medieval Christianity.

xviii, 302, [11] p. of plates : 25 cm
"Theodore L. Steinberg illuminates many aspects of medieval Jewish life, not as historical curiosities but as living history. He follows two major themes - the survival and accomplishment of Judaism in a world that became increasingly hostile, and the survival of rabbinic Judaism - but he also attempts to capture what life might have been like for Jewish men and women as they went about their ordinary activities."--Jacket
Includes bibliographical references (p. [273]-284) and index
Jews and Judaism: what are they? -- Talmud and Midrash -- Jews, Christians, Muslims -- The medieval Jewish experience -- Living as Jews in the medieval world -- Commentaries -- Medieval Hebrew literature -- Philosophy and Kabbalah

In the Middle Ages, philosophy and religion were often intertwined. This study examines the greatest accomplishment of medieval Jewry, which is the creation, transmission, and development of rabbinic Judaism. Even though Judaism continued to develop after the Middle Ages, that medieval construct continues to exercise influence on modern Judaism.

Steinberg presents a well-researched yet highly accessible overview of medieval Jewry that takes neither a predominantly Western Christian approach to medieval history nor one limited to Hebrew-speaking audiences

2024-01-26