Overview

How do Jews pray and why? What do the prayers mean? From where did this liturgy come and what challenges does it face today? Such questions and many more, spanning the centuries and continents, have driven the study of Jewish liturgy. But just as the liturgy has changed over time, so too have the questions asked, the people asking them, and the methods used to address them. Jewish Liturgy: A Guide to Research enables the reader to access the rich bibliography now available in English. In this volume, Ruth Langer, an expert on Jewish liturgy, provides an annotated description of the most important books and articles on topics ranging historically from the liturgy of the Second Temple period and the Dead Sea Scrolls to today, addressing the synagogue itself and those gathered in it; the daily, weekly, and festival liturgies and their components; home rituals and the life cycle; as well as questions of liturgical performance and theology. Introductions to every section orient the reader and provide necessary background. Christians seeking to understand Jewish liturgy, either that of Jesus and the early church or that of their Jewish contemporaries, will find this volume invaluable. It’s also an important reference for anyone seeking to understand how Jews worship God and how that worship has evolved over time.

Full Product Details

Author:   Ruth Langer
Publisher:   Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
Imprint:   Rowman & Littlefield
Dimensions:   Width: 16.10cm , Height: 2.60cm , Length: 23.60cm
Weight:   0.544kg
ISBN:  

9780810886162

ISBN 10:   0810886162
Pages:   280
Publication Date:   06 March 2015
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Manufactured on demand  
We will order this item for you from a manufactured on demand supplier.

Table of Contents

1 Introduction 1.1 This Bibliography and Additional Resources 1.2 Hebrew Transliteration 1.2.1 Consonants 1.2.2.Vowels 1.3 Introduction to Rabbinic Literature 1.3.1 Halakhic Literature 1.3.1.1 Mishnah Translations 1.3.1.2 Talmud Translations 1.3.1.2.1 Babylonian Talmud 1.3.1.2.2 Jerusalem Talmud 1.3.2 Midrash 1.4 Historical Overview of Rabbinic Liturgy 1.5 The Structure of the Prayer Book 1.5.1 The Berakhah 1.5.1.1 God’s Name 1.5.2 Preliminary Prayers 1.5.3 The Recitation of Shema 1.5.4 The Amidah 1.5.5 Taḥanun/Supplicatory Prayers 1.5.6 Reading Scripture 1.5.7 Concluding Prayers 1.6 Chronological Overview of Key Trends in Jewish Liturgical Scholarship 1.6.1 Recent Bibliographic Overviews of Scholarship on Rabbinic Liturgy 1.7 Comprehensive Studies 1.7.1 Monographs 1.7.1.1 Entry-level Texts 1.7.1.2 Texts for More Advanced Study 1.7.2 Collections of Scholarly Articles 1.7.3 Overview Essays 1.7.4 Collections of Prayer Texts 2 Second Temple-Era Liturgy and Worship 2.1 In General 2.1.1 Prayer Texts 2.1.2 Secondary Discussions 2.1.3 Penitential Prayer 2.2 Dead Sea Scrolls 2.2.1 General Resources 2.2.2 Qumran Prayer Texts 2.2.3 Secondary Discussions: General 2.2.3.1 Monographs 2.2.3.2 Collections of Articles 2.2.3.3 Overview Articles 2.2.4 Secondary Discussions: Specific Issues 2.2.4.1 Dead Sea Scrolls and the Origins of Rabbinic Liturgy 2.2.4.1.1 Angelic Liturgy 2.2.4.1.2 Petitionary and Penitential Prayer 2.2.4.2 Rituals and Liturgies for Specific Seasons 2.2.4.3 Relationship to the Jerusalem Temple 2.3 Philo 2.4 Josephus 2.5 Temple Worship 2.5.1 Temple Rituals 2.5.2 Rabbinic(-Type) Liturgy in the Temple 2.5.3 Ritual Responses to the Loss of the Temple 2.6 Prayer Language 2.6.1 Hebrew, Greek, and/or Aramaic? 2.6.2 Composition of Prayers 3 The Synagogue as an Institution 3.1 General Bibliography 3.1.1 Monographs 3.1.2 Collections of Articles 3.1.3 Overview Articles 3.2 Origins 3.2.1 The Second Temple-Era Synagogue 3.2.2 Associations 3.3 Early Christian Intersections 3.4 Late-Antique Synagogues 3.4.1 In the Land of Israel 3.4.1.1 Sepphoris 3.4.2 In the Diaspora 3.4.2.1 Dura Europos 3.4.2.2 Ostia Antiqua 3.4.2.3 Sardis 3.4.3 Samaritan Synagogues 3.5 Medieval and Modern Synagogues 3.6 Synagogue and Temple post 70 CE 3.7 Synagogue Art, Architecture, and Ritual Objects 3.7.1 Late-Antique Synagogue Art 3.7.2 Medieval and Modern Synagogue Art and Architecture 3.7.3 Specific Elements 3.7.3.1 Architectural Elements: Torah Ark, Bimah, etc. 3.7.3.2 Menorah 3.7.3.3 Seat of Moses 3.7.3.4 Zodiac 3.8 Women in the Synagogue 3.8.1 Meḥitzah 3.8.2 In Ancient Synagogues 3.8.3 In Medieval to Pre-20th c. Synagogues 3.8.4 In Contemporary Synagogues 3.9 Liturgical Functionaries 4 The Historical Emergence of Jewish Liturgy 4.1 Liturgy in the Era of the Tannaim and Amoraim (Mishnah and Talmud) 4.2 Medieval Liturgy 4.2.1 Geonic (Early Medieval) Liturgy 4.2.1.1. Seder Rav Amram Gaon 4.2.1.2 Geniza Texts 4.2.2 High Medieval Liturgy 4.2.2.1 Moses Maimonides 4.2.2.2 Prayer Books and their Evolution 4.2.2.3 European Rites 4.3 Modernity 4.3.1 Early Modern Liturgy 4.3.2 Contemporary Rites and Movements 4.3.2.1 Orthodox 4.3.2.1.1 Ashkenazi Rite 4.3.2.1.1.1 Minhag Ashkenaz (Ashkenazi “Custom”) 4.3.2.1.1.2 Nusaḥ S’fard (Sefardi Rite) 4.3.2.1.2 Minhag Sefarad: Iberian Rites 4.3.2.1.2.1 Eastern Sefardi (Mizraḥi) 4.3.2.1.2.2. Spanish and Portuguese 4.3.2.1.3 Italian 4.3.2.2 Reform Judaism 4.3.2.2.1 Secondary Discussions 4.3.2.2.1.1 In General 4.3.2.2.1.2 In Europe 4.3.2.2.1.3 In North America 4.3.2.2.1.4 In Israel 4.3.2.2.2 Reform Movement Prayer Books 4.3.2.3 Conservative Judaism 4.3.2.3.1 Secondary Discussions 4.3.2.3.2 Conservative Movement Prayer Books 4.3.2.4 Reconstructionist Movement 4.3.2.4.1 Secondary Discussions 4.3.2.4.2 Reconstructionist Movement Prayer Books 4.3.2.5 Recent Phenomena 5 Weekday Prayers 5.1 The Berakhah 5.2 The Shema and its Blessings 5.2.1 Pre- and Non-Rabbinic Manifestations 5.2.1.1 The Nash Papyrus and the Decalogue 5.2.1.2 Second Temple Evidence 5.2.1.3 Christian Evidence 5.2.2 Origins and Early Rabbinic Developments 5.2.3 Theological Discussions 5.3 The Amidah 5.3.1 Precursors, Origins and Early Rabbinic Developments 5.3.1.1 Scholarship Before Heinemann 5.3.1.2 Recent Scholarship 5.3.2 Studies of (Clusters of) Blessings 5.3.2.1 Opening Blessings (Praise) 5.3.2.1.1 Avot (1) 5.3.2.1.2 Gevurot (2) 5.3.2.1.3 Qedushah (3) 5.3.2.2 Intermediate Weekday Blessings (Petitions) 5.3.2.2.1 Birkat HaMinim (12) 5.3.2.3 Concluding Blessings (Thanksgiving) 5.3.2.4 Seasonal Inserts 5.3.3 Other 5.4 Torah Reading 5.4.1 The Torah Scroll and its Accoutrements 5.4.2 Chanting Scripture 5.4.3 Targum (Aramaic Translation) 5.4.4 Sermons 5.4.5 Prayer for the Government 5.5 Qedushah 5.6 Introductory Prayers and Birkhot HaShaḥar (Morning Benedictions) 5.7 Recitation of Psalms 5.8 Taḥanun 5.9 Concluding Prayers 6 Birkat HaMazon (Grace after Meals) 6.1 Precursors 6.2 Rabbinic Liturgy 6.2.1 The Zimmun (Invitation to the Grace) 7 Sabbath and Holiday Liturgies 7.1 Jewish Calendar 7.2 Shabbat (Sabbath) 7.3 Pilgrimage Festivals 7.3.1 Pesaḥ (Passover) 7.3.1.1 Haggadah 7.3.1.1.1 Texts 7.3.1.1.2 Secondary Studies 7.3.1.2 Synagogue Liturgy 7.3.2 Shavuot (Feast of Weeks) 7.3.3 Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles/Booths), Shemini Atzeret (Eighth Day of Assembly) and Simḥat Torah (Rejoicing in the Torah) 7.4 High Holy Days 7.4.1 In General 7.4.2 Prayer Books 7.4.3 Specific Prayers (Both Days) 7.4.3.1 Unetaneh Toqef 7.4.4 Rosh HaShanah (New Year) 7.4.5 Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) 7.4.5.1 Specific Prayers 7.4.5.1.1 Kol Nidre (All Vows…) 7.4.5.1.2 Seliḥot (Penitential Poetry) 7.4.5.1.3 Vidui (Confession) 7.4.5.1.4 Yizkor (Memorial Prayers) 7.4.5.1.5 Seder HaAvodah (Order of the Temple Service) 7.5 Minor Holidays 7.5.1 Rosh Ḥodesh (New Month) 7.5.2 Purim 7.5.3 Hanukkah 7.5.4 Tu BiShevat (Arbor Day) 7.5.5 Yom HaAtzma’ut (Israeli Independence Day) 7.6 Fast Days and Days Commemorating Tragedies 7.6.1 Tisha B’Av (9th of Av) 7.6.1.1. Liturgies 7.6.2 Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Memorial Day) 7.6.2.1 Liturgies 8 Life Cycle Rituals 8.1 Comprehensive Discussions 8.2 Birth Rituals 8.2.1 Brit Milah (Circumcision) 8.2.2 Naming Girls 8.2.3 Pidyon HaBen (Redeeming the First Born Son) 8.3 Bar and Bat Mitzvah 8.4 Marriage 8.5 Death and Mourning 9 Piyyut (Liturgical Poetry) 9.1 Introductory Discussions 9.2 Piyyut in English Translation 9.3 Secondary Discussions 9.3.1 Performance and Participation 9.3.2 Use of the Bible 9.3.3 Other 10 Extra-Textual Aspects of Liturgy 10.1 General Discussions 10.2 Minyan (Community) 10.3 Posture and Gesture 10.4 Language 10.5 Music and Silence 10.5.1 Music in Ashkenazi Contexts 10.5.2 Music in Sefardi Contexts 10.5.3 Instrumental Music 10.6 Revitalizing the Contemporary Synagogue 10.7 Liturgical Garb 10.7.1 Kippah (Yarmulke, Skull Cap) 10.7.2 Tallit (Prayer Shawl) 10.7.3 Tefillin (Phylacteries) 10.7.3.1 Women and Tefillin 11 Spiritual Practices: Mystical, Magical and Apotropaic Prayer 11.1 Heikhalot Mysticism 11.2 Ḥasidei Ashkenaz 11.3 Pietists in the Muslim World 11.4 Kabbalah 11.4.1 Primary Texts in Translation 11.4.2 Secondary Discussions 11.5 Hasidism 11.5.1 Primary Texts in Translation 11.5.2 Secondary Discussions 11.6 Magic 12 Women and Prayer 12.1 Contemporary Halakhic Discussions 12.2 Texts of Women’s Prayers 12.3 Secondary Discussions 13 Comparisons with Early Christian Liturgy 13.1 Early Christian Evidence for Jewish Prayer 13.2 The Eucharist and Jewish Table Liturgies 13.3 The Lord’s Prayer 13.4 The Apostolic Constitutions 14 Theological Discussions 14.1 Pre-Contemporary 14.1.1 Moses Maimonides 14.2 Contemporary 14.2.1 Abraham Isaac Kook 14.3 Specific Topics 14.3.1 Kavvanah 14.3.2 Petitionary Prayer Glossary Abbreviations Index About the Author

Reviews

Boston College professor Rabbi Langer presents a comprehensive bibliography of works available in English that address the origins, development, meanings, context, and approaches to Jewish liturgy 'from its prehistory in the Second Temple period to today.' Over 1,000 annotated entries are organized by historical era and theme. The introduction provides an overview of the liturgy and commentaries that developed around it. Topics are introduced in their historical or scholarly context, then delineated into related subtopics. For example, the chapter 'Second Temple-Era Liturgy and Worship' includes subsections treating the Dead Sea Scrolls, Philo, Josephus, temple worship, and prayer language. Examples of other chapters include 'Life Cycle Rituals,' 'Women and Prayer,' and 'Comparisons with Early Christian Liturgy.' Entries are enumerated, with some works listed under multiple sections and properly cross-referenced. The brief annotations summarize each work and often include evaluations of their strengths, weaknesses, and scholarly level. The glossary, abbreviations key, and index are helpful additions. Originally proposed as a work 'geared primarily to Christian seminary contexts,' this book would be of most benefit to readers who have some background knowledge in the field. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-level undergraduates through faculty/researchers; professionals/practitioners. CHOICE This welcome volume is published primarily for a Christian readership interested in gaining a broad overview of Jewish liturgy. But it is a fruitful contribution for a variety of additional audiences as well: students and young scholars of rabbinic Judaism and Jewish liturgy, Jewish adult learning, and even autodidactic attempts to enter the academic field of Jewish prayer guided by an expert of the field who is uniquely able to balance scholarship with lucidity; someone also whose mastery of the various Jewish academic and religious perspectives is supplemented with familiarity with Christian liturgy too. Moreover, as a bibliography reflecting up-to-date liturgical research, this book is a worthy addition not just for beginners and for Christians entering the field, but for Jewish scholars, too. First of all, the bibliography testifies to the rapid growth of the field. Second, the realignment of structure relative to Tabory's bibliography of the 1990s expresses an overall trend to expand the field in new and holistic ways. Jewish liturgy is coming of age as a focus in Jewish research; Langer is among the very few experts who are making it so; and her book is a guide to where the field is going. Theological Studies

Boston College professor Rabbi Langer presents a comprehensive bibliography of works available in English that address the origins, development, meanings, context, and approaches to Jewish liturgy 'from its prehistory in the Second Temple period to today.' Over 1,000 annotated entries are organized by historical era and theme. The introduction provides an overview of the liturgy and commentaries that developed around it. Topics are introduced in their historical or scholarly context, then delineated into related subtopics. For example, the chapter 'Second Temple-Era Liturgy and Worship' includes subsections treating the Dead Sea Scrolls, Philo, Josephus, temple worship, and prayer language. Examples of other chapters include 'Life Cycle Rituals,' 'Women and Prayer,' and 'Comparisons with Early Christian Liturgy.' Entries are enumerated, with some works listed under multiple sections and properly cross-referenced. The brief annotations summarize each work and often include evaluations of their strengths, weaknesses, and scholarly level. The glossary, abbreviations key, and index are helpful additions. Originally proposed as a work 'geared primarily to Christian seminary contexts,' this book would be of most benefit to readers who have some background knowledge in the field. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-level undergraduates through faculty/researchers; professionals/practitioners. CHOICE

Author Information

Ruth Langer is professor of Jewish studies in the Theology Department at Boston College and associate director of its Center for Christian–Jewish Learning. She received her rabbinic ordination and PhD from Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion, Cincinnati. She publishes widely in the fields of Jewish liturgy and Christian–Jewish relations.

Tab Content 6

Author Website:  

Countries Available

All regions