Research Guides to Jewish Studies: Talmud and Rabbinics


Important Call Numbers

  • B759 Philosophy (e.g., Moreh, Kuzari)
  • BM198 Hasidism
  • BM497 Mishnah
  • BM498 Yerushalmi
  • BM499 Bavli
  • BM504 Talmud commentary sets (e.g., Rashba, Ritva, Ramban, Meiri, Ran, Tosfot ha-Rosh, Shitah Mekubetset)
  • BM506 Talmud commentary by tractate
  • BM508 Tosefta
  • BM517 Midrash
  • BM520.84 Mishneh Torah
  • BM520.88 Shulhan Arukh
  • BM522 Responsa
  • BM525 Kabbalah
  • BM675 Liturgy
  • BM700 Custom, minhag
  • BM750 Biography

I. Major Texts

A. Babylonian Talmud

ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS:

  • Soncino + REF BM499.5.E5 1960
  • Neusner REF BM499.5.E5 1984
  • Artscroll "Schottenstein" [in progress] + REF BM499.5.E5 1990

B. Jerusalem Talmud

  • Academy of the Hebrew Language ed. + REF BM 498 2001
  • Standard eds. + REF BM 498 (1969)

ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS:

  • Neusner REF BM498.5.E5 1982
  • Artscroll "Schottenstein" [in progress] + REF BM498. E5 2005 
  • Guggenheimer [in progress] BM498.5. E5 2000 [CIR]

C. Mishneh Torah by Moses Maimonides

BEST EDITIONS:

  • Mosad ha-Rav Kuk REF BM520.84. A2 1956
  • Y. Kapah REF BM520.84. A2 1984
  • S. Fraenkel [in progress; still lacks one vol.] REF BM520.84. A2 1975
  • N. Rabinovich [in progress] BM520.84. A2 1990 [CIR]
  • Y. Sheilat [in progress] + BM520.84 A2 2004

ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS: 

  • Yale University Press [in progress] REF BM520.84. A213Y2
  • Moznaim Press [in progress] REF BM520.84. A213T68 1986

D. Tur Shulhan Arukh by Jacob b. Asher

BEST EDITION:

  • Mekhon Yerushalayim REF BM520.86. A2 1990

E. Shulhan Arukh by Joseph b. Ephraim Karo

BEST EDITION:

  • Mekhon Yerushalayim [in progress] REF BM520.88. A2 1994

II. Introductions to the Literature

  • Introduction to the Talmud and Midrash / Strack-Stemberger REF BM503.5. S7 1996
  • Sarei ha-Elef / Kasher-Mandelbaum, helek rishon + hashlamot REF Z7070.K23 1978
  • Otsar rashe tevot be–lashon uve–sifrut mi–yeme kedem ve–'ad yamenu REF PJ4847.A8
  • Encyclopaedia Judaica Networked CD ROM
  • See Electronic Resources

III. Biography

  • Sefer Toldot Tana'im ve-Amora'im / Hyman REF BM750. H9 1964
  • Entsiklopedyah le–hakhme ha–Talmud veha–ge'onim / Margulies REF +BM750. E6 1995
  • Who's Who in the Talmud / Freiman REF BM750. F75 1995
  • Mavo la-Mishnah / Albeck, pp. 216-236 REF BM497.8 A48
  • The Rishonim / Goldwurm REF BM750.R5 2001
  • Mavo la-Ra'avyah / Aptowitzer, pp. 306-42 REF BM520.9.E411

IV. Concordances

  • Mishnah (4 vols.) REF BM500.5. K32 1956
  • Tosefta (6 vols.) REF BM508.15. K6
  • Mekhilta (4 vols.) REF BM517. M43 K62
  • Sifra (4 vols.) REF BM517. S63 K6
  • Sifre (5 vols.) REF BM517. S73 K67
  • Yerushalmi (8 vols.) REF BM500.5. K69 [names: .K91]
  • Bavli (42 vols.) REF BM500.5. K33 [names: .K67]
  • Bar Ilan / Judaica Classics Networked CD ROMs
  • DBS-Taklitor Torani CD ROM
  • http://www.mechon-mamre.org/index.htm
  • http://kodesh.mikranet.org.il/

V. Subject Indexes

  • Soncino Talmud (index vol). BM499.5.E5 1935 [REF; CIR]
  • Talmud Bavli / Ketuvim ed. REF +BM499 1998b
  • Talmud Yerushalmi / Ketuvim ed. (2006)
  • The legends of the Jews BM530.G5 (1909; 1998) [REF; CIR]
  • The book of legends (Sefer ha-aggadah) REF BM516. B5 1962
  • Otsar ha–Aggadah REF BM516. G7
  • Motif index of Talmudic/Midrashic literature REF BM516.N63
  • Aspaklaria REF BM50. A34

VI. Verse Indexes

  • Torah ha–ketuvah veha–mesurah <3 vols.> REF BS1099. H4 H9 1979
  • Torah Shelemah [in progress: up to Deuteronomy] REF BS1225. X2 K36 T6

VII. Rabbinic Aramaic Dictionaries

  • Koehler–Baumgartner REF PJ4833.K6213 1994
  • Jastrow REF PJ5205. J3 1950
  • Frank REF BM500.5. F7 1994
  • Sokoloff REF PJ5205.S6 1990; REF PJ5305.S63 2002
  • Lexicon Greek and Latin Loanwords / Krauss REF PJ4932.K8 1964
  • Greek and Latin Legal Terms / Sperber REF PJ4937.S64 1984
  • Comprehensive Aramaic Lexicon

VIII. Rabbinic Thought

  • The sages, their concepts, and beliefs / Urbach REF BM177.U7 (BM177.U713)

IX. Talmud Commentaries

A. General

  • Otsar ha–be'urim veha–perushim REF Z6371.T2 K6
  • Sarei ha–elef REF Z7070.K23 1978
  • Sefer Mavo le–Shas Vilna REF + BM501.M386 1993

B. Rashi

  • Darko shel Rashi be–ferusho la–Talmud ha–Bavli REF BM504.2.S615 F7
  • Rashi la–Mikra be–ferusho la–Talmud BS1225x2.S6 F56 (3 vols.)

C. Tosafot

  • Ba'ale ha-tosafot toldotehem, hiburehem REF BM501.8. U7 1980

X. Text Criticism

  • Mishnah: Seder Zera'im REF BM497 1971
  • Talmud: Dikduke Sofrim (Rabbinovicz) REF BM503.9.R32
  • Talmud: Dikduke Sofrim ha–Shalem REF BM499 1972b

XI. Halakhah

  • Entsiklopedyah Talmudit le–'inyene halakhah REF BM500.5.E6 1982
  • Jewish law: history, sources, principles BM520.5.E4313 1994 [REF; CIR]
  • Sefer Sede hemed ha–shalem REF BM520.4 .M42 1962a
  • Sefer Pahad Yitshak ha–shalem REF BM500.5.I8 1936
  • Ha–Takanot be–Yisra'el REF BM520.5.Z9T25 S3 1991

XII. Responsa

A. How to Find a Title

  • Kuntres ha–teshuvot mafteah u-bibliyografyah...ha–shut REF Z6374.L4C6 1930a
  • Bar Ilan Responsa Project "see electronic resources"
  • Quntres ha-Teshuvot ha-Hadash / Glick [in progress] REF +Z6374.L4.G44 2006

B. Subject Indexes to Responsa

  • Otsar ha–she'elot u–teshuvot [on Orah Hayim] REF BM522. A1 S53 1996
  • Otsar ha–Poskim [on Even ha-Ezer] [includes summaries and encyclopedic articles] (currently 20 vols. through §77) REF 520.88. A57O8
  • Ha–Mafteah ha–Gadol [specifically post–Shulhan Arukh technology-related] REF BM522. A1L39 1996
  • Mafteah ha–she'elot veha–teshuvot shel hakhme Sefarad u–Tsefon Afrikah REF BM522.A1U58
  • Mafteah ha–she'elot veha–teshuvot shel hakhme Ashkenaz Tsarfat ve–Italyah REF BM522.A1U582 1997
  • Yad Mosheh: mafteah kelali le–shu"t Igrot Mosheh REF BM522.36.E37E352 1999
  • American Reform Responsa: 1889–1983 REF BM522.a1 J34 1983

Electronic Resources for Manuscripts of Classical Rabbinic Literature

I. Online Images of MSS

A. Mishnah

B. Bavli

C. Yerushalmi (stay tuned to JNUL website)

D. Midrash

II. Transcriptions of MSS

A. Tosefta

  • Vienna, Erfurt, etc. MSS 

B. Talmud

C. Midrash

D. Varia

Internet Resources

English Translations of Midrash/Targum

Click here for an extensive list

English translations (Partial) of Shulhan Arukh

I. Orah Hayim

1. Mishnah Berurah: The classic commentary to Shulchan Aruch Orach Chayim comprising the laws of daily Jewish conduct / translated by Aharon Feldman and Aviel Orenstein. Jerusalem: Pisgah Foundation: Feldheim, 1980-2002. [complete in 20 vols.] REF BM 520.88.A53 K2313

2. http://torah.org/advanced/shulchan-aruch [paraphrases]

3. Abridged Shulhan Arukh; a compilation of the laws contained in the Orah Hayyim and Yore Deah / by Joseph Pardo / translated by Hyman E. Goldin. New York: Hebrew Pub. Co., 1928. BM520.9. P29 1928

4. Shulhan Arukh, Orah Hayyim, Hilkhot Shabbat, with Mishnah Berurah: an annotated translation of selected chapters / by Laurence M Skopitz / Dissertation: thesis (Rabbinic) H.U.C–J.I.R., 1978.

5. Shulhan Arukh, Orah Hayyim, Hilkhot Pesah, with Mishnah Berurah: an annotated translation of selected chapters dealing with the Passover Seder / by Michaels, Mathew David / Dissertation: Thesis (Rabbinic)–H.U.C.-J.I.R., 1980.

6. Shulhan Arukh, Orah Hayyim, Hilkhot Yom ha-Kippurim,chapters 604-624; an annotated original translation / by Brahms, Jan M., ed. / Dissertation: thesis (Rabbinic)–H.U.C.-J.I.R., 1976.

II. Yoreh De`ah

1. http://torah.org/advanced/shulchan-aruch [paraphrases]

2. The kosher code of the orthodox Jew, being a literal translation of that portion of the sixteenth-century codification of the Babylonian Talmud which describes such deficiencies as render animals unfit for food (Hilkot Terefot, Shulhan 'aruk); to which is appended a discussion of Talmudic anatomy in the light of the science of its day and of the present time / by Solomon Isaac Levin; Edward A. Boyden. Minneapolis, MN: University of Minnesota Press, 1940. BM523.5.D5C3L4 1940

3. The Jewish kitchen: a code of Jewish law following the rulings of Rabbi Yosef Karo updated according to Rabbi Ovadia Yossef: derived from the Shulchan Aruch, Yore De'ah chapters 87-111–Hamitbach hayehudy / Rafael Abraham Soae, Cohen; Ovadia Yosef. Jerusalem; New York: Sephardic Library Bene Issachar, 1994.

4. Section on charity from the Shulhan arukh / Feinberg, Louis. New York: New York School of Philanthropy, 1915. BM523.5.C48 C3

5. Shulhan arukh. Hilkhot gerim— Commentaries. / by Hiroshi Okamoto / Dissertation: Thesis (Rabbinic)–H.U.C.-J.I.R., 1964.

6. Code of Hebrew law – Shul.han 'Arukh: containing original Hebrew text of R. Joseph Caro and glosses of R. Moses Isserles: Yoreh de'ah 335-403 / translated into English with commentary, glossary, and indices by Chaim N. Denburg. Montreal: Jurisprudence Press, 1954. REFBM520.88.A43D4

III. Even Ha-Ezer

1. Hupah vekiddushin: the marriage ceremony as discussed in the Shulhan Arukh, Arukh HaShulhan, and selected responsa/ by Roman, Norman T. / Dissertation: Thesis (Rabbinic)–H.U.C.-J.I.R.,1975.

2. Shulhan 'arukh, 'Even ha'ezer, Hilkhot ishut andHilkhot kidushin / by Bell, Maynard W., ed. An annotated translation/Dissertation: thesis (Rabbinic)–H.U.C.-J.I.R., 1974.

3. An annotated translation of chapters 34 through 38 of Hilchot Kidushin Shulhan 'Arukh, volume Eben ha Ezer/ by Garten,Steven H., ed. and tr. Contains commentary by Rabbi Moses Isserles/Dissertation: thesis (Rabbinic)–H.U.C.-J.I.R., 1975.

4. An original translation with commentary of the Jewish divorce procedure: Shulchan aruch, Even haezer, chapters Seder hagetand 154 / by Hillman, Andrew R., ed. Contains commentary by Rabbi Moses Isserles / Dissertation: thesis (Rabbinic)–H.U.C.-J.I.R., 1974.

IV. Hoshen Mishpat

1. Code of Hebrew law—Shul.han 'Arukh: containing original Hebrew text of R. Joseph Caro and glosses of R. Moses Isserles: Hoshen hamishpat 1-27 / translated into English with commentary, glossary and indices by Chaim N. Denburg. Montreal: Jurisprudence Press, 1955. REFBM520.88.A43D4

2. The traditional Jewish law of sale: Shulhan arukh,Hoshen mishpat, chapters 189-240[Hilkhot ona'ah u-mikah ta'ut]/ by Passamaneck, Stephen M.Cincinnati. Hebrew Union College Press; New York, N.Y.: Distributed by KTAV Pub. House, 1983. REF BM520.88.A583P3 1983

3. A Restatement of rabbinic civil law / by Emanuel Quint. Northvale, NJ: Jason Aronson, 1990-. [complete in 10 vols.; paraphrasesall HM] BM521.Q9531990

See also a work in progress: http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Shulchan_Aruch