A Scholarly Revolution: Rewriting the Rules of Talmud Study
Part of the learning series, You Say You Want a Revolution: Jewish Encounters with Radical Change
With Dr. Judith Hauptman, E. Billi Ivry Professor Emerita of Talmud and Rabbinic Culture
In his many volumes of Talmud commentary, beginning with publication of the first in 1968, Professor David Weiss Halivni introduced a groundbreaking approach to Talmud study: distinguishing between the attributed teachings of the rabbis and the anonymous editorial layer that surrounds them. This interpretive revolution transformed the field, offering a powerful tool for understanding the development of rabbinic thought.
In this session, Dr. Judith Hauptman, E. Billi Ivry Professor Emerita of Talmud and Rabbinic Culture at JTS, explored how Halivni’s method reshaped the study of Talmud and how she applied it to uncover what the early sages were truly trying to convey. Join us for a look at how a shift in reading can open up new dimensions of meaning in one of Judaism’s most complex and enduring texts.
About the Series
What does revolution look like in Jewish life—spiritual, social, technological, or political? This fall, join JTS scholars for a provocative webinar series exploring transformative moments across Jewish history. From the emergence of monotheism to the Russian Revolution, from handwritten manuscripts to digital frontiers, from summer camps to the Talmud, we’ll consider how Jews have sparked, resisted, and reimagined change. Each session invites reflection on what revolution means—then and now.
