Beginnings of Judaism

De: The Great Courses, Isaiah M. Gafni

Narrado por: Isaiah M. Gafni

For thousands of years, Jews have looked to the Hebrew Bible, also known as the Old Testament by Christians, for their origins, and have located in them the tenets of their faith. However, much of what is recognized today as Judaism does not appear in the Bible. How did Judaism develop from its biblical roots to the highly developed system we know today? What has changed - and what has remained constant? In this series of 24 spirited and provocative lectures, Professor Gafni investigates how the Jewish faith struggled to continually redefine itself during the first thousand years after the completion of the last books of the Hebrew Bible, tenaciously clinging to existence through circumstances that might well have torn it asunder.

The two landmark events that altered Jewish history forever were the two destructions of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem. This sacred place was first destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 B.C.E., and, after having been rebuilt 70 years later, was razed once again by the Romans in 70 C.E., after the Jews waged a fierce uprising against Roman rule in the province of Judea.

The events surrounding these destructions lie at the heart of understanding Judaism. As you explore the evolution of an ancient faith into a system of beliefs, practices, and laws recognizable today as Judaism, you'll discover a tradition of vigorous and joyous debate - where reinterpretation coexists with profound acceptance of the original instructions from God regarding the practice of faith.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©2008 The Teaching Company, LLC (P)2008 The Great Courses

Demonstrating the complex evolution of Judaism after the destruction of the Second Temple.

An excellent overview of Jewish history up to the rise of modern rabbinic Judaism. The detailed history is cognizant of the parallel history of Christianity. Highly recommended!

Fascinating information and background

The lectures are informative and come from a place of deep knowledge and understanding. Highly recommended.

Four Stars Is a Reccomendation From Me

Would you listen to Beginnings of Judaism again? Why?

I have re-played a number of chapters already. Lots of very good info, competently presented.

What does Professor Isaiah M. Gafni bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Very broad historical presentation.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Mostly.

Any additional comments?

One of the better religious presentations.

Enlightening

Every Christion should listen to this lecture. It offers a chance to better understand the Jewish religion. I now have small understanding and it helps me grasp onto my Christion beliefs.

What I Never Learned in Hebrew School

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Every post Bar Mitzvah age young Jewish adult should listen to this
When I was a child going to Hebrew school 50+ years ago, we went over all of this in a hurry I never really understood how Judaism developed from a Temple with sacrifices, to a modern worldwide book based religion. I never understood how the Jews came to leave Israel and went out into the world and carried down their belief in one G-d. This really helped me to understand my background. I feel more a part of the Jewish community now that I've heard this. I am an assimilated American Jew. I only know my great grandparents arrived in the USA as part of the great Jewish migration in the 1880 s to escape the Progrums. I cannot trace my history back beyond that. I do not know exactly where my great grandparents came from other than somewhere in Eastern Europe. I do not have any idea how their ancestors got to Eastern Europe other than to presume they came from the Iberian Peninsula after the Inquisition or understood how the Jews left Israel and came to settle in all of the Mediterranean countries. I never knew how a belief in one all knowing G-d was carried down for 2500 years. I wish I had heard this when I was in college.

What did you like best about this story?

It greatly enhanced my understanding of my Jewish background and gave me some insist into how Christianity developed.

Have you listened to any of Professor Isaiah M. Gafni’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

NO

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

N/A

Any additional comments?

NO

Judaism explained to the novice

I enjoyed these lectures very much. Isaiah Gafni brings these lectures to life. He has so much enthusiasm for his subject. I have listened to both of his lectures and I which he had one that delved in to the Old Testament. I would like the Jewish perspective to the Torah and the practices in the temple and deeper discussion of Abraham.
Being an LDS Christian I found the lecter about Harold fascinating and I understand the politics of the time when Jesus was born. I also understand the dispersion of the Jews much more ands that they where still a very cohesive group.

This lecture is well worth your time.

Essential

This is essential information for the newcomer to Judaism, especially one who wants to understand the emergence of Rabbinic Judaism from its ancient roots. The professor is clear and engaging. The issues are still relevant. Give it a listen, even if you're not a beginner. You'll learn a great deal. Perhaps this course is especially helpful to Christians who want to understand how Judaism maintained continuity throughout its late and post-Biblical trials.

Exceptionally articulate Israeli professor

As someone who is reasonably well versed in Talmud and Judaism, I was very impressed with Dr. Gafni's knowledge of the subject. One gets the impression that he grew up in a religious Jewish home and turned clinical academic later on. He is clearly very familiar with the Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek texts in their original languages. He also has a good grasp of Christian texts and history. As he attempts to assemble a cohesive history from these sources as well as the Qumran texts and fragments, he seems to give equal weight to all but less so to the Talmud and the writings of the Rabbis. This seems to stem from his academic stance and his being steeped in the world of Biblical criticism.
All in all, he does manage to show how Judaism evolved and makes an effort to stay clinical and focus on the facts. The only concern I would have is that his thesis is based on some underlying assumptions.

Great series!

Wonderful presentation ! Easy to follow! Very interesting! The information contained helped to understand the early years of Judaism which through so many trails and challenges still survives today.

Scholarly discussion

Presents an overview of the development of Judaism from earliest times, with a focus on the second temple period and the emergence of rabbinic Judaism as a replacement for temple worship, and prayer replacing animal sacrifice.