Academic Studies Press The Believer and the Modern Study of the Bible

The essays in this volume address the conundrum of how Jewish believers in the divine character of the Sinaitic revelation confront the essential questions raised by academic biblical studies.   The first part is an anthology of rabbinic sources, from the medieval period to the present, treating questions that reflect a critical awareness of the Bible. The second part is a series of twenty-one essays by contemporary rabbis and scholars on how they combine their religious beliefs with their critical approach to the Bible. Review “For observant Judaism to survive biblical criticism’s heavy artillery it will have to further articulate the meaning of its faith claims. This will allow it to remain faithful to its traditions while maintaining a mature dialogue with contemporary modes of thought. … The authors’ sophisticated theological discourse inspires those who care about this tension to guide that debate towards the theological arena and away from the Beit Midrash. That is the arena in which orthodox creativity is most possible. The book convincingly demonstrates that retooling our theological formulations will allow orthodoxy to see these modernizing trends as complementary, not adversarial.” ―Rabbi Ysoscher Katz, Marginalia “The Believer and the Modern Study of the Bible is an important and accessible collection of articles. For the traditional Orthodox Jew, curious about the ‘modern Study of the Bible,’ this is a highly recommended first work. The book also provides fascinating insights into areas of religious culture and sociology―demonstrating the varied intellectual scaffolding being constructed to bridge two disciplines that are often at odds.” ―David Tesler, AJL Reviews Review “At last, we have an intelligent and courageous book of essays that everyone who is in the midst of a clash of civilizations must read. The book’s tendency to adopt the conclusions of the criticism and to wonder about the believer’s ability to integrate them into their life is intended specifically for Bible scholars who are familiar with biblical scholarship and its findings, but I believe that its contribution to the modern religious discourse will reach even broader religious categories.” ―Jonatan Grossman, Professor of Bible Studies, Bar-Ilan University and Herzog College About the Author Tova Ganzel is the Director of the Midrasha at Bar-Ilan University and one the first trained women’s halakhic advisors (Yoatzot Halacha). She received her PhD from Bar-Ilan’s Department of Bible Studies, and is a renowned figure in the world of women’s Jewish learning. She is the recipient of numerous prestigious academic awards and grants, and is a published author. Yehuda Brandes is President of Herzog College in Gush Etzion and Jerusalem. He is the former head of the Beit Midrash at Beit Morasha in Jerusalem, and the author of many books and articles on Talmud, Jewish law, education, and Jewish philosophy. In his books Agada Lema'aseh and Mada Toratekha, and in many of his articles, he examines the connection between law and legend in the Talmud, exposing both the philosophical aspects of religious law and the practical aspect of the Talmudic legend. Chayuta Deutsch is a writer and editor. She is the author of a best-selling biography on Nechama Leibowitz and other books. Previously, she was Editor of the AKDAMOT journal of Jewish thought. She completed her doctoral dissertation at the Department of Talmud at Bar-Ilan University on the subject of encounters between Sages and Matrons in the Talmud and midrashim.