Presenting a systematic approach to the study of midrash, each of the readings presented in this book attempts to reconstruct the reasoning behind midrashic commentary on biblical narrative. The goal of the book is to convey a sensitivity to the language and meanings of the Bible, and to develop an appreciation for the language and teachings of the Jewish sages.
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I have found the author's analytical approach to the various midrashim fascinating, insightful and in keeping with a true Torah perspective.... I highly recommend this work (Learning to Read Midrash) for those who want to devise a method for studying Midrash that will bring them both to a deeper understanding of the Midrash and, ultimately, to a greater closeness with Hashem .... --Rabbi Zev Leff (Rabbi Zev Leff is the Rabbi of Moshav Matityahu and the Rosh Hayeshiva of Yeshiva Gevoha Matityahu)
Learning to Read Midrash is interesting on many levels. Firstly, it makes us aware of the fact that midrash is not simply 'stories', but rather a sophisticated branch within rabbinic literature. Even people familiar with midrashic sources may have difficulty defining exactly what midrash is, or seeing the connection between a particular midrash and the Biblical text it discusses. There has been until now little guidance on how to approach midrash systematically. But here we have a well-done presentation of a series of 16 explicated readings along with a presentation of the basics of a methodology for approaching these texts. Those who go through the very readable material will find themselves participating in a welcomed 'training program' in reading midrash, gaining new important insights into Hazal's words.
Second, the volume is another contribution to the growing Torah literature written by knowledgeable women and scholars. Simi Peters is on the faculty of Darchei Bina Seminary and Nishmat - the Jerusalem Center for Advanced Jewish Studies for Women, which has pioneered in training women to have expertise in halacha and advanced rabbinic literature. Women students now have models of women teachers to inspire them to gain proficiency in sophisticated Torah study. --Prof. Oscar Mohl, The Jewish Press
Maimonides exhorted readers not to take midrash literally, but was also forceful in advising people to read carefully between the lines, to find the meaning and allegorical intent.
His brief recommendations have been significantly expanded in Simi Peters's book, Learning to Read Midrash.
Peters's book comes after years of teaching the Hebrew Bible and trying to make sense of rabbinic literature that often defies explication. She bemoans the fact that it was difficult to offer students the tools to study midrash independently. This book seems to be a corrective for that problem.
Learning to Read Midrash begins by outlining the difficulties that both students and teachers have in communicating what it is that midrash does, and the varied methodologies it employs. Some of the problems she identifies are: the often-tenuous connection between midrash and the biblical text, the seeming implausibility of many midrashim, and the dearth of words used to articulate a problem or insight.
Broadly put, midrash does not have a singular goal.
As Peters eloquently puts it: 'Midrash explores the biblical text exhaustively, seeking both the plain sense of the text and its homiletical possibilities, without distinguishing rigidly between them.'
In order to affirm this statement, Peters spends some pages discussing the difference between pshat (the literal reading of a text) and drash (a homiletical reading) and some of the more 'rigid' distinctions that are embodied in other forms of biblical commentary. She includes the clever witticism of the late Professor Nechama Leibowitz: 'Pshat is what I say, and drash is what you say.'
The chapters that follow the introduction present specific midrashic topics - the mashal or allegory, the peticha or opening verse, the treatment of biblical personalities, and break down midrashim so the reader may better understand how to analyze them.
Unlike more academic guides, Peters's book is pedagogically grounded. A teacher may find him- or herself using the chapters as classroom units to study various types of midrash - from analyzing biblical dialogue to resolving textual discrepancies.
The book's scholarship should speak for itself, and the fact that Peters is an effective educator leaps off every page. --Erica Brown, Jerusalem Post
Learning to Read Midrash is interesting on many levels. Firstly, it makes us aware of the fact that midrash is not simply 'stories', but rather a sophisticated branch within rabbinic literature. Even people familiar with midrashic sources may have difficulty defining exactly what midrash is, or seeing the connection between a particular midrash and the Biblical text it discusses. There has been until now little guidance on how to approach midrash systematically. But here we have a well-done presentation of a series of 16 explicated readings along with a presentation of the basics of a methodology for approaching these texts. Those who go through the very readable material will find themselves participating in a welcomed 'training program' in reading midrash, gaining new important insights into Hazal's words.
Second, the volume is another contribution to the growing Torah literature written by knowledgeable women and scholars. Simi Peters is on the faculty of Darchei Bina Seminary and Nishmat - the Jerusalem Center for Advanced Jewish Studies for Women, which has pioneered in training women to have expertise in halacha and advanced rabbinic literature. Women students now have models of women teachers to inspire them to gain proficiency in sophisticated Torah study. --Prof. Oscar Mohl, The Jewish Press
Maimonides exhorted readers not to take midrash literally, but was also forceful in advising people to read carefully between the lines, to find the meaning and allegorical intent.
His brief recommendations have been significantly expanded in Simi Peters's book, Learning to Read Midrash.
Peters's book comes after years of teaching the Hebrew Bible and trying to make sense of rabbinic literature that often defies explication. She bemoans the fact that it was difficult to offer students the tools to study midrash independently. This book seems to be a corrective for that problem.
Learning to Read Midrash begins by outlining the difficulties that both students and teachers have in communicating what it is that midrash does, and the varied methodologies it employs. Some of the problems she identifies are: the often-tenuous connection between midrash and the biblical text, the seeming implausibility of many midrashim, and the dearth of words used to articulate a problem or insight.
Broadly put, midrash does not have a singular goal.
As Peters eloquently puts it: 'Midrash explores the biblical text exhaustively, seeking both the plain sense of the text and its homiletical possibilities, without distinguishing rigidly between them.'
In order to affirm this statement, Peters spends some pages discussing the difference between pshat (the literal reading of a text) and drash (a homiletical reading) and some of the more 'rigid' distinctions that are embodied in other forms of biblical commentary. She includes the clever witticism of the late Professor Nechama Leibowitz: 'Pshat is what I say, and drash is what you say.'
The chapters that follow the introduction present specific midrashic topics - the mashal or allegory, the peticha or opening verse, the treatment of biblical personalities, and break down midrashim so the reader may better understand how to analyze them.
Unlike more academic guides, Peters's book is pedagogically grounded. A teacher may find him- or herself using the chapters as classroom units to study various types of midrash - from analyzing biblical dialogue to resolving textual discrepancies.
The book's scholarship should speak for itself, and the fact that Peters is an effective educator leaps off every page. --Erica Brown, Jerusalem Post
About the Author
Simi Peters is on the faculty of Nishmat the Jerusalem Center for Advanced Jewish Studies for Women, ATID the Academy for Torah Initiatives and Directions, and Darchei Bina Seminary. Simi also serves as Text Consultant to the JCCA of North America's Ethical Start Pirkei Avot Curriculum Project and was a Jerusalem Fellow. She has an M.A. in Linguistics and has been teaching Tanakh and Midrash for many years. Simi, her husband David, and their children live in Jerusalem.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
25 of 27 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
For people who want to understand midrash,
By A Customer
This review is from: Learning to Read Midrash (Hardcover)
One who reads Learning to Read Midrash expecting to find interesting midrashim with insightful analyses will not be disappointed. This, however, is only an added bonus for readers of this book. The primary goal of the work is to provide a method for independent study of midrash. Simi Peters achieves this goal very well by detailing a systematic process for uncovering additional layers of meaning in midrashim that may seem simplistic or may be difficult to comprehend. The methodology focuses on a close reading of the midrashic text and a careful comparison to the Biblical text on which it is based. The book focuses on two particular genres in midrashic literature - the mashal (parable) and the narrative expansion. Through the application of her methodology, the author raises midrash to a sophisticated level of Biblical exegesis. As we revisit the stories of our childhood, such as the story of Avraham breaking his father's idols, we discover a complex and insightful narrative and understand its connection to the Biblical text. More importantly, after reading this book, we feel empowered to study midrash on our own and to gain a greater understanding of both the midrashim and the Biblical passages on which they are based. Learning to Read Midrash is very clearly written, and is appropriate for readers with varied background in Jewish study. It includes, as well, interesting background material on midrashic literature, its place in the literature of the tannaim, and its place in the tradition of Biblical exegesis. It is recommended for teachers of classical Jewish texts, as well as those who wish to enhance their own learning.
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent introduction -- no Hebrew required,
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This review is from: Learning to Read Midrash (Hardcover)
This is a very impressive introduction to agaddic midrash. All examples are analyzed in English translation, so you don't need to be able to read Hebrew or Aramaic to follow all the discussion. (Pertinent excerpts in the original language are included as an appendix.) The author's tone is very down-to-earth and helpful throughout. The methodology she introduces isn't so much an algorithm for interpreting the midrash, as an algorithm for finding the most important questions that should be asked when interpreting it. While this may empower one to read midrash on one's own, as one reviewer says below, I think it will take many years of experience and learning to match the author's interpretations for imagination and insight. The examples of midrashim she has chosen do more than just illustrate her methodology, they're also of great spiritual interest. An extremely worthwhile book.
14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An excellent introduction into reading the Midrash,
By
This review is from: Learning to Read Midrash (Hardcover)
I read this work slowly , studying each portion of the work carefully. I felt that by doing so I was adding both to my knowledge and to my skill of how to read Midrash. This work shows how varied and rich and contradictory Midrashic readings can be . It comes from an author who has studied and taught this material for years and is able to provide skilled insights that can be of great use to readers and learners at all levels.
This is an important work , and should have a place in the library of anyone who wishes to deepen in their study of Midrash.
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