TALYA FISHMAN. Becoming the People of the Talmud: Oral Torah as Written Tradition in Medieval Jewish Cultures.
Ivan G. Marcus
As the printed book faces increasing challenges from digital revolution, scholars study with great intensity history of book, and Judaica are among most actively engaged in this pursuit. Talya Fishman's ambitious new seeks to solve a historical puzzle. How did Talmudic traditions, required be transmitted orally actually that way ancient medieval eastern (Jewish) schools, become book: Talmud? And how authoritative source advanced Jewish learning religious legal decision making western Muslim centers Qayrawan, city Tunisia; Spain; as well Christian northern France Germany? In late antiquity, Palestinian Babylonian rabbis' based on post-biblical or rabbinic traditions relied professional memorizers judges, respectively, not looking something up written text. This situation persisted academies Geonim, rabbis who served heads two Sura Pumpeditha, which were eventually relocated Baghdad, capital emerging Abbasid caliphate. Fishman presents through tenth-century lens Sherira Gaon's Epistle, one wonders why separate chapter is devoted primary sources themselves wrote. Chapter concentrates subcultures Tunisian Qayrawan Spain al-Andalus. Despite objections Geonim it was commonly accepted teach decide cases text Talmud, practical commentaries appended. Spain, claimed famous Gaon had copy Talmud them. They referred “our Talmud” thereby bypassed prohibition forbade “oral Torah” texts.
The American Historical Review