Motif-index of Talmudic-Midrahic literature

Neuman, Dov (Noy), Ph.D.

Indiana University, 1954

Submitted to the Graduate Faculty in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree,

Doctor of Philosophy, in the Department of Folklore, Indiana University, Bloomington,

Indiana, June, 1954.

AZ	עבודה זרה	MT	מגילת תענית
b	תלמוד בבלי	MM	מדרש משלי
BaR	במדבר רבה	Naz	נזיר
BB	בבא בתרא	Ned	נדרים
Bek	בכורות	Nid	נידה
Ber	ברכות	Or	עורלה
Bets	ביצה	Pe	פאה
BHM	בית המדרש ילינק,	Pes	פסחים
Bibl	תנ"ך	PK	פסיקתא דרב כהנא
Bik	ביכורים	PR	פסיקתא רבתי
BK	בבא קמא	PRE	פרקי דרבי אליעזר
BM	בבא מציעא	Pseudoepigr	Apocrypha and Pseudoepigrapha of the Old Testament
BR	בראשית רבה	RH	ראש השנה
bS	Babli Soncino Preps edition, London 1935-1952	RR	רות רבה
DR	דברים רבה	San	סנהדרין
DE	דרך ארץ	SE	סדר אליהו
Ed	עדויות	Sem	שמחות
EkR	איכה רבתי	Sheb	שביעית
EsR	אסתר רבה	Shebu	שבועות
Git	גיטין	Shir	שיר השירים רבה
Hag	חגיגה	ShR	שמות רבה
Hal	חלה	Sifra	ספרא
Has	מדרש חסרות ויתרות	Sifre	ספרי
Hek	ספר היכלות	SO	סדר עולם
Hor	הוריות	Sof	סופרים
Hul	חולין	Sot	סוטה
Josippon	ספר יוסיפון	Suk	סוכה
Kal	כלה	Taan	תענית
Ker	כריתות	Tad	מדרש תדשא
Kon	מדרש כונן	Talmud	תלמוד
KR	קוהלת רבה	Tam	תמיד
LT	לךָ טוב	Tan	מדרש תנאים
Maas	מעשרות	TB	מדרש תנחומא
Mak	מכות	Teh	מדרש תהלים – שוחר טוב
MaSh	מעשר שני	Ter	תרומות
Mei	מעילה	Tos	תוספתא
Mek	מכילתא	Wayosha	ויושע
MHG	מדרש הגדול	WR	ויקרא רבה
Mid	מידות	y	תלמוד ירושלמי
Midr R	מדרש רבה	Yalk	ילקוט
Mishna	משנה	Yash	ספר הישר
MX	מועד קטן	Yets	ספר יצירה
MRS	מכילתא דרבי שמעון	Yom	יומא
MSh	מדרש שמואל	PK	פסיקתא דרב כהנא

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Preface	5
Introduction
Definitions of Terms	13
Historico-Religious Background	16
General Bibliography	20
The Sources and their Classification	28
List of Sources and their Abbreviations	34
Glossary of Hebrew and Aramaic Words	48
Motif Index
A. Mythological Motifs	54
B. Animals	202
C. Tabu	251
D. Magic	281
E. The Dead	361
F. Marvels	379
G. Ogres	457
H. Tests	479
J. The Wise and the Foolish	509
K. Deceptions	555
L. Reversal of Fortune	586
M. Ordaining the Future	590
N. Chance and Fate	619
P. Society	633
Q. Rewards and Punlahmants	655
R. Captlves and Fugitives	699
S. Unnatural Crualty	707
T. Sex	718
U. The Nature of Life	747
V. Religion	751
W. Traits of Character	835
X. Humor	844
Z. Miscellaneous Groups of Motifs	849

THE SOURCES

THEIR CLASSIFICATION, ABBREVIATIONS, BIBLIOGRAFHY

The Talmudic-Midrashic literature included in the following List of Sources may be classified according to many criteria. The most important among them are:

A. structural (Including consideration of contents and character), B. historical, C. geographical.

A. With regard to the structure and contents the sources may be divided into: 1. Talmudic and 2. Midrashic; cf, "Definitions of Terms."

Al. The Talmudic sources include the Mishna-Tosefta-Talmudim and the extra-canonical tractates (Cf. ARN). The Mishnaic-Talmudic tractates are given in the List of Sources by their original Hebrew name and its English translation, followed by a number in brackets which denotes its place in one of the six Orders (Cf. "Definitions of Terms" s.v. Mishna) Only these tractates whose Mishna, Tos. or Gemara (in the Talmudim)contain agadic material, are included. A good English synopsis of each tr., its contents, history etc. is found in the introductions to the individual tractates in bS as well as in Cohen and Strack. All talmudic sources were completed before the year 500. They are mainly halakic.

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A2, All sources not included in A1 belong to the domain of Midrash. The Midrashic books in the List of Sources are given by their Hebrew name and its English translation, followed by a short structural geographic-historical description, bibliographical references (those in English, especially JE, Strack and Moore are preferred) and an indication of the edition quoted from. The Midrashim may be divided into a. expositional-exegetical, b. homiletic, c. historical, d. ethical, e. mystical.

A2a. The expositional-exegetical Midrashim form the main bulk of the Midrashic literature. They follow the order of the Scriptural text, and join thereto their tales, parales, maxims, etc. The oldest amoung them are the "tannaitic (halakic) Midrashim: Mek, MRS, Sifra, Sifre. Most of the Midrashim to individual Bible-books (Cf. BR, EkR, MSh, Teh, MM, etc.) belong to this category.

A2b. The homiletic Midrsshim handle individual Scriptures, mostly the beginnings of Bibl. portions, either those into which the Pentateuch was divided [1] for weekly readings in the Synagogue (Cf. Tan, TB, ShR, BaR, DR, AB), or those which were used on festivals and special Sabbaths (Cf. PK, PR, WR), Each homily opens with one or more proems joining the text to a Bibl. verse, mostly from the corresponding Haftara. Usually there is an attempt to bring together in each section as many proems as possible.

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A2c. The "historical" Midrashim (designated wrongly by Strack 225 as "narrative") are not following the Scriptural order, though most of them either deal with Bibl. occurrences or a llude to the Bible. This kind of historiography continues the tradition, and to some degree uses as sources the old Apoc and Pseudoepigr, literature (cf. MT, PREB, SOR, Yash, Josippon and the bibliography listed there). Most of the little pseudo historic Midrashim dealing with specific historical events ("Moses's Passing Away," "Abraham's Story, "etc.), are printed in BHM and in Eisenstein's Treasure of Midr., and are not listed independently (cf. Strack 226f.). This genre gained great popularity in the Middle Ages, as testified by the numerous "Maase (Tale) Books" [2] and "Chronicles" [3] in Hebrew and Yiddish. [4]

A2d. Many passages in Midrashim classified under other genres bear ethical character;—a source must consist either entirely of ethical maxims or of moral tales based tapon them (cf. Ab, ARN, DE, Alph B. Sira) to be regarded as "ethical." The outstanding representative of this genre is SE.

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A2e. Mystical Midrashim are mainly based on symbolism of letters and numbers, and deal with cosmogonic speculation—probably influenced in this respect by gnosticism (cf. Alph. R. Akiba, Has, Hek, Kon, Tad, Yets. See also M. Gaster, MGWJ 1893, 179-185, 213-230 and JE XI 298 on the book Shiur Koma). This genre is discussed in an excellent and exhaustive way in the first two lectures of G. Scholem’s Major Trends in Jewish Mysticism, New York 1941.

B. Historically the sources may be divided into 1. Tannaitic, 2. Amoraic, 3. Gaonaic, 4. Late (Medieval).

Bl. The tannaitic sources include besides the Mishna, Tos., Baraita (tannaitic statements in the Gemara), NT and DE—the "tannaitic (halakic) Midrashim" to Ex (Mek, MRS), Lev (Sifra), Nu. and Deut. (Sifre). All of them were finally compiled before the end of the 2^nd C. The authors of the narratives within these Midrashim are almost exclusively Tannaim, though their final editors might have been Amoraim. It has been proved that the halakic Midr. originated from two different schools, that of R. Akiba and that of his contemporary and opponent R. Ishmael (both in Pal. 1-2 C.); they differ with regard to terms, methods of interpretation, authorities cited, etc. Cf. Strack 206-209, EJ I 981 ff., Hofman, Albeck.

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B2. The amoraic sources were basically compiled btween the completion of the Mishna (2 C.) and the conclusion of the b. Talmud (c.500). Besides the later (non-tannaitic) agadot in th e Talmudim belong, probably, to this category. Also most of the extracanonical tractates (cf. ARN), SOR, BR; PK, WR, EkR.

B3. Most of the Midrashim were compiled during the Gaonaic period which lasted for c.400 years (end of 6^th to beginning of 11^th C.) and was dominated by the Academies in Babylonia-Persia-Eastern Caliphate. The determination to what degree the narratives included in the Gaonaic Midrashim are pregaonaic (probably most of them) and their relationship to the Islamic narratives are among the most intriguing problems in Agadic-folklore scholarship.

B4, Post-gaonaic, Medieval (12-15 C.) Midrashim, as far as they do not bear a dominant commentary-character, are mostly, unlike the preceding anonymous Agada-works of individual authors-compilers (cf. LT, MHG, Yalk.). Most of them, though of late date, utilize besides old material transmitted orally, many ancient (even tannaitic) ms.-sources, which have been lost thence and are now unknown from first-hand.

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C. The two main Jewish centers during the first millenium were Palestine and Babylonia. All the tannaitic and most of the amoraic (earlier) sources originate in pre-4^th C. Palestine. During the 4^th C., the center of gravity of Jewish life gradually moved to Babylonia, where the Sassanian monarch encouraged immigration of technically sk illed Palestinian Jews. Though the status of Palestinian Jewry deteriorated under the declining Roman Empire, and the hegemony since 4^th till 10^th C. is in the hands of the rich and cultural Babylonian Jewry, the main Agada center is still in Palestine. Of course many gaonaic Midrashim are of Bab. Origin. Wherever the place of origin has been established with high probability by Agada-scholarship, [5] this has been indicated in the following list (Bab denotes Babylonia-Persia-Eastern Caliphate, Pal—Palestine), otherwise no data are given. One must however bear in mind that even in a source originating in Spain, Southern Italy, or Byzanz, the material is much older and mostly Palestinian or Babylonian.

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[1] A helping criterion in the geographical determination of a Midr. is the fact that the weekly reading of the Pentateuch was completed in Palestine during 3 years (thence the division into 154-175 "Sedarim", whereas in Babylon it was read in the course of one year (the present custom in the Jewish synagoges ice the world over; and divided into 48-52 "Sedarim" (Cf. A. Buechler, JQR V (1893), 420-462.; Jacobs, JE XII 254-257; Theodor, "Die Midrashim zum Pent. una der dreijachrige palaeat. Zykv ul885-1887.

[2] Cf. M. Gaster's Introduction to The Exempla of the Rabbis. His historical data and conclusions must be read with caution.

[3] Cf. M. Gaster's Introduction to his ed. of Chronicles of Jerahmeel, London 1899, 1-12.

[4] Steinschneider in Serapeum 1866, 1-12.

[5] In most instances Albeck's conclusions incorporated in ZA may be regarded as representing the authoritative up-to-date achievements of Agada-researeh.

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List of Sources

For the manner of presenting Talmudical tractates in the following List of Sources, see above Al; Midrashim—ib. A2. [Seven trs. printed at the end of San. Not tr. in bS. Mostly amoraic. Cf. Strack 73f.]

AB: Agadat Bereshit, Homiletical Midr. (10 C.) to Gen. (84 chs., 28 homilies)—Strack 215, ZA 124.—Quoted by chapter and page of ed. Buber, Cracow 1902.

AB: Abot, or: Pirke Abot – Sayings of the Fathers (4). Cf. ARN.

Agadat Shir: Midr. to Song of Songs (10 C.).—JQR IV (1894), 672ff., JE XII 62, ZA 129. Quoted from ed. Schechter, Cambridge 1896. Cf. Shir.

Alph. R. Akiba: Alphabet of Rabbi Akiba (2versions) in BHM III (8 C.)– EJ II 451ff., ZA 334 n.67.

Alph B. Sira: Alphabet of Ben Sira. Two versions of 22 proverbs arranged alphabetically, with agadic narrative based on them. - JE II 453ff., 678ff.; Stack 346 n.6; ZA 60. Quoted from ed. Steinschneider, Berlin 1858.

Alphabetot: Midr. of Alphabets. – Strack 347 n.4, ZA 334. Ed. Wertheimer, Jerusalem 1914.

Ar: Arakin - Estimations (5).

ARN: Ab. Derabbi (of R.) Natan. The oldest among the extra-canonical Talmudic tractates. Its 40 (41) chs. Containing additions to Ab. are attributed to R. Nathan the Babylonlan (2 C.). Exists in two different "rescensions." Moore I 158, Strack 73, JE I 995f. (synopsis), ZA 51f., Schechter's introduction. German tr. K. Pollak, Rabbi Nathans System der Ethik und Moral, Frankfurt 1905.—Quoted by ch. (and p.) of ed. Schechter, Vienna 1837.

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AZ: Aboda Zara – Idolatry, lit. "Strange Service" (4).

b.: babli—Babylonian Talmud, cf. "Definitions of Terms." Fully tr. into English in the monumental Soncino Press edition, Cf. bS. – Hebrew text-quoted by tractate, folio and p. (BB 19b, Bek 7a etc.), as the contents of the single pages are the same in all editions, since the Bomberg ed., Venice 1548, until today.

BaR: Bamidbar Rabba—Midr. R. to Nu. Homiletic (23 sections). Late (12 C.).—Strack 214f., EJ I 1014f.—Quoted by ch. ahn paragraph, ed. Wilna 1887.

BB: Baba Batra—Last Gate (4).

Bek: Bekorot—First borns (5).

Ber: Berakot—Benedictions (1).

Bets: Betsa (2)—Egg.

BHM: Bet Hamidrash—House of Midrash, Learning (Academy). Six vols. of little Midrashim (with German Introductions ed. by Jellinek, Leipzig-Vienna 1853-1877. Second ed. Jerusalem 1938. Quoted by v. and p.

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Bibl.: Biblical (Old Testament). Biblical material will be probably dealt with fully by Professor Th. Gaster in his "Motif-Index of Ancient Near Eastern Folk-literature" now under preparation. His references may be followed by English reading scholars in b. Talmud and in Midr. R. by using the "Scriptural References" in bS Index 463-620 and in th e Midr. R. (Soncino Press) Index 139-322. There are several Hebrew cross-concordances tracing Bibl. scriptures in later literature—The following are (alphabetically) the abbreviations of the Bible Books used in this work: Am. – Ams; Chron. – Chronicles; Dan. – Daniel; Deut. – Deuteronomy; Ecc. – Ecclesiastics; Est. – Esther; Ex. – Exodus; Ez. – Ezekiel; Ezr. – Ezra; Gen. – Genesis; Hab. – Habbakuk; Hag. – Haggai; Hos. – Hosea; Isa. – Isaiah; Jer. – Jremiah; Jon. – Jonah; Jos. – Joshua; Judg. – Judges; Lam. – Lamentations; Lev. – Leviticus; Mai. – Malachi; Mic. – Micah; Nah. – Nahum; Neh - Nehemiah; Nu. – Numbers; Ob. – Obadiah; Pr. – Proverbs; Ps. – Psalms; Sam. – Samuel; Zek. – Zekhariah; Zef. – Zefanie; no abbreviations are used for Job, Kings, Rut, Song of Songs.

Bik.: Bikurim—First Fruits (1).

BK: Baba Kama—First Gate (4).

BM: Baba Metsia—Middle Gate (4).

BR: Bereshit Rabba—Midr. R. to Gen. Most important among the Midrashim. Originally compiled probably by R. Hoshaya (Pal. 3 C.). Classical scholarly ed. by Theodor-Albeck, Berlin 1903-1932. – EJ I 1005ff., III 62f., VII 241-247, Moore I 153-166, Strack 217f.; H. Albeck. Introduction and Index to BR (In Hebrew, indispensable), Berlin 1936. Quoted by ch. (altogether 100) and para.

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bS: babli Soncino Preps edition. First complete and unabridged English tr. of b. Talmud in 35 vols. (over 25,000 pages), London 1935-1952, quoted by tractate and page (bS Ed 19, bS Git. 410 etc.) The Index (London 1952, 749 pp.) has, besides indices of topics, names, Bibl. references and glossary, a Rabbinical index indicating the century and country of every Tanna and Amora.

DR: Debarim Rabba – Midr. R. to Deut. Homiletic (27 homilies) compiled finally around 900, probably in Byzantium.—Strack 214, JE I 1015.—Quoted by ch. and para.—S. Lieberman edited (Jerusalem 1940) a ms. version of DR as known in medieval Spain.

DE: Derekh Erets – Moral Conduct. An extra-canonical (cf. ARN) basically Amoraic tr. in 2 rescensions (11 and 9 chs. respectively). Mostly maxims of conduct. Probably tannaitic.—REJ XXXVI 27-46, 205 -221, JE IV 526ff., EJ I 1004, Strack 270.—Ed. Higger, New York 1935.

Ed.: Eduyot—Testimonies (4)

EkR: Eka Rabbati – Midr R. to Lam. Amoraic, Palestinian. Contains mostly discourses delivered on 9^th of Ab. day of temple destruction.—JE V 85ff., Strack 341 n.4, EJ I 1007 ff., Moore I 167f.—Quoted by ch. and p. of ed. Buber, Wilna 1899.

Er.: Erubin—Blendings (2).

EsR: Esther Rabba—Midr. R. to Est. Most of its agadic material is very old, as Est. was probably the most popular, among the folk, of Biblical narratives; the compilation date is however late.—Strack 342 n.13; Bacher, MGWJ 542ff.; JE.

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Git: Gitin—Divorcements, o r Bills of Divorcement (3).

Hag: Hagiga—Festival Offering (2).

Hal: Ha1la—Dough (1).

Has: Midr. Haserot Viyterot (plene and defecte). Based on Bibl. words written with or without vowel letters.—JS VIII 576ff., Strack 229, EJ I 1023f.—Ed. Wertheimer, Jerusalem 1899.

Hek: Sefer Hekalot—Book of Temples, in BHM II, III (2 rescensions), Mystical visons of heavens.—Strack 347 n.6.

Hor: Horayot—Decisions (4).

Hul: Hullin—Profane Things (5).

Josippon: A pseudohistory ending with the destruction of the Temple (70 A.D.); attributed to Josephus Flavius (1 C.), but written probably in Italy, 9 C. Contains much agadic material unknown from other sources, but transmitted probably orally, as it is found in the Pseudoepigr. It "served for thousand years as the classic Jewish history for the learned scholar and the folk alike" (Neuman), and was printed many times, but a critical edition is still a desideratum.—Strack 343f., ZA 67ff., Zeitlin, "Note on the Relation of the Slavonic Josephus to Josippon," JQR XIX (1928-29), 77f., Neuman, "Josippon and the Apocrypha," JQR XLIII (1952-53), 1-26, ascertains the degree of historic credibility and points to the Amoraic period as date of origin. This masterfully presented theory must still be proved by a critical edition of the book.

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Kal: Kalla—Bride (or "lecturing months"). An extra-canonical tr. (cf. ARN) whose nucleus is early amoraic.—Strack 73; Aptowitzer, REJ LVII 238.—Ed. Higger, New York 1936.

Ker: Keritot—Excisions (5).

Ket: Ketubot—Wedding (Nuptial) Contracts (3).

Kon: Midr. Konan ("he established") (cf. Pr. Ill 19), in BHM II. Mystical descriptions of heaven, earth, hell, paradise.—Strack 229, EJ I 1023.

KR: Kohelet Rabba—Midr. R. to Ecc. Its 12 sections follow the text (Bibl.) word by word.—Gaonaic.—Strack 342 n.1. EJ I 1016.—Quoted by ch. and para.

LT: Lekah Tob—Good Information (cf. Pr. IV 2). Collection of old Midrashim on the Pentateuch and the five Megillot, compiled by R. Tobiah B. Eliezer in 1079.—Strack 349 n.19.—Quoted by book, ch. and verse (LT Gen. XI 2, LT Lev. III 14 etc.). Ed. publ. Buber, Wilna 1880.

Maas: Maasrot—Tithes (1).

Mak: Makkot—Stripes, Strikes (4).

MaSh: Maaser Sheni—Second Tithe (1).

Mei: Meila—Trespass (5).

Mek: Mekilta—Compendium, Tannaitic Midr. to Ex; originating in R. Ishmael’s (1-2 C.) school. Begins with Ex XII the first legal section in the Pentateuch, but though the intention was apparently to compile a halakic. mid., most of its 9 tractates are agadic.—JE VIII 444ff., Strack 207, Moore I 135ff. Quoted by masseket and fol. of ed. Friedman, Vienna 1870. Recent scholarly ed.: Horowitz-Rabin, Frankfort 1931; Lauterbach (3 vols.), Philadelphia 1933-35. Cf. MRS.

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MHG: Midrash Hagadol—"The Great Midr." to Pentateuch. Though compiled in Yemen (13 C.), contains very old (much Tannaitic!) material.—Strack 231, EJ I 1033, Moore I 138f. 145f.—Ed. Schechter, Cambridge 1902 (Gen; new ed.—Margulies, Jerusalem 1947); Hoffman, Berlin 1913-21 (Fragment of Ex.); Margulies, Jerusalem 1952 (Lev.); Fisch, Manchester 1940 (Nu.; cf. Yalon, KS X VIII 33-40).

Mid: Midot—Dimensions (5).

Midr. R.: Midrash Rabba—Great Midrash. Standard Midr. collection to the Pentateuch and the five Megillot-Scrolls. The ten midrashim (BR, ShR, WR, BaR, DR, Shir, RR,.EkR, KR, EsR) are of various dates and character. First complete and unabridged English tr. of Midr, R. was published in 10 vols.—by Soncino Press, under editorship of H. Freedman and M. Simon, London 1939.—Quoted from standard ed., Wilna 1887.

Mishna: See "Definitions of Terms." English tr. within bS. Quoted by tr. ch. and para. (MX IV 2, Naz VII 4). Though Halaka is dominating in the Mishna, never does Agada disappear completely (altogether over 300 Agadic paragraphs, cf. ZA 269 n.18, JE I 992; Moore, Index s.v.; JE XII 609ff.).

MX: Moed Katan—Minor Feast (2).

MM: Midrash Mishle—Midr. to Pr. (10 C.). More a commentary than a Midr.; but contains also narrative material: Description of Martyrdoms, riddles of the Queen of Saba etc.—Bacher AT I 159f., II 69f.; EJ I 1020 f.—Quoted by ch. and p. of ed. Buber, Wilna 1893.

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MRS: Mekilta De rabbi (of R.) Shimeon. Tannaitic Midr. to Ex. originating in R. Akiba's (1-2 C.) school but attributed to R. Shimeon B. Yohay (2 C.). Reconstructed by Hoffman (Frankfort 1905) from later (mostly MHG and Yalk) quotations.—Strack 207.

MSh: Midrash Shemuel—Midr. to Sam. I, II (24 and 8 homilies respectively). Compiled in Pal.; uses old sources.—MGWJ 1895, 331-336, 368-370; REJ XXVI 304-309; JE XI 13; Strack 342 n.3.—Quoted by ch. snd p. of ed. Buber, Cracow 1893.

MT: Megilat Taanit—Scroll of Fasts. Records in 12 parts corresponding to the months of the year, those days, which because of victories or other joyous events in the past are forbidden as fast-days. Composed before 70 A.D., It derives its present form probably from 2^nd C.—JE VIII 427; Zeitlin, "MT as source for Jewish Chronology and History in the Hellenistic and Roman periods," JQR n.s. IX 71-102, X 49-80; Strack 244 n.33; Moore I 160, II 54 68f.—Scholarly ed. Lichtenstein, HUCA VIII-IX (1931-32), 318-351; cf. ib. 257ff.

Naz: Nazir—Nazirite (3).

Ned: Nedarim—Vows (3).

Nid: Nida—Uncleannoss of Menstruation (6).

Or: Orla—Uncircumcision (1).

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Pe: Peah—Corner (1).

Pes: Pesahim—Pasaover Sacrifices (2).

PK: Pesikta Derab (of R.) Kahana. Homiletic Midr. (32 homilies) for festivals and special Sabbaths. Attributed to a 3^rd C. Amora, but compiled in 5 C.—Strack 211, JE III 559, EJ 1012f., Moore I 168f.—Quoted by Piska (section) and folio of ed. Buber, Lyck 1860. 6f. PR.

PR: Pesikta Rabbati—The Great Pesikta. Homiletic Midr. (47 hom.). Younger (probably 9 C.) and different from PK, it contains much old material.—ZA 121, EJ I 1027f.—Quoted by Piska and folio of ed. Friedmann, Vienna 1880.

PRE: Pirke (Chapters of) Rabbi Ellezer. Description of the workings of God in creation and in the oldest history of Israel; attributed to R. Eliezer B. Hyrkanos (1-2 C.), but in fact much later (probably Pal. 8 C.). Remains unfinished (last 2 of the 54 chs. deal with Miriam's punishment for slandering Moses). Has numerous references to Jewish customs. Strong Islamic influence.—Strack 225 (synopsis), JE I 1030f.—Quoted by ch. of ed. Luria,Warsaw 1852.

Pseudoepigr: Apocrypha and Pseudoepigrapha of the Old Testament (tr. Charles, Oxford 1913). The extremely rich narrative elements are only sometimes alluded to, as they will be fully incorporated In Gaster's "Motif Index." Books of Esdras were motif-indexed by E. Moreno in Annuario de la Sociedad Folklorica de Mexico VI (1945) 7-45. Cf. Bibl.

RH: Rosh Hashana—New Year (2).

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RR: Ruth Rabba—Midr. R. to Ruth. Pal. early gaonaic. Expositions and agadic compilations follow the Scriptural text.—Strack 220.—Quoted by ch. and verse.

San: Sanhedrin—Court of Justice (4).

SE: Seder (Order of) Elijah, called also Tana Debey Eliyahu. In present form probably Gaonaic (10 C.) from Pal.—Strack 227 ("jewel of agadic literature"); Bacher, MGWJ XXIII 266-274, AT I 489f.; JE VIII 568; EJ I 1028f.—Quoted by ch. and p. of ed. Friedman, Vienna 1900-1902.

Sem: Semahot—Joys (euphemistically for Ebel Rabbati—Mourning). An extra-canonical tr. (cf. ARN). Though attest for the first time in 12th C. (Southern Prance) it is probably early Amoraic.

Sheb: Shebiit—Seventh, Sabbatical year (1).

Shebu: Shebuot—Oaths (4).

Shir: Shir Hashirim Rabba—Midr. R. to Song of Songs. Allegorical interpretation of the "holy of holiest books of the Bible." Early gaonaic.—Strack 341 n.3, JE I 1015f.—Quoted by ch. and v. Cf. Agadat Shir.

ShR: Shemot Rabba—Midr. R. to Ex. Homiletic (52 sections). Late gaonaic.—EJ I 1014, VI 873ff., Strack 215.—Quoted by ch. and para.

Sifra: "The Book," called also Torat Kohanim (Priests' Law). Tannaitic Midr. to Lev. originating in R. Akiba's (1-2 C.) school, but edited finally by R. Hiyya (3 C.); "explains or turns almost every word into a source for a halakic maxim" (Hoffman. 21). Contains little but important agadic material.—JE VIII 555, XI 330ff., Strack 206ff., Moore I 140 ff. German tr. Winter, Breslau 1938.—Quoted by p. of ed. Weiss, Vienna 1862.

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Sifre: "The Books." Tannaitic Midr. to Nu. (Sifre N) and Deut. (Sifre D). Originating in their agadic portions (four-sevenths of the whole) in R. Ishmael’s school (cf. Mek). Modern ed. Horovitz (only N), Leipzig – Frankfurt; Finkelstein 1938.—JE VIII 555f., XI 352 f., Moore I 143ff.—Quoted by para. of ed. Friedman, Vienna 1864.

SO: Seder Olam—World Order. Pseudohistory of mankind starting with Adam and ending in the first C. Originate probably in R. Akiba’s school (1-2 C.), it was subsequently enlarged and revised. (The last ch. includes the Bar-Kokba insurrection, 132-135).—JE XI 147ff., Strack 343 n.2, Moore I 158ff., Bacher AT I 337, II 155.—Ed. Ratner, Wilna 1897.

Sof: Soferim—Scribes. An extra-canonical tr. (cf. ARN) of 21 chs. compiled probably in Bab. 6 C. Deals with old Hebrew graphic liturgy, with the writing of scrolls and Bible lore.—JE I 1003 (synopsis).—Ed. Mueller, Leipzig 1876; Higger, New York 1937.

Sot: Sota—Suspected Adulteress (4).

Suk: Sukka—Booth, Tabernacle (2).

Taan: Taanit—Fast (2).

Tad: Midr. Tadshe. ("Brigforth," cf. Gen I 11) in BHM III 164-193. Attributed to R. Pinehas B. Yair (2 C.) but in fact much later; based mainly on number-symbolism and parallelism between creation and history of Israel.—Strack 347 n.3.

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Talmud: See "Definitions of Terms" s.v., and b, bS and y. in this list.

Tam: Tamid—Continual Offering (5).

Tan: Midr. Tanhuma or Yelamdenu—"may he teach us." Homiletic Midr. on entire Pentateuch. Compiled originally by R. Tanhuma (4 C., Pal), but has later interpolations.—EJ VIII 1069f., Bacher APA III 506, Strack 212, EJ I 1010ff., Moore I 169f.—Quoted by Parasha (Pentateuch section) and para., of ed. Wilna 1833. Cf. TB.

TB: Midr. Tanhuma ed. Buber (3 vols.), Wilna 1885. Older version of Tan. diverging markedly in Gen. and Ex.—Strack 336 n.3.—Quoted by p. and Pentateuch Book. Cf. Tan.

Teh: Midrash Tehillim—Midr. to Ps. called also Shoher Tob—"Searches after good" (cf. Pr. XI 27). First part (Ps. 1-118) compiled probably in Pal. 5 C., second p art—later. German tr. By Wuensche.—Strack 223f., EJ I 10l8f.—Quoted by ch. and p. of ed. Buber, Wilna 1891.

Ter: Terumot—Reave offerings (1).

Tos: Tosefta—Addition. Tannaitic additions to the Mishna following its order. Compiled by R. Hiyya B. Aba (2 C.). Contains mainly halaka, but is rich in agada, especially the tractates Taan, Sot, RH, Hor.—JE XII 609ff.; Albeck, MGWJ LXIX 311-328; Schwarz, REJ LXXXII 287-299; Moore, Index s.v.—Quoted by tr. ch. and para, of ed. Zuckermandel, Pasewalk 1881 (2nd ed. with supplement of S. Lieberman, Jerusalem 1937).

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Wayosha: Midr. Vayosha—"He helped" (Cf. Ex XIV 30) in BHM I 35ff. Contains eschatological and messianic speculations and narratives.

WR: Wayikra Rabba—Midr. R. to Lev. Has 37 homilies. Fond of using proverbs (cf. MGWJ 1885, 405).—Strack 211f.—Quoted by ch. and para, of standard Midr. R. ed.

y.: Yerushalmi—Jerusalemitic, or Palestinian Talmud (cf. "Definitions of Terms" s.v. Talmud).—Quoted by tr., ch. folio (of 4 columns each) and column of ed. Venice 1523, Krotoshim 1867. (y. Pe I 15c, y. Meg. IV 74d etc.)

Yalk: Yalkut—"Collection." Denotes the Yalk. Shimeoni, the most important Midr. Thesaurus. Compiled in two parts (I—Pentateuch 963 paras; II—other books, 1085 paras) by R. Shimeon whose identity is still problematic, (Germany? Spain? 12-14 C.?). The compiler names his sources before each entry. Much of its material is very old and otherwise unknown.—EJ I 1034 f., VIII 859.— Quoted by vol. and para.

Yalk. Reubeni: Collection of old mysticale-kabbalistic comments and interpretations to the Pentateuch compiled by Reuben B. Hoeschke (17 C.).—Quoted by ch. and v. of ed. Amsterdam 1700.

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Yash: Sefer Hayashar—The Book of Righteousness (? cf. 2 Sam I 18). A pseudohistory dealing with the period from Adam to the time of the Judges; written probably in Southern Italy (Spain?) 11 C. and showing strong Islamic influence. Much of its material is old and genuine.—JE XII 588f., Strack 226, EJ I 1031f.—Ed. Goldschmidt, Berlin 1923.

Yets: Sefer Yetsira—Book of Creation. Mystical speculations influenced probably by the Gnostics. Probably Amoraic. Cf. Mordell, "The origin of Letters and Nunerals according to S. Y.," JQR II 1912, 557-644; German tr. Oddschm Frankfort 1894 (cf. REJ XXIX 310-316); JE XII 602ff., Strack 346f.—Quoted by para, of ed. Warsaw 1884.

Yom: Yoma—The Day of Atonement (2).