Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
Pages: 280
•
Trim: 6½ x 9¼
978-0-8108-8616-2 • Hardback • March 2015 • $126.00 • (£97.00)
978-0-8108-8617-9 • eBook • March 2015 • $119.50 • (£92.00)
Ruth Langer is professor of Jewish studies in the Theology Department at Boston College and associate director of its Center for Christian–Jewish Learning. She received her rabbinic ordination and PhD from Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion, Cincinnati. She publishes widely in the fields of Jewish liturgy and Christian–Jewish relations.
1 Introduction
1.1 This Bibliography and Additional Resources
1.2 Hebrew Transliteration
1.2.1 Consonants
1.2.2.Vowels
1.3 Introduction to Rabbinic Literature
1.3.1 Halakhic Literature
1.3.1.1 Mishnah Translations
1.3.1.2 Talmud Translations
1.3.1.2.1 Babylonian Talmud
1.3.1.2.2 Jerusalem Talmud
1.3.2 Midrash
1.4 Historical Overview of Rabbinic Liturgy
1.5 The Structure of the Prayer Book
1.5.1 The Berakhah
1.5.1.1 God’s Name
1.5.2 Preliminary Prayers
1.5.3 The Recitation of Shema
1.5.4 The Amidah
1.5.5 Taḥanun/Supplicatory Prayers
1.5.6 Reading Scripture
1.5.7 Concluding Prayers
1.6 Chronological Overview of Key Trends in Jewish Liturgical Scholarship
1.6.1 Recent Bibliographic Overviews of Scholarship on Rabbinic Liturgy
1.7 Comprehensive Studies
1.7.1 Monographs
1.7.1.1 Entry-level Texts
1.7.1.2 Texts for More Advanced Study
1.7.2 Collections of Scholarly Articles
1.7.3 Overview Essays
1.7.4 Collections of Prayer Texts
2 Second Temple-Era Liturgy and Worship
2.1 In General
2.1.1 Prayer Texts
2.1.2 Secondary Discussions
2.1.3 Penitential Prayer
2.2 Dead Sea Scrolls
2.2.1 General Resources
2.2.2 Qumran Prayer Texts
2.2.3 Secondary Discussions: General
2.2.3.1 Monographs
2.2.3.2 Collections of Articles
2.2.3.3 Overview Articles
2.2.4 Secondary Discussions: Specific Issues
2.2.4.1 Dead Sea Scrolls and the Origins of Rabbinic Liturgy
2.2.4.1.1 Angelic Liturgy
2.2.4.1.2 Petitionary and Penitential Prayer
2.2.4.2 Rituals and Liturgies for Specific Seasons
2.2.4.3 Relationship to the Jerusalem Temple
2.3 Philo
2.4 Josephus
2.5 Temple Worship
2.5.1 Temple Rituals
2.5.2 Rabbinic(-Type) Liturgy in the Temple
2.5.3 Ritual Responses to the Loss of the Temple
2.6 Prayer Language
2.6.1 Hebrew, Greek, and/or Aramaic?
2.6.2 Composition of Prayers
3 The Synagogue as an Institution
3.1 General Bibliography
3.1.1 Monographs
3.1.2 Collections of Articles
3.1.3 Overview Articles
3.2 Origins
3.2.1 The Second Temple-Era Synagogue
3.2.2 Associations
3.3 Early Christian Intersections
3.4 Late-Antique Synagogues
3.4.1 In the Land of Israel
3.4.1.1 Sepphoris
3.4.2 In the Diaspora
3.4.2.1 Dura Europos
3.4.2.2 Ostia Antiqua
3.4.2.3 Sardis
3.4.3 Samaritan Synagogues
3.5 Medieval and Modern Synagogues
3.6 Synagogue and Temple post 70 CE
3.7 Synagogue Art, Architecture, and Ritual Objects
3.7.1 Late-Antique Synagogue Art
3.7.2 Medieval and Modern Synagogue Art and Architecture
3.7.3 Specific Elements
3.7.3.1 Architectural Elements: Torah Ark, Bimah, etc.
3.7.3.2 Menorah
3.7.3.3 Seat of Moses
3.7.3.4 Zodiac
3.8 Women in the Synagogue
3.8.1 Meḥitzah
3.8.2 In Ancient Synagogues
3.8.3 In Medieval to Pre-20th c. Synagogues
3.8.4 In Contemporary Synagogues
3.9 Liturgical Functionaries
4 The Historical Emergence of Jewish Liturgy
4.1 Liturgy in the Era of the Tannaim and Amoraim (Mishnah and Talmud)
4.2 Medieval Liturgy
4.2.1 Geonic (Early Medieval) Liturgy
4.2.1.1. Seder Rav Amram Gaon
4.2.1.2 Geniza Texts
4.2.2 High Medieval Liturgy
4.2.2.1 Moses Maimonides
4.2.2.2 Prayer Books and their Evolution
4.2.2.3 European Rites
4.3 Modernity
4.3.1 Early Modern Liturgy
4.3.2 Contemporary Rites and Movements
4.3.2.1 Orthodox
4.3.2.1.1 Ashkenazi Rite
4.3.2.1.1.1 Minhag Ashkenaz (Ashkenazi “Custom”)
4.3.2.1.1.2 Nusaḥ S’fard (Sefardi Rite)
4.3.2.1.2 Minhag Sefarad: Iberian Rites
4.3.2.1.2.1 Eastern Sefardi (Mizraḥi)
4.3.2.1.2.2. Spanish and Portuguese
4.3.2.1.3 Italian
4.3.2.2 Reform Judaism
4.3.2.2.1 Secondary Discussions
4.3.2.2.1.1 In General
4.3.2.2.1.2 In Europe
4.3.2.2.1.3 In North America
4.3.2.2.1.4 In Israel
4.3.2.2.2 Reform Movement Prayer Books
4.3.2.3 Conservative Judaism
4.3.2.3.1 Secondary Discussions
4.3.2.3.2 Conservative Movement Prayer Books
4.3.2.4 Reconstructionist Movement
4.3.2.4.1 Secondary Discussions
4.3.2.4.2 Reconstructionist Movement Prayer Books
4.3.2.5 Recent Phenomena
5 Weekday Prayers
5.1 The Berakhah
5.2 The Shema and its Blessings
5.2.1 Pre- and Non-Rabbinic Manifestations
5.2.1.1 The Nash Papyrus and the Decalogue
5.2.1.2 Second Temple Evidence
5.2.1.3 Christian Evidence
5.2.2 Origins and Early Rabbinic Developments
5.2.3 Theological Discussions
5.3 The Amidah
5.3.1 Precursors, Origins and Early Rabbinic Developments
5.3.1.1 Scholarship Before Heinemann
5.3.1.2 Recent Scholarship
5.3.2 Studies of (Clusters of) Blessings
5.3.2.1 Opening Blessings (Praise)
5.3.2.1.1 Avot (1)
5.3.2.1.2 Gevurot (2)
5.3.2.1.3 Qedushah (3)
5.3.2.2 Intermediate Weekday Blessings (Petitions)
5.3.2.2.1 Birkat HaMinim (12)
5.3.2.3 Concluding Blessings (Thanksgiving)
5.3.2.4 Seasonal Inserts
5.3.3 Other
5.4 Torah Reading
5.4.1 The Torah Scroll and its Accoutrements
5.4.2 Chanting Scripture
5.4.3 Targum (Aramaic Translation)
5.4.4 Sermons
5.4.5 Prayer for the Government
5.5 Qedushah
5.6 Introductory Prayers and Birkhot HaShaḥar (Morning Benedictions)
5.7 Recitation of Psalms
5.8 Taḥanun
5.9 Concluding Prayers
6 Birkat HaMazon (Grace after Meals)
6.1 Precursors
6.2 Rabbinic Liturgy
6.2.1 The Zimmun (Invitation to the Grace)
7 Sabbath and Holiday Liturgies
7.1 Jewish Calendar
7.2 Shabbat (Sabbath)
7.3 Pilgrimage Festivals
7.3.1 Pesaḥ (Passover)
7.3.1.1 Haggadah
7.3.1.1.1 Texts
7.3.1.1.2 Secondary Studies
7.3.1.2 Synagogue Liturgy
7.3.2 Shavuot (Feast of Weeks)
7.3.3 Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles/Booths), Shemini Atzeret (Eighth Day of Assembly) and Simḥat Torah (Rejoicing in the Torah)
7.4 High Holy Days
7.4.1 In General
7.4.2 Prayer Books
7.4.3 Specific Prayers (Both Days)
7.4.3.1 Unetaneh Toqef
7.4.4 Rosh HaShanah (New Year)
7.4.5 Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement)
7.4.5.1 Specific Prayers
7.4.5.1.1 Kol Nidre (All Vows…)
7.4.5.1.2 Seliḥot (Penitential Poetry)
7.4.5.1.3 Vidui (Confession)
7.4.5.1.4 Yizkor (Memorial Prayers)
7.4.5.1.5 Seder HaAvodah (Order of the Temple Service)
7.5 Minor Holidays
7.5.1 Rosh Ḥodesh (New Month)
7.5.2 Purim
7.5.3 Hanukkah
7.5.4 Tu BiShevat (Arbor Day)
7.5.5 Yom HaAtzma’ut (Israeli Independence Day)
7.6 Fast Days and Days Commemorating Tragedies
7.6.1 Tisha B’Av (9th of Av)
7.6.1.1. Liturgies
7.6.2 Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Memorial Day)
7.6.2.1 Liturgies
8 Life Cycle Rituals
8.1 Comprehensive Discussions
8.2 Birth Rituals
8.2.1 Brit Milah (Circumcision)
8.2.2 Naming Girls
8.2.3 Pidyon HaBen (Redeeming the First Born Son)
8.3 Bar and Bat Mitzvah
8.4 Marriage
8.5 Death and Mourning
9 Piyyut (Liturgical Poetry)
9.1 Introductory Discussions
9.2 Piyyut in English Translation
9.3 Secondary Discussions
9.3.1 Performance and Participation
9.3.2 Use of the Bible
9.3.3 Other
10 Extra-Textual Aspects of Liturgy
10.1 General Discussions
10.2 Minyan (Community)
10.3 Posture and Gesture
10.4 Language
10.5 Music and Silence
10.5.1 Music in Ashkenazi Contexts
10.5.2 Music in Sefardi Contexts
10.5.3 Instrumental Music
10.6 Revitalizing the Contemporary Synagogue
10.7 Liturgical Garb
10.7.1 Kippah (Yarmulke, Skull Cap)
10.7.2 Tallit (Prayer Shawl)
10.7.3 Tefillin (Phylacteries)
10.7.3.1 Women and Tefillin
11 Spiritual Practices: Mystical, Magical and Apotropaic Prayer
11.1 Heikhalot Mysticism
11.2 Ḥasidei Ashkenaz
11.3 Pietists in the Muslim World
11.4 Kabbalah
11.4.1 Primary Texts in Translation
11.4.2 Secondary Discussions
11.5 Hasidism
11.5.1 Primary Texts in Translation
11.5.2 Secondary Discussions
11.6 Magic
12 Women and Prayer
12.1 Contemporary Halakhic Discussions
12.2 Texts of Women’s Prayers
12.3 Secondary Discussions
13 Comparisons with Early Christian Liturgy
13.1 Early Christian Evidence for Jewish Prayer
13.2 The Eucharist and Jewish Table Liturgies
13.3 The Lord’s Prayer
13.4 The Apostolic Constitutions
14 Theological Discussions
14.1 Pre-Contemporary
14.1.1 Moses Maimonides
14.2 Contemporary
14.2.1 Abraham Isaac Kook
14.3 Specific Topics
14.3.1 Kavvanah
14.3.2 Petitionary Prayer
Glossary
Abbreviations
Index
About the Author
Boston College professor Rabbi Langer presents a comprehensive bibliography of works available in English that address the origins, development, meanings, context, and approaches to Jewish liturgy 'from its prehistory in the Second Temple period to today.' Over 1,000 annotated entries are organized by historical era and theme. The introduction provides an overview of the liturgy and commentaries that developed around it. Topics are introduced in their historical or scholarly context, then delineated into related subtopics. For example, the chapter 'Second Temple-Era Liturgy and Worship' includes subsections treating the Dead Sea Scrolls, Philo, Josephus, temple worship, and prayer language. Examples of other chapters include 'Life Cycle Rituals,' 'Women and Prayer,' and 'Comparisons with Early Christian Liturgy.' Entries are enumerated, with some works listed under multiple sections and properly cross-referenced. The brief annotations summarize each work and often include evaluations of their strengths, weaknesses, and scholarly level. The glossary, abbreviations key, and index are helpful additions. Originally proposed as a work 'geared primarily to Christian seminary contexts,' this book would be of most benefit to readers who have some background knowledge in the field. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-level undergraduates through faculty/researchers; professionals/practitioners.
— Choice Reviews
This welcome volume is published primarily for a Christian readership interested in gaining a broad overview of Jewish liturgy. But it is a fruitful contribution for a variety of additional audiences as well: students and young scholars of rabbinic Judaism and Jewish liturgy, Jewish adult learning, and even autodidactic attempts to enter the academic field of Jewish prayer guided by an expert of the field who is uniquely able to balance scholarship with lucidity; someone also whose mastery of the various Jewish academic and religious perspectives is supplemented with familiarity with Christian liturgy too. Moreover, as a bibliography reflecting up-to-date liturgical research, this book is a worthy addition not just for beginners and for Christians entering the field, but for Jewish scholars, too. First of all, the bibliography testifies to the rapid growth of the field. Second, the realignment of structure relative to Tabory’s bibliography of the 1990s expresses an overall trend to expand the field in new and holistic ways. Jewish liturgy is coming of age as a focus in Jewish research; Langer is among the very few experts who are making it so; and her book is a guide to where the field is going.
— Theological Studies
[Langer] has now provided important bibliographical guidance for those who wish to acquaint themselves with the subject, essentially by way of publications in English that are not too technical and recondite for the non-specialist. . . .Langer has provided a comprehensive treatment that goes well beyond the development of the statutory prayers of Judaism. She provides extensive lists of books and articles that will furnish the reader with replies to numerous questions, not only about their content but also about their origins, meaning and the mechanics of their recitation, as well as their physical contexts and manifestations. . . .The author's critical comments are generally sound and will undoubtedly be most helpful for all those with interests in Jewish liturgy. In addition, each chapter, and each section within the chapter, begins with introductory remarks on the theme being discussed. These will be warmly welcomed particularly by those less knowledgeable readers who wish to understand better the nature and role of worship within Judaism. . . .Langer has successfully completed what can only be described as the back-breaking construction of a major bibliographical machine tool. She deserves considerable credit for what is, overall, a balanced, accurate and broad coverage.
— Journal of Jewish Studies