Richard Friedman

[David_2010]

I hope this is the right place for this, but, I recently came across one of Richard Friedman's books, called 'The Bible With Sources Revealed', which seemed interesting, and during the first few pages, there were praises for his other works, including Daniel C. Matt, who I understand to be a respected authority on Jewish Mysticism/Kabbalah, so, I wanted to know, would you recommend his books at all (if you've heard of him, that is), and, if not, are there are any good historical books you'd recommend (I'd like to learn more about the history of Jews/Judaism as well).

Thanks for any help .

 

[Levite]

I've seen the book. It's worth having, if it's something that you're interested in, and if you don't have the training needed to figure out textual layer yourself-- which most folks don't, who don't have graduate-level education in Tanakh literature, so don't worry that you should.

My one word of caution, which I would give for any such book, regardless of author, is that sourcing layers of Torah text is not something set in stone. From what I saw, looking through this book, Friedman is more correct than not. But there were places I would have disagreed with him, as, I presume, other scholars might have other places, or might disagree with my own readings. In other words, it's an excellent tool, and quite useful, and (as far as I could tell) well-executed, but, like all critical scholarly works, is going to be debatable at some level, sooner or later.

That said, do buy the book. Do use the book. Just treat it like any other relatively well-accepted by ultimately unprovable piece of scholarship: respectful, but not uncritically accepting.

 

[dogsgod]

Who Wrote The Bible? by Richard Friedman is a good read, I read that awhile ago, probably back in the 80's.

 

[Levite]

Who Wrote The Bible? by Richard Friedman is a good read, I read that awhile ago, probably back in the 80's.

It's a bit unrefined by today's academic standards, but it's not bad.

It is also worth noting that we Jews who are interested in learning textual analysis according to the documentary hypothesis must be willing to grapple with the theological issues it raises, in ways which are realistic and productive from an academic understanding, and yet also productive and harmonious with supporting the traditions, theologies, and practices of our coventantal spiritual system.

Although I do not agree with some of his conclusions, David Weiss Halivny has written some good stuff on this, as has David Hartmann, and Elliot Dorff.

 

[David_2010]

I've seen the book. It's worth having, if it's something that you're interested in, and if you don't have the training needed to figure out textual layer yourself-- which most folks don't, who don't have graduate-level education in Tanakh literature, so don't worry that you should.

My one word of caution, which I would give for any such book, regardless of author, is that sourcing layers of Torah text is not something set in stone. From what I saw, looking through this book, Friedman is more correct than not. But there were places I would have disagreed with him, as, I presume, other scholars might have other places, or might disagree with my own readings. In other words, it's an excellent tool, and quite useful, and (as far as I could tell) well-executed, but, like all critical scholarly works, is going to be debatable at some level, sooner or later.

That said, do buy the book. Do use the book. Just treat it like any other relatively well-accepted by ultimately unprovable piece of scholarship: respectful, but not uncritically accepting.

Thank very much, I'll definitely keep your advice in mind when reading it, and I will buy it, I think, when I see it next.

Who Wrote The Bible? by Richard Friedman is a good read, I read that awhile ago, probably back in the 80's.

Thanks for the tip, I might check that out too .

It's a bit unrefined by today's academic standards, but it's not bad.

It is also worth noting that we Jews who are interested in learning textual analysis according to the documentary hypothesis must be willing to grapple with the theological issues it raises, in ways which are realistic and productive from an academic understanding, and yet also productive and harmonious with supporting the traditions, theologies, and practices of our coventantal spiritual system.

Although I do not agree with some of his conclusions, David Weiss Halivny has written some good stuff on this, as has David Hartmann, and Elliot Dorff.

Again, thanks for those other authors, I just Googled Elliot Dorff, and some of his work sounds really good, like, I've got 'Love Your Neighbour and Yourself' up on Google Books, it seems quite interesting, are all his books worth getting, if you don't mind me asking?.

Thanks again.

 

[Levite]

Again, thanks for those other authors, I just Googled Elliot Dorff, and some of his work sounds really good, like, I've got 'Love Your Neighbour and Yourself' up on Google Books, it seems quite interesting, are all his books worth getting, if you don't mind me asking?.

Dorff is probably my favorite modern Jewish philosopher, and one of my favorite scholars of halakhah. He is considered to be one of the two or three shining lights of Conservative Judaism, and one of the great modern thinkers in non-Orthodox Judaism.

That said, I must confess that I studied under Dorff in rabbinical school, and I really love him. I liked his work long before rabbinical school, but he is really a tzaddik (righteous man), not just in that he knows a whole lot of Torah, and has superb ideas about halakhah, tradition, and Jewish thought; but also in that he really practices what he preaches, and is both a truly good rabbi, and a truly good person.

Yes, I think his books are all worth reading, and all worth owning. I think he is eminently worth learning from in deep and central ways. That is my personal opinion.

 

[David_2010]

Dorff is probably my favorite modern Jewish philosopher, and one of my favorite scholars of halakhah. He is considered to be one of the two or three shining lights of Conservative Judaism, and one of the great modern thinkers in non-Orthodox Judaism.

That said, I must confess that I studied under Dorff in rabbinical school, and I really love him. I liked his work long before rabbinical school, but he is really a tzaddik (righteous man), not just in that he knows a whole lot of Torah, and has superb ideas about halakhah, tradition, and Jewish thought; but also in that he really practices what he preaches, and is both a truly good rabbi, and a truly good person.

Yes, I think his books are all worth reading, and all worth owning. I think he is eminently worth learning from in deep and central ways. That is my personal opinion.

Thanks for your opinion, I'll definitely get some of his books when I can, the one I mentioned 'Love Your Neighbour' is one that definitely looks interesting, and 'The Way Into Tikkun Olam' sounds quite good as well.

I'll definitely get them.