Rabbinic Drinking - by Jordan D Rosenblum (Paperback)

About the Book

"Rabbinic literature presumes tremendous prior knowledge, and its fascinating twists and turns in logic are disorienting for even those well-versed in the corpus. In order to help readers navigate this brilliant but bewildering terrain, Rabbinic Drinking explores how rabbinic literature uses both the contents of a drinking vessel and the contexts in which they are drunk to survey key themes in rabbinic literature. Over the course of nine chapters, these themes build to introduce readers to the contours of rabbinic literature. The fact that important rabbinic concepts, from interactions with non-Jews to permitted actions on holidays, are conveyed via rabbinic discussion of wine and beer, for example, makes for engaging reading in the classroom, and beyond"--

Book Synopsis

Though ancient rabbinic texts are fundamental to analyzing the history of Judaism, they are also daunting for the novice to read. Rabbinic literature presumes tremendous prior knowledge, and its fascinating twists and turns in logic can be disorienting. Rabbinic Drinking helps learners at every level navigate this brilliant but mystifying terrain by focusing on rabbinic conversations about beverages, such as beer and wine, water, and even breast milk. By studying the contents of a drinking vessel--including the contexts and practices in which they are imbibed--Rabbinic Drinking surveys key themes in rabbinic literature to introduce readers to the main contours of this extensive body of historical documents.

Features and Benefits:

• Contains a broad array of rabbinic passages, accompanied by didactic and rich explanations and contextual discussions, both literary and historical
• Thematic chapters are organized into sections that include significant and original translations of rabbinic texts
• Each chapter includes in-text references and concludes with a list of both referenced works and suggested additional readings

From the Back Cover

"What an excellent introduction to rabbinic thinking! Rosenblum takes us from our own preoccupations with drinking, eating, sex, and other bodily functions to the distinctive ways in which rabbis categorized, interpreted, and generally thought about them. The book is engaging, the author's contemporary analogies are apt, and he's funny. Something for both students and scholars."--Jonathan Brumberg-Kraus, Professor of Religion, Wheaton College

"Drawing on his expertise on food, meals, and the rabbis, Rosenblum offers a rich treatment of beverages as a way to introduce undergraduates to the complexities of rabbinic literature. His clear voice and deft presentation of ancient texts, new research, and citations will serve scholars and students alike." --Susan Marks, Klingenstein Professor of Judaic Studies, New College of Florida

Review Quotes

"[Rosenblum] writes in very engaging manner, mixing erudite terms with a personal, and lighthearted, voice. . . . Hopefully, this initial sip will leave a lasting aftertaste."-- "Religion"

"Can be quite useful for the popularization of Talmudic research among American undergraduates. . . . Rosenblum's clear voice and deft presentation will serve students."-- "Journal for the Study of Judaism"

"Rosenblum offers entertaining examples and writes so clearly that even those who have no knowledge of rabbinic literature should be able to understand the material."-- "The Reporter"

About the Author

Jordan D. Rosenblum is Belzer Professor of Classical Judaism and Max and Frieda Weinstein-Bascom Professor of Jewish Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is the author of Food and Identity in Early Rabbinic Judaism and The Jewish Dietary Laws in the Ancient World and the coeditor of Feasting and Fasting: The History and Ethics of Jewish Food.