Rabbinic Foundations of Modern Jewish Thought

Abstract

Wh, hen use the term Rabbinic, mean the Talmudic and Rabbinic literature which was created by the Jewish people somewhere between the second or third century before the Christian era until the sixth century of the Christian era when the Talmudic literature was officially closed, though unofficially it continues until this day. There is a famous story told in the Talmud1 about Moses, who, when he went up to Heaven to receive the Torah, the Revelation, found God putting jots and tittles on the letters of scripture, and he asked the Almighty, What are you doing? Why are you bothering to put these jots and tittles on letters that are soon to become sacred writ? The Almighty replied that in future generations there would be a great scholar whose name is Rabbi Akiba—the greatest of the teachers of the Talmud—and that he, through his talent, inspiration, and wisdom, would be able to derive mountains of laws, and teachings even from the jots and tittles on the letters. Therefore, said God, I am doing it for his benefit. Moses was intrigued by this answer of the Almighty and said, I would like very much, if possible, to sit in on a lecture given by Rabbi Akiba. Of course, here on earth it would be impossible to put time ahead several thousand years, but in Heaven everything is possible; and so, according to the Rabbinic story, Moses was given a seat in the back row of Rabbi Akiba's academy, which really met in the second century of the Christian era. He listened intently to what was being taught by Rabbi Akiba, but could not understand a word of what was being said. Of course, Moses was upset by this experience. Finally, as Rabbi Akiba's lecture continued, Akiba said, Everything that have just lectured about comes as a result of the Torah given by Moses. When Moses heard this, he was reconciled and his anxiety