
Beginnings of Judaism
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Narrated by:
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Isaiah M. Gafni
About this listen
For thousands of years, Jews have looked to the Hebrew Bible, also known as the Old Testament by Christians, for their origins, and have located in them the tenets of their faith. However, much of what is recognized today as Judaism does not appear in the Bible. How did Judaism develop from its biblical roots to the highly developed system we know today? What has changed - and what has remained constant? In this series of 24 spirited and provocative lectures, Professor Gafni investigates how the Jewish faith struggled to continually redefine itself during the first thousand years after the completion of the last books of the Hebrew Bible, tenaciously clinging to existence through circumstances that might well have torn it asunder.
The two landmark events that altered Jewish history forever were the two destructions of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem. This sacred place was first destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 B.C.E., and, after having been rebuilt 70 years later, was razed once again by the Romans in 70 C.E., after the Jews waged a fierce uprising against Roman rule in the province of Judea.
The events surrounding these destructions lie at the heart of understanding Judaism. As you explore the evolution of an ancient faith into a system of beliefs, practices, and laws recognizable today as Judaism, you'll discover a tradition of vigorous and joyous debate - where reinterpretation coexists with profound acceptance of the original instructions from God regarding the practice of faith.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.
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Understanding the Old Testament
- By: Professor Robert D. Miller II, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Professor Robert D. Miller II
- Length: 11 hrs and 5 mins
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The Old Testament is one of the foundational texts of Western civilization, and is among the most impactful and widely read books in world history. In 24 enthralling lectures, Professor Miller guides you through a core selection of the major books of the Old Testament, inviting you to probe their meaning and relevance in incisive and thought-provoking commentary. In Understanding the Old Testament, you’ll take a revelatory look at this epically impactful document, finding its deeper historical and religious meanings, as well as its sublime literary treasures.
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This is not what I was hoping for...
- By A person healing on 05-09-20
By: Professor Robert D. Miller II, and others
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The Dead Sea Scrolls
- By: Gary A. Rendsburg, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Gary A. Rendsburg
- Length: 12 hrs and 21 mins
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Whether complete or only fragmentary, the 930 extant Dead Sea Scrolls irrevocably altered how we look at and understand the foundations of faith and religious practice. Now you can get a comprehensive introduction to this unique series of archaeological documents, and to scholars' evolving understanding of their authorship and significance, with these 24 lectures. Learn what the scrolls are, what they contain, and how the insights they offered into religious and ancient history came into focus.
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A comprehensive overview of the Qumran Scrolls
- By Jacobus on 09-25-13
By: Gary A. Rendsburg, and others
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The Essential Talmud: An Introduction
- By: Adin Steinsaltz
- Narrated by: Shlomo Zacks
- Length: 10 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
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The Essential Talmud is a masterful introduction by Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz to the great repository of Jewish wisdom, the Talmud. A book of profound scholarship and concise pedagogy, The Essential Talmud succinctly describes the Talmud's history, structure, and methodology. It summarizes the Talmud's main principles, demonstrates its contemporary relevance, and captures the spirit of this unique and paradoxical sacred text as a human expression of divine law.
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Incomparable work by a true Scholar
- By Elliot on 11-16-19
By: Adin Steinsaltz
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The Learning Brain
- By: The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Professor Thad A. Polk PhD Carnegie Mellon University
- Length: 12 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
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One of the most complicated and advanced computers on Earth can't be purchased in any store. This astonishing device, responsible for storing and retrieving vast quantities of information that can be accessed at a moment's notice, is the human brain. How does such a dynamic and powerful machine make memories, learn a language, and remember how to drive a car? What habits can we adopt in order to learn more effectively throughout our lives? The answers to these questions are merely the tip of the iceberg in The Learning Brain.
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Slow, useful, unconvincing
- By Tintin on 03-02-19
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The History and Archaeology of the Bible
- By: Jean-Pierre Isbouts, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Jean-Pierre Isbouts
- Length: 11 hrs and 21 mins
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The findings of historians and archaeologists open a thrilling world of discovery as they bring their methods and insights to the iconic stories of the Bible. These 24 content-rich lessons take you on a multidimensional journey through the Bible, from Genesis to the Crucifixion, seen through the lens of the latest historical and archaeological research.
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More theological than historical
- By Erik on 05-29-21
By: Jean-Pierre Isbouts, and others
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Unsung Heroes of the Ancient World
- By: Gregory S. Aldrete, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Gregory S. Aldrete
- Length: 13 hrs and 15 mins
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The 24 revealing lectures of Unsung Heroes of the Ancient World reconstruct over a dozen biographies from the classical world—most of them little-known, some of them quite unlikely heroes. With Professor Emeritus Gregory Aldrete as your expert guide, you will meet the ambitious travel writers, dedicated engineers, careful cartographers, diligent farmers, woman philosophers, devoted wives, skilled military generals, African rebels, Persian kings, and impressive athletes who stood out among their peers centuries ago.
By: Gregory S. Aldrete, and others
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Here All Along
- Finding Meaning, Spirituality, and a Deeper Connection to Life - in Judaism (After Finally Choosing to Look There)
- By: Sarah Hurwitz
- Narrated by: Sarah Hurwitz
- Length: 10 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
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After a decade as a political speechwriter - serving as head speechwriter for First Lady Michelle Obama, a senior speechwriter for President Barack Obama, and chief speechwriter for Hillary Clinton on her 2008 presidential campaign - Sarah Hurwitz decided to apply her skills as a communicator to writing a book...about Judaism. And no one is more surprised than she is. Sarah Hurwitz is on a mission to close this gap by sharing the profound insights she discovered on everything from Jewish holidays, ethics, and prayer to Jewish conceptions of God, death, and social justice.
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Must-read for prospective and new Jewish converts
- By Danielle Nathanson on 09-14-19
By: Sarah Hurwitz
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The American Civil War
- By: Gary W. Gallagher, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Gary W. Gallagher
- Length: 24 hrs and 37 mins
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Between 1861 and 1865, the clash of the greatest armies the Western hemisphere had ever seen turned small towns, little-known streams, and obscure meadows in the American countryside into names we will always remember. In those great battles, those streams ran red with blood-and the United States was truly born.
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Excellent Series
- By Rodney on 07-09-13
By: Gary W. Gallagher, and others
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God Against the Gods
- The History of Monotheism and Polytheism
- By: Robert Garland, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Robert Garland
- Length: 6 hrs and 50 mins
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Religion is foundational to what it means to be human. Our quest for meaning is as ancient as our very existence, stretching back to a time when Neanderthal burials and Paleolithic figurines suggest our ancestors recognized a power that transcended visible reality. From ancient civilizations to the 21st century, belief in a higher power seems to be a universal human instinct. These 12 thought-provoking lectures introduce you to the world of comparative religion, giving you insights into a variety of religious expressions and human cultures.
By: Robert Garland, and others
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Holy Land Revealed
- By: Jodi Magness, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Jodi Magness
- Length: 18 hrs and 35 mins
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As the birthplace of Judaism and Christianity, the Holy Land (in and around modern-day Israel) is one of the most important regions in the world and the setting for defining events in religious history. Comb through this evidence for yourself with The Holy Land Revealed, which will add new dimensions to your understanding of this dynamic place. Delivered by archaeologist and award-winning Professor Jodi Magness of The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, these 36 lectures give you an insider’s look at how archaeology helps us relive this period of civilization.
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The MAJOR disappointment
- By Mark W on 06-10-21
By: Jodi Magness, and others
What listeners say about Beginnings of Judaism
Highly rated for:
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- Arthur Sippo
- 12-22-24
Demonstrating the complex evolution of Judaism after the destruction of the Second Temple.
An excellent overview of Jewish history up to the rise of modern rabbinic Judaism. The detailed history is cognizant of the parallel history of Christianity. Highly recommended!
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- Mark Owens
- 06-04-24
Fascinating information and background
The lectures are informative and come from a place of deep knowledge and understanding. Highly recommended.
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- David
- 07-03-14
Four Stars Is a Reccomendation From Me
Would you listen to Beginnings of Judaism again? Why?
I have re-played a number of chapters already. Lots of very good info, competently presented.
What does Professor Isaiah M. Gafni bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?
Very broad historical presentation.
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
Mostly.
Any additional comments?
One of the better religious presentations.
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5 people found this helpful
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- Randy R.
- 01-02-19
Enlightening
Every Christion should listen to this lecture. It offers a chance to better understand the Jewish religion. I now have small understanding and it helps me grasp onto my Christion beliefs.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Kindle Customer
- 02-10-17
What I Never Learned in Hebrew School
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
Every post Bar Mitzvah age young Jewish adult should listen to this
When I was a child going to Hebrew school 50+ years ago, we went over all of this in a hurry I never really understood how Judaism developed from a Temple with sacrifices, to a modern worldwide book based religion. I never understood how the Jews came to leave Israel and went out into the world and carried down their belief in one G-d. This really helped me to understand my background. I feel more a part of the Jewish community now that I've heard this. I am an assimilated American Jew. I only know my great grandparents arrived in the USA as part of the great Jewish migration in the 1880 s to escape the Progrums. I cannot trace my history back beyond that. I do not know exactly where my great grandparents came from other than somewhere in Eastern Europe. I do not have any idea how their ancestors got to Eastern Europe other than to presume they came from the Iberian Peninsula after the Inquisition or understood how the Jews left Israel and came to settle in all of the Mediterranean countries. I never knew how a belief in one all knowing G-d was carried down for 2500 years. I wish I had heard this when I was in college.
What did you like best about this story?
It greatly enhanced my understanding of my Jewish background and gave me some insist into how Christianity developed.
Have you listened to any of Professor Isaiah M. Gafni’s other performances before? How does this one compare?
NO
If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?
N/A
Any additional comments?
NO
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10 people found this helpful
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- Russell Bernard
- 05-21-17
Judaism explained to the novice
I enjoyed these lectures very much. Isaiah Gafni brings these lectures to life. He has so much enthusiasm for his subject. I have listened to both of his lectures and I which he had one that delved in to the Old Testament. I would like the Jewish perspective to the Torah and the practices in the temple and deeper discussion of Abraham.
Being an LDS Christian I found the lecter about Harold fascinating and I understand the politics of the time when Jesus was born. I also understand the dispersion of the Jews much more ands that they where still a very cohesive group.
This lecture is well worth your time.
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2 people found this helpful
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- Michael Graham
- 07-30-21
Essential
This is essential information for the newcomer to Judaism, especially one who wants to understand the emergence of Rabbinic Judaism from its ancient roots. The professor is clear and engaging. The issues are still relevant. Give it a listen, even if you're not a beginner. You'll learn a great deal. Perhaps this course is especially helpful to Christians who want to understand how Judaism maintained continuity throughout its late and post-Biblical trials.
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- Elliot
- 04-10-20
Exceptionally articulate Israeli professor
As someone who is reasonably well versed in Talmud and Judaism, I was very impressed with Dr. Gafni's knowledge of the subject. One gets the impression that he grew up in a religious Jewish home and turned clinical academic later on. He is clearly very familiar with the Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek texts in their original languages. He also has a good grasp of Christian texts and history. As he attempts to assemble a cohesive history from these sources as well as the Qumran texts and fragments, he seems to give equal weight to all but less so to the Talmud and the writings of the Rabbis. This seems to stem from his academic stance and his being steeped in the world of Biblical criticism.
All in all, he does manage to show how Judaism evolved and makes an effort to stay clinical and focus on the facts. The only concern I would have is that his thesis is based on some underlying assumptions.
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4 people found this helpful
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- Kindle Customer
- 01-15-18
Great series!
Wonderful presentation ! Easy to follow! Very interesting! The information contained helped to understand the early years of Judaism which through so many trails and challenges still survives today.
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2 people found this helpful
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- Kim L. Bonsteel
- 02-04-23
Scholarly discussion
Presents an overview of the development of Judaism from earliest times, with a focus on the second temple period and the emergence of rabbinic Judaism as a replacement for temple worship, and prayer replacing animal sacrifice.
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