"The editors set out to provide not the usual kind of introduction to early rabbinic literature but a collection of essays (written mainly by scholars from the United States) that includes approaches shaped by anthropology, gender studies, oral-traditional studies, classics, and folklore studies [...] Altogether an unusual set of studies, the complex and dense nature of many of which makes them more suited to specialists and researchers than to undergraduates and a wider readership" (from the Journal for the Study of the Old Testament review by S.C. Reif).

"An extremely valuable resource. Its great strength is that of providing an excellent concise treatment of so many texts and aspects of biblical interpretation in Rabbinic and (to a somewhat lesser degree) pre-Rabbinic Jewish literature. It will be a great resource for students who are beginning to investigate the field of midrash for the first time or who are interested in exploring some facet of midrash that they have not studied before" (from the Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society review by Roy Ciampa). See also the Journal for the Study of Judaism in the Persian, Hellenistic and Roman Period review by Migel Pérez Fernández. Adam Kamesar later published a Supplementary Bibliography in the Review of Rabbinic Judaism.

5 vols. "Each entry opens with An Outline of the Topic, describing the legal issues it comprises. The entry concludes with an Analysis: The Problematics of the Topic examining the problems peculiar to that particular law; ending with Interpretation: Religious Principles, probing onto the religious significance of the law. The net result is a very precise and clearly argued account, meticulously articulated in all its aspects and diversity. This approach makes the halakhah—a highly complex subject even for rabbinical students—fairly accessible and easy to handle" (from the Review of Rabbinic Judaism review by José Faur). See also the Catholic Biblical Quarterly review by Steven L. Jacobs.

2 vols. "Intended for the lay reader as well as the scholar or student, the Dictionary provides information, both concise and precise, not only about matters usually found in biblical dictionaries, but also, among other things, about customs, laws, holidays, prayers, blessings, rabbis, and sages belonging to the formative period of Rabbinic Judaism" (from the Biblical Archaeologist review by Paul-Hubert Poirier). See also the Journal of Theological Studies review by C.T.R. Hayward, the Restoration Quarterly review by Claude E. Cox, the Encounter review by Ronald J. Allen, the Reviews in Religion & Theology review by Gerard Norton, and the Choice review by D. Kranzler.

"This new gazetteer of Jewish settlements in pre-Islamic Iraq replaces Jacob Obermeyer's Die Landschaft Babylonien im Zeitalter des Talmuds und des Gaonats as the standard work on the subject [...] new resources, as well as a careful reexamination of already known classical and Arabic sources, contribute to the excellence of the present volume" (from the Journal for the Study of Judaism in the Persian, Hellenistic and Roman Period review by David Goodblatt).

See the Mnemosyne review by P. W. van der Horst.

Online resource. Encyclopedic work that identifies works from the Responsa Literature - rabbinic case-law rulings - and the Bible, the Talmud and their principal commentaries. In Hebrew.

"Engaging collection of stories of biblical heroes, talmudic scholars and hasidic rebbes [...] delves into these leaders' personalities and both wrestles with and celebrates their flaws" (from the Hadassah review by Lori Silberman Brauner: 85.5 (2004): 66).

"An extensive study of every rabbi in the Talmud [...] includes data of birth, education, occupation and a brief story about the rabbinic personality [...] the author chronicles the history and diversity of the oral law. Her research is excellent and her writing is superb [...] makes the difficult understandable and exciting. Any serious student of the Talmud should find this book invaluable" (from the AJL Newsletter: 4.4(1995): 5-6). See also Who's who in the Talmud by Alfred J. Kolatch: includes listing of the tractates, with some facsimile reproductions, a glossary, and a biographical dictionary.

"This hefty volume consisting of 800 and odd pages, contains nearly 90 biographical sketches of the lives of the most eminent rabbis mentioned in the Mishnah and the Talmud. Also included are historical accounts of the parties and sects who prevailed at the time and who formed the background to this crucial and creative period covering nearly 700 years [...] should prove to be a very useful book [...] particularly for those who give shiurim or making their first excursion into the TAlmud [...] It is, however, an uncritical work, no commentaries or detailed explanations are mentioned" (from the Eylah review by Morris Turetsky).

"A concise guide for the uninitiated to the entire rabbinic literature [...] succeeds in giving a quick and effective grasp of 'the lay of the land', providing ample references to standard important works in its endnotes for those wanting more details. It can be regarded as a condensed version of his Introduction to Rabbinic Literature" (from the Journal for the Study of the Old Testament review by M. Tso). See also the Expository Times review by James R. Davila, the Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society review by Lee M. Fields, the Calvin Theological Journal review by Michael James Williams, and the Review & Expositor review by Mark E. Biddle.

"A good beginning for those who wish to study Mishnah, midrash aggadah, and /or law codes and related literature [...] clearly written and the index, footnoes and list of references assist the student in taking the next step" (from the Association of Jewish Libraries Newsletter review by Merrily F. Hart). See also the Choice review by A. J. Avery-Peck, and the Library Journal review by Herbert E. Shapiro.

"Jewish law is characterised by conceptual categories that are often far from those of Western law: this book represents an outstanding attempt to illustrate and explain the creation and evolution of those categories in a way which is accessible to the non-specialist reader. The researcher who is not fluent in Hebrew will find the bibliographies at the end of each chapter extremely useful, as they refer to works on the subject in European languages" (from the International and Comparative Law Quarterly review by Guglielmo Verdirame). See also the American Journal of Legal History review by Samuel Morell, the Shofar review by Michael L. Satlow, and the Journal of Jewish Studies review by Yehiel S. Kaplan.

"For those who do not read Hebrew, or those who would like to know more about the talmudic sea before plunging into it, this book will prove extremely helpful [...] Organized under 3 rubrics--History, Structure and Content, and Method--and priority is given to the dispensing of basic information" (from the Commentary review by David Singer). See also the Journal of the American Academy of Religion review by Jacob Neusner.

"This systematic introduction to the Babylonian Talmud first considers the Talmud's formal qualities: the Bavli's one voice, its two languages, and its constituent elements--composition and composites. Then it examines how the Babylonian Talmud thinks: its intellectual character, and its dialectics. Finally it deals with the Babylonian Talmud and Judaism: the Talmud and the Torah, and the question of tradition" (from New Testament Abstracts).

"In many works, the author has argued that the Bavli, or Babylonian Talmud, sets forth an orderly world, resting on reason and tested by rationality, all in accord with consistent principles. In a two-part recapitulation of some of his monographs he spells out in detail the evidence that sustains this characterization of the writing" (from New Testament Abstracts).

"Will serve many as an engaging introduction explaining the unique quality of Talmud study and the secret of its attractions. One of its goals is to explain what the Talmud is and how it works [...] complements the companion work The Mishnah: Introduction and Reader [...] Recommended as an introduction to university students" (from the AJL Newsletter review by David B. Levy: XXIV.1 (2004): 21).

A scholarly guide to Jewish traditions from the Talmud.

"An extremely useful textbook for, as well as an introduction to, the study of the Talmud. Excellently presented, and comprehensively explained, it is a welcome addition to Rabbinic Studies" (from the Dialogue & Alliance review by Bernard Grossfeld). See also the Horizons review by David P. McCarthy.

"Especially useful for theologians, because the author systematically addresses the larger issues of the relationships among Scripture, Mishnah, Midrash, Talmud, authority, and the development of Jewish thought [...] For one who wishes to enter into Jewish thought in late antiquity, this book is a good entree" (from the Theological Studies review by Anthony J. Saldarini). See also the Calvin Theological Journal review by Kenneth Pomykala.

See the Journal of Theological Studies review by Nicholas R.M. De Lange, the Expository Times review by Fred Morgan, the Catholic Biblical Quarterly review by Anthony J. Saldarini, the Journal of the American Oriental Society review by Edward A. Goldman, the Vetus Testamentum review by J. A. Emerton, and the Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies review by S. B. Leperer.

A history of the collection of Jewish laws known as the Halakah.

"The book offers a serious educator a window into the minds of eight Talmud instructors, each of whom is wrestling with ways to help students make sense and meaning of the Talmud." (From the Journal of Jewish Education review by Dvora Weisberg)

"Altogether, the bibliography of sources and materials of Jewish law in English is a very helpful tool for anyone interested in the issues, history, development, and practice of Jewish law during various periods of time in Jewish communities in Israel and the Diaspora". (From the Journal of Law and Religion review by Catherine Hezser)

A guide to primary sources in the study of Jewish law.

"The three volumes of Rakover's bibliography are a landmark achievement. They give us a broad view of the extent of the writing in this field in the modern period [...] Rakover has placed in his debt every scholar, judge, or lawyer who wishes to study the Jewish law on a particular topic". (From the Jewish Quarterly Review article by Abraham M. Fuss)

See the Prooftexts review by Michael Fishbane.