Barak S. Cohen - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Barak S. Cohen

Barak S. Cohen is a Professor of Talmud. His research and course of teaching is in the field of Intellectual History, focusing on Talmudic terminology and methodology. His academic work addresses also historical aspects of the Jews in Babylonia, such as the history of the schools, legal ties between Palestine and Babylonia, the chronology, and the Hierarchical relationship between the Sages.
Phone: 972-3-0547706020
Address: Department of Talmud
Faculty of Jewish Studies
Bar-Ilan University
Ramat-Gan 52900
Israel

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Books by Barak S. Cohen

In For Out of Babylonia Shall Come Torah and the Word of the Lord from Nehar Peqod, Barak S. Cohe... more In For Out of Babylonia Shall Come Torah and the Word of the Lord from Nehar Peqod, Barak S. Cohen reevaluates the evidence in Tannaitic and Amoraic literature of an independent “Babylonian Mishnah” which originated in the proto-talmudic period. The book focuses on an analysis of the most notable halakhic corpora that have been identified by scholars as originating in the Tannaitic period or at the outset of the amoraic. If indeed such an early corpus did exist, what are its characteristics and what, if any, connection does it have with the parallel Palestinian collections? Was this Babylonian Mishnah created in order to harmonize the Palestinian Mishnah with a corpus of rabbinic teachings already existent in Babylonia?
Was this corpus one of the main contributors to the forced interpretations and resolutions found so frequently in the Bavli?

This book consists of a systematic analysis of the halakhic/legal methodology of fourth and fifth... more This book consists of a systematic analysis of the halakhic/legal methodology of fourth and fifth century Nehardean amoraim in Babylonia. My analysis of this literature expands upon similar studies that I have published elsewhere concerning the methodology of Babylonian amoraim with whom I do not deal directly here. In those articles I described various distinct characteristics present in the halakhic decision making and source interpretation (Bible, Mishnah, baraitot, and early amoraic statements) ascribed to certain outstanding Babylonian amoraim. I documented how certain amoraim can be characterized as portraying consistent interpretive and legal approaches throughout talmudic literature and that this consistency is most evident in the discourse found in the Babylonian Talmud (Bavli).

Papers by Barak S. Cohen

Jewish Studies Quarterly (upcoming), 2023

The system of challenges raised against amoraic sages in the Babylonian Talmud is based on two co... more The system of challenges raised against amoraic sages in the Babylonian Talmud is based on two contradictory assumptions. The dialogue in the Bavli is based on the assumption that the amoraim enjoy similar levels of authority, and have a right to disagree with one another. Thus, in cases where a difficulty is presented against one amora from the statement of another amora, the Talmud will respond, “Are you casting the words of one against the other! (׳גברא אגברא קרמית?!׳)” However, this generally assumed principle is countered by more than 500 cases in with the Talmud does indeed raise a difficulty from the opinion of one amora against another amora of the same or earlier generation using expressions such as: (1) “But did R. X not say…?”
(והא אמר רב פלוני...!); (2) “Does the master not agree with what R. X said…?” (לא סבר לה מר להא דאמר רב פלוני...?).
In this article I will offer a full presentation of this thorny problem and suggest a new resolution. The results of this analysis lead to some new ways of understanding the difficulties raised in both the amoraic and stammaitic strata of the Babylonian Talmud, as well as the formation of certain trends in legal rulings that developed in Talmudic Babylonia.

Land and Spirituality in Rabbinic Literature A Memorial Volume for Yaakov Elman , 2022

Sidra 34, 2022

הבא לדון בדרכי פסק ההלכה בבבל בתקופת התלמוד, מיד מתעוררת לפניו הבעיה – שנתקשו בספרות הרבנית ובמחק... more הבא לדון בדרכי פסק ההלכה בבבל בתקופת התלמוד, מיד מתעוררת לפניו הבעיה – שנתקשו בספרות הרבנית ובמחקר המודרני - כיצד להסביר מאות מקרים בהם התלמוד מקשה מכוח דברי אמורא על אמורא אחר באמצעות הקושיה '[ו]הא אמר ר' פלוני...'? לכאורה, דבר פשוט הוא שאין דברי אמורא מחייבים את חבירו, ו'לא פרכינן מאמורא משום דאיכא למימר גברא אגברא קא רמית'. ואולם, כנגד זאת 'הרי מצינו בכל מקום דרמו גברא אגברא!'. שאלה זו מחריפה במקרים הכרוכים בקושי כרונולוגי, היינו, שבהם התלמוד מקשה מאמורא מאוחר על דברי אמורא מוקדם או אפילו מאמורא על תנא (מקור תנאי), או על פסוק. מאמר זה בוחן מחדש את ההצעות שהועלו בספרות הרבנית ובמחקר לתופעה זו. כמו-כן, ממחקר זה עולות תובנות חדשות העולות מן הקושיה האמוראית לעומת 'הסתמית' בבבלי, וכן באופן גיבושן של מגמות הפסיקה בבבל בתקופת התלמוד.

Revue des Études Juives 181, 2021

This study deals with the unique scholarly achievements of Wilhelm Bacher (1850-1913) from a vant... more This study deals with the unique scholarly achievements of Wilhelm Bacher (1850-1913) from a vantage point not discussed in earlier reviews of his work. Bacher’s monumental study, “Die Agada der Babylonischen Amoräer,” the crown of his scholarly achievements, discusses the contributions each individual amoraic sage made to the body of Jewish exegesis and legends. In this study, Bacher detailed the exegetical methodology employed by each amora. Such descriptions provided tools to the scholarly world not available prior to Bacher’s work. By understanding the methodology of each particular amora, Bacher was able to analyse the basis for many amoraic disputes concerning biblical exegesis. He also provided a more precise understanding of the terminology used to introduce these disputes. In addition, awareness of the typical behaviour of certain amoraim enabled him to determine correct readings in places where the textual evidence was ambivalent and to identify talmudic tradents whose identity was unclear. Moreover, the characterization of each amora’s world view formed an important basis to analyse aggadah in light of the Iranian culture and religion in which the Babylonian amoraic sages lived. Many scholars of the generations following Bacher advanced the model he formed, and even adopted many of his conclusions. His findings and the work of those who followed him highlight the significance of his contribution to talmudic scholarship and the enduring relevance of for modern scholars analysing the interpretive methodology employed in the Babylonian academies during the talmudic period.

Journal of Ancient Judaism 10, 2021

Journal of Jewish Studies 70, 2019

The historical reliability of tannaitic traditions transmitted by Amoraim in the two Talmudim is ... more The historical reliability of tannaitic traditions transmitted by Amoraim in the two Talmudim is one of the thorniest problems awaiting a Talmud scholar or historian researching the literature, legal and aggadic, of the Tannaim. Are these baraitot, introduced by the terms, "So-and-so taught” (תני רב פלוני) or "So-and-so taught in front of so-and-so" (תני תנא קמיה דפלוני), or "The Tanna of the house of so-and-so taught” (תנא דבי רב פלוני) authentic tannaitic traditions? Or are their transmission by Amoraim and the lack of the typical terminology used in the Bavli for baraitot (תניא, תנו רבנן) signs of a later, post-tannaitic origin?