Jews and Muslims -- Do you have a preference ... - Page 2

[Bluegoat]

Originally Posted by SaraFR

Hopefully some other Jewish mamas who are more active in inter-faith dialogue will chime in and help out but till they do I guess I'll throw in an opinon.

Since we refer to it as the Torah, why not refer to it as the Torah. If you wish to specify not just the first five books of Moshe (Moses) but also the nevi'im (prophets) you can refer to it as the Tanach (or Tanakh). You can specify Talmud, commentaries or other aspects separately.

So, when a person says Tanach, that includes the Torah too? Does tha Torah have equal weight to the prophets or more? I assume commentaries and the like have less?

[Faliciagayle]

Tanakh is an acronym (?) for Torah (teaching), Nevi'im (prophets), and Ketuvim (writings)

so yes, the use of Tanakh will always include Torah.

[SaraFR]

Faliciagayle answered the Tanach question, it always includes the Torah. The Torah would have more "weight" than the nevi'im. It's hard to define the commentaries. The main commentaries we use such as Rashi, Rambam (Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon or Maimonidies), Ramban, etc... don't give "personal opinions" on the Torah. Many commentaries will explain using the Talmud, midrashim or Jewish tradition as the basis for the explanation. I hope that didn't confuse you more.

[hopefulfaith]

Originally Posted by SaraFR

The main commentaries we use such as Rashi, Rambam (Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon or Maimonidies)

I've read the word "Rambam" on websites geared toward Jewish scholars before & I've had no idea what they were talking about & I was way too shy to ask. 'Rambam' seems like kind of an affectionate nickname for Maimonides, is that right?

[Chavelamomela]

Originally Posted by hopefulfaith

'Rambam' seems like kind of an affectionate nickname for Maimonides, is that right?

Its an abbreviation for the first letters of his name: Rabbi Moses Ben Maimon. This type of abbreviation is very common in rabbinic scholarship.

[Note that Rambam, a 12th century scholar, shouldn't be confused with the Ramban or Nachmanides (Rabbi Moses ben Nachman), a 14th century scholar who often disagreed with the opinions of the Rambam!]

[Bluegoat]

Originally Posted by hopefulfaith

I've read the word "Rambam" on websites geared toward Jewish scholars before & I've had no idea what they were talking about & I was way too shy to ask. 'Rambam' seems like kind of an affectionate nickname for Maimonides, is that right?

What do people think of Maimonides these days? I remember touching on him briefly in a medieval philosophy class, but seem to recall that he fell out of favour at some point among Jewish scholars?

[merpk]

Originally Posted by SaraFR

For the record, modern Hebrew is different than Biblical Hebrew.

Modern Hebrew is different than Biblical Hebrew in the same way that Modern English differs from Chaucerian English.

If you speak the modern version, you can work your way through ye olde version.

[Chavelamomela]

Originally Posted by Bluegoat

What do people think of Maimonides these days? I remember touching on him briefly in a medieval philosophy class, but seem to recall that he fell out of favour at some point among Jewish scholars?

There are many schools of thought, but all contemporary scholars and students have a great respect for his works.

His "Guide for the Perplexed" (Moreh Nevuchim) was controversial in his time. It was a response to the popular Aristotalian philosophy of his time and is written in a similar fashion, which was very different from traditional rabbinic literature. It did cause a controversy in that era, but that sentiment was short-lived.

[Smokering]

*cough* So, er, how do you pronounce "Tanakh"?

[SaraFR]

Originally Posted by merpk

Modern Hebrew is different than Biblical Hebrew in the same way that Modern English differs from Chaucerian English.

If you speak the modern version, you can work your way through ye olde version.

Oh, I didn't mean to imply it was a completely different language. Thank you for clarifying.

I'm looking to include more modern Hebrew into my son's day just so he'll have an easier time with biblical Hebrew. I just wanted to point out that they are not the same thing with regards to common expressions, grammar, etc...I've heard it's rather funny watching non-Israeli biblical Hebrew familiar people come to Israel and watching them try to use it to modern day Israelis.

[mammal_mama]

Originally Posted by Chavelamomela

So I repeat, to offend the fewest people, and which is the custom of biblical scholars, you can use the terms "Hebrew Bible" to refer to the "OT" in inter-religious discussion and "Christian Bible" to refer to passages exclusively NOT in the Hebrew Bible, found in the NT.

Now I'm thinking I've come full-circle -- back to "Hebrew Bible" and 'Christian Bible" -- even though I like the word "Tahakh," I'm thinking I need to get in the habit of saying the same thing with everyone, or I'll forget "what" to say, LOL. And I think using "Tanakh" with Christians would have everyone going "huh?" and thinking I was trying to be impressive and "educate" them or something.

[Faliciagayle]

Originally Posted by Smokering

*cough* So, er, how do you pronounce "Tanakh"?

take it away, Merpk

with a hard, gutteral kh (or ch as it's more commonly seen in english) sound.

like l'chaim or chanukkah etc etc etc



Or, you could legitimately just say Tanak and I think you'd be fine in most circumstances.

[hopefulfaith]

Originally Posted by Chavelamomela

Its an abbreviation for the first letters of his name: Rabbi Moses Ben Maimon. This type of abbreviation is very common in rabbinic scholarship.

[Note that Rambam, a 12th century scholar, shouldn't be confused with the Ramban or Nachmanides (Rabbi Moses ben Nachman), a 14th century scholar who often disagreed with the opinions of the Rambam!]

Thanks, Chavi! This is good to know.

[Smokering]

FaliciaGayle: Thanks! It's all very well online, but it occurred to me the other day that in a real-life conversation I'd be up the creek without a paddle. Happens to me often enough with English.

As a Christian I'm not too keen on "Christian Bible" for the NT. "Hebrew Bible" makes sense for the OT... what about "Greek/Aramaic Scriptures" for the NT, or is that too cumbersome?