Jacob Neusner
Distinguished Service Professor of the History and Theology of Judaism
Senior Fellow, Institute of Advanced Theology
Bard College
Annandale-on-Hudson, New York 12504
June 1, 2009
Professor Bruce D. Chilton
Director, Institute of Advanced Theology
Dear Bruce,
This is my annual report of scholarly and academic activities, including academic public service, for the academic year 2008-2009, specifically, June 1, 2008 through May 31, 2009.
Teaching:
Fall semester
Religion/Theology 104: Introduction to Judaism
Spring Semester: I had a sabbatical. This has been a very productive semester.
i would appreciate knowing the semester in which my next Sabbatical falls.
Supererogatory activities connected with teaching, at Bard and in public, in 2008-2009
On September 15 2008 I gave a session devoted to the Mishnah in Kristen Sheible’s course on Religious Writings.
Books Published From June 1, 2008, through June 1, 2009
In order of appearance of bound copies or proofs,
with date of reception indicated
I do not log in those titles that have gone to press in the period under review but that have not yet appeared in bound copies. These are listed in the academic year in which they are published in bound copies. I indicate the date I received the first bound copy of each item. The President and Dean receive copies of these items as they appear.
1, The Treasury of Judaism. A New Collection and Translation of Essential Texts of Rabbinic Judaism. Volume One. The Calendar. Lanham, 2008: University Press of America. Studies in Judaism series.
2. The Treasury of Judaism. A New Collection and Translation of Essential Texts of Rabbinic Judaism. Volume Two. The Life Cycle. Lanham, 2008: University Press of America. Studies in Judaism series.
3. The Treasury of Judaism. A New Collection and Translation of Essential Texts of Rabbinic Judaism. Volume Three. Theology. Lanham, 2008: University Press of America. Studies in Judaism series.
4. Theological and Philosophical Premises of Judaism. Boston, 2008: Academic Studies Press
5. Persia and Rome in Classical Judaism. Lanham. 2008: University Press of America. . Studies in Judaism series.
6. Understanding Judaism. 21 Talks on 7 Audio CDs. Bethesda, 2008: Now you know Media.
7. Analytical Templates of the Yerushalmi. Lanham. 2008: University Press of America. . Studies in Judaism series.
8. Chapters in the Formative History of Judaism Current Questions and Enduring Answers. Second Series. Lanham, 2009. University Press of America
9. Understanding Judaism. Twenty- one lectures on seven audio CDs. Bethesda, 2008: Now You Know Media.
10. Torah Revealed, Torah Fulfilled: Scriptural Laws in Formative Judaism and Earliest Christianity. With Baruch A. Levine and Bruce D. Chilton N.Y. & Edinbrough: T. & T. Clark
11. Editor: The Golden Rule: The Ethics of Reciprocity in World Religions N. Y. 2008: Continuum. Co-edited with Bruce D. Chilton.
12. Sifre Zutta to Numbers Lanham, 2008: University Press of America. Studies in JUDAISM series
13. Editor: The Golden Rule. Analytical Perspectives. Lanham, 2008: University Press of America. Studies in Religion series
14. In the Aftermath of Catastrophe: Founding Judaism. 70 to 640. Kingston and Montreal, 2009: McGill-Queen’s University Press.
15. Comparative Midrash: Sifre to Numbers and Sifre Zutta to Numbers. Two Rabbinic Readings of the Book of Numbers. I. Forms, Lanham, 2009: University Press of America.
16. Comparative Midrash: Sifre to Numbers and Sifre Zutta to Numbers. Two Rabbinic Readings of the Book of Numbers. II. Exegesis. Lanham, 2009: University Press of America.
The following items are revisions and reprints of the original edition published by the University of Chicago Press.
17. The Talmud of the Land of Israel. Translation and Commentary. The Second, Third, and Fourth Divisions. Peabody, 2009: Hendrickson Publishing Co. Second printing of The Talmud of the Land of Israel. An Academic Commentary. Also published as a CD. Berakhot and Shabbat
18. The Talmud of the Land of Israel. Translation and Commentary. The Second, Third, and Fourth Divisions. Peabody, 2009: Hendrickson Publishing Co. Second printing of The Talmud of the Land of Israel. An Academic Commentary. Also published as a CD.Erubin and Yoma Pesahim and Sukkah
19. The Talmud of the Land of Israel. Translation and Commentary. The Second, Third, and Fourth Divisions. Peabody, 2009: Hendrickson Publishing Co. Second printing of The Talmud of the Land of Israel. An Academic Commentary. Also published as a CD.Besah, Taanit, Megillah, Rosh Hashanah
20. The Talmud of the Land of Israel. Translation and Commentary. The Second, Third, and Fourth Divisions. Peabody, 2009: Hendrickson Publishing Co. Second printing of The Talmud of the Land of Israel. An Academic Commentary. Also published as a CD.Hagigah, Moed Qatan, Yebamot
21. The Talmud of the Land of Israel. Translation and Commentary. The Second, Third, and Fourth Divisions. Peabody, 2009: Hendrickson Publishing Co. Second printing of The Talmud of the Land of Israel. An Academic Commentary. Also published as a CD.Ketubot, Nedarim
22. The Talmud of the Land of Israel. Translation and Commentary. The Second, Third, and Fourth Divisions. Peabody, 2009: Hendrickson Publishing Co. Second printing of The Talmud of the Land of Israel. An Academic Commentary. Also published as a CD.Nazir, Gittin, Qiddushin
23. The Talmud of the Land of Israel. Translation and Commentary. The Second, Third, and Fourth Divisions. Peabody, 2009: Hendrickson Publishing Co. Second printing of The Talmud of the Land of Israel. An Academic Commentary. Also published as a CD. Sotah, Baba Qamma, Baba Mesia
24. The Talmud of the Land of Israel. Translation and Commentary. The Second, Third, and Fourth Divisions. Peabody, 2009: Hendrickson Publishing Co. Second printing of The Talmud of the Land of Israel. An Academic Commentary. Also published as a CD.Baba Batra, Sanhedrin, Makkot
25. The Talmud of the Land of Israel. Translation and Commentary. The Second, Third, and Fourth Divisions. Peabody, 2009: Hendrickson Publishing Co. Second printing of The Talmud of the Land of Israel. An Academic Commentary. Also published as a CD.Shebuot , Abodah Zarah, Horayot, Niddah
The following items are new translations, not reprints..
26. The Talmud of the Land of Israel. Peabody, 2009: Hendrickson Maaserot
27. The Talmud of the Land of Israel. Peabody, 2009: Hendrickson Maaser Sheni
28. The Talmud of the Land of Israel. Peabody, 2009: Hendrickson Hallah
29. The Talmud of the Land of Israel. Peabody, 2009: Hendrickson Orlah
30. The Talmud of the Land of Israel. Peabody, 2009: Hendrickson Bikkurim
31. The Talmud of the Land of Israel. Peabody, 2009: Hendrickson Terumot
32. The Talmud of the Land of Israel. Peabody, 2009: Hendrickson Peah
33. The Talmud of the Land of Israel. Peabody, 2009: Hendrickson Demai
34. The Talmud of the Land of Israel. Peabody, 2009: Hendrickson Kilayim
35. The Talmud of the Land of Israel. Peabody, 2009: Hendrickson Shebiit
36. Chapters in the Formative History of Judaism. Third series Historical Theology, the canon, Constructive Theology and other problems. Lanham, 2009. University Press of America.
Academic Articles Published in
Refereed Scholarly Journals, Dictionaries, Encyclopedias,
collections of scholarly essays and Festschriften
From June 1, 2008, through June 1, 2009
Off prints of all English-language items listed below have been filed
with colleagues & senior administration.
1. The Religious Meaning of the Torah. The Review of Rabbinic Judaism. Ancient, Medieval, and Modern 2008 11:1--32
2. Is Judaism a Traditional Religion? The Review of Rabbinic Judaism. Ancient, Medieval, and Modern 2008 11:100-138
3. The Golden Rule in Classical Judaism. The Review of Rabbinic Judaism. Ancient, Medieval, and Modern 2008 11:292-315
4. Review essay: Edward Kaplan, Abraham J. Heschel. Two volumes The Review of Rabbinic Judaism. Ancient, Medieval, and Modern 2008 11:316-324
5. From History to Hermeneutics. The Review of Rabbinic Judaism. Ancient, Medieval, and Modern 2008 11:200-227
6. The Golden Rule in Classical Judaism. The Golden Rule: The Ethics of Reciprocity in World Religions N. Y. 2008: Continuum, pp. 55-64.
7. “Testing the Results of Richard Kalmin: A Null Hypothesis Examined in the setting of Mishnah and Bavli Tractate Moed Qatan,” in Maven in Blue Jeans. A Festschrift in Honor of Zev Garber. Edited by Steven Leonard Jacobs. West Lafayette, IN, pp. 56-66.
ACADEMIC YEAR 2008-2009
Reviews of Scholarly Books
From June 1, 2008, through June 1, 2009
Off prints of all items listed below have been filed
with colleagues & senior administration.
These book reviews were written in the preceding academic year or in the present one. All were published on the indicated dates.
1. Bruce Chilton, Abraham’s Curse. Reviewed in the National Jewish Post June 11, 2008.
2. Edward Kaplan, Abraham J. Heschel. Two volumes. National Jewish Post June 25, 20008.
3. Jonathan Sachs, The Home We Build Together. The Review of Rabbinic Judaism. Ancient, Medieval, and Modern 2008 11:176-178,
4. Jonathan Cohen, Philosophers and Scholars. The Review of Rabbinic Judaism. Ancient, Medieval, and Modern 2008 11:178-179.
5. Bruce Chilton, Abraham’s Curse. Reviewed in the Long Island Jewish World, Sept. 26 2008 = Manhattan Jewish Sentinel, Sept. 26 2008 = Rockland Jewish Tribune, Sept. 26 2008
6. Bruce Chilton, Abraham’s Curse. The Review of Rabbinic Judaism. Ancient, Medieval, and Modern 2008 11:346-348
7. R. D. Gold, Bondage of the Mind. How Old Testament Fundamentalism Shackles the Mind and Enslaves the Spirit. The Review of Rabbinic Judaism. Ancient, Medieval, and Modern 2008 11:348-350.
1. A Rabbi Talks with Jesus. Second edition Montreal and Kingston, 2000: McGill-Queen’s University Press. And Ithaca, 2000: Cornell University Press. Spanish translation: Un rabino habla con Jesús. Edición revisada y aumentada con un epilogo. Introducción de José Miguel Garcia. Madrid, 2008: Ediciones Encuentro.
2, A Rabbi Talks with Jesus. Second edition Montreal and Kingston, 2000: McGill-Queen’s University Press. And Ithaca, 2000: Cornell University Press. Czech translation: Rabin mluvi s Jezisem. Brno, 2008: Barrister & Principal’
3. The Talmud. What It Is and What It Says. Lanham, 2006: Rowman and Littlefield. Italian translation: San Paolo press. 2008.
From June 1, 2008, through June 1, 2009
I am happy to call attention to reprints of prior publications of mine, which show a continued interest in the scholarly world in my work. In the past academic year I have succeeded in reprinting quite a number of backlist titles of mine.
1. Common Ground. A Priest and a Rabbi Read the Scriptures Together. Second edition, revised of the foregoing title. Cleveland, 1996: Pilgrim Press. Reprint: Eugene, OR 2005: Wipf and Stock. Reprint: Montreal and Kingston, 2008: McGill-Queens University Press. Paper bound reprint: Montreal and Kingston, 2008: McGill-Queens University Press.
2. A History of the Jews in Babylonia. Leiden: Brill, 1965-1970. I-V. Reprinted: Atlanta, 1999: Scholars Press for South Florida Studies in the History of Judaism. Now: Lanham, MD: University Press of America.. Reprinted Eugene OR 2008: Wipfs & Stock.
I. A History of the Jews in Babylonia. The Parthian Period. 1965. Second printing, revised, 1969. Third printing: Chico, 1984: Scholars Press for Brown Judaic Studies.
II. A History of the Jews in Babylonia. The Early Sasanian Period. 1966.
III. A History of the Jews in Babylonia. From Shapur I to Shapur II. 1968.
IV. A History of the Jews in Babylonia. The Age of Shapur II. 1969.
V. A History of the Jews in Babylonia. Later Sasanian Times. 1970.
Public Service
From June 1, 2008, through June 1, 2009
Academic Year 2008-2009 Articles Published in magazines and newspapers including letters to the editor, op-ed pieces and other newspaper and magazine book reviews, articles and columns of opinion, and WWW Presentations. Also: Reprinted articles
I define as “public service” acts of engagement with public issues beyond the bounds of the academy; or involvement in other-than-academic newspapers, magazines, and other publications.
Selected list. Off prints of items listed below
have been filed with colleagues & senior administration.
1. Beten fuer die Anderen. Freiburger Rundbrief 2008:210-213.
2. Intervista a Jacob Neusner, in Aspenia. Rivista di Aspen Institute Italia No. 42 2008 pp. 129-132. In Italian.
3. A Conversation with Jacob Neusner, in Aspenia. Review of the Aspen Institute of Italy. 2009. 41/42:84-86.
4. Interview in Le Figaro, Paris Printed in English in the National Jewish Post, May 14, 2009.
5. “From Dialogue to Trialogue,” National Jewish Post, April 29,2009. This is the first draft of the Miami lecture, which was pubished as a free-standing offprint by the Univerity of Miami.
6. “Un entretien avec Jacob Neusner,” Interview, Le Figaro Magazine, Paris, May 7, 2009, pp. 44-45.
7. Interview in Il Foglio. Printed in English in the National Jewish Post, May 27, 2009.
Academic Year 2008-2009 Lectures at Scholarly Meetings
and at Other Universities. Other Public Service at Bard College
From June 1, 2008, through June 1, 2009
1, “From Dialogue to Trialogue.” Jack Chester Memorial Lecture, Miller Center for Contemporary Jewish Studies, University of Miami
2. “From Dialogue to Trialogue,” Institute 0f Advanced theology, May 5, 2009.
Public Service Beyond the Academic Community in Academic Year 2008-2009
Interviews with reporters; answers to queries;
other contributions to public life
From June 1, 2008, through June 1, 2009
I receive a constant flow of e-mail inquiries as to facts of Rabbinic literature and scholarly issues on that subject. I do not log in the occasions.
On March 26 and 27 2009 I was interviewed for an hour and a half by David van Biema, TIME, for a story about the Pope’s visit to the Holy Land. Story appeared on May 8, 2009.
Academic Year 2008-2009Public Service to the Academic Community
Including On-Going Editorial projects
From June 1, 2008, through June 1, 2009
I continued my service in the following on-going projects, which take time on occasion, some more, some less.
1. Max Richter Foundation. Founder and president. The Foundation makes regular, small grants to projects in Judaic studies and in public health. This is in memory of my late father-in-law. In summer 2008 we closed the Foundation and transferred the assets to the Max Richter Fund at Bard College. Vice President Papadimitriou and Deborah Pemstein managed the project on Bard’s side.
2. Humanitas. Member of the Editorial Board.
3. Founder and Editor-in-Chief, Studies in Judaism. Rowman & Littlefield/University Press of America. This is a scholarly monograph series, which issues up to a dozen titles a year.
4. Founder and Editor-in-Chief, UPA Studies on Religion and the Social Order, published by University Press of America.
Sincerely,
Cc President
Vice President Papadimitriou
Dean Dominy
Professor Richard Davis, chair, Religion