Research In: Religious Studies

Tanakh

The Tanakh (sometimes called the Hebrew Bible) is the holy scripture of Judaism. It contains the Torah (Five Books of Moses), Nevi'im (The Prophets), and the Ketuvim (Writings); Tanakh is an acronym of these three components. The Tanakh is shared by both the Jewish and Christian faiths; in Christianity, it is referred to as the Old Testament. 

For a helpful overview of the significance of the Tanakh, see

In the Library: 

At Holy Cross, we organize our books using a system called Library of Congress Classification or LCC. LCC is based on the subject of the books. Each letter represents a specific subject. Each subject is broken down into more specific letter sections, each of which is further broken down into number ranges for specific topics. Most call numbers have additional  numbers and letters on the end of them, which are used to give each book a unique spot on the library shelves. 

The Libraries own many different editions and translations of the Tanakh, most of which will be shelved with Christian Bibles and copies of the Old Testament. We have Bibles in the reference section for in-library use as well as in the stacks for you to check out. 

Suggested Resources: 

As noted above, there is significant overlap between the Tanakh and what is known in Christian tradition as the Old Testament. However, when consulting translations of the Tanakh, there are a few things you should keep in mind: 

• The different versions of what is known as the "Bible" can vary widely in terms of which original manuscript(s) were consulted, interpretation of the text, audience and other factors.
   
• The Roman Catholic Church considers the so-called deuterocanonical or apocryphal books of the Hebrew Bible to be 'canonical' and include these with other Old Testament books in their Bibles; however, these books are not considered part of the proper canon by many Protestant denominations, nor are they considered part of the Tanakh. 
   
• Study notes and other supplementary materials included in a Bible, as well as the translation itself, may be heavily influenced by the theology of a particular Bible's publisher and/or audience. For example, a Christian translation of the Book of Isaiah might include many notes connecting it to the Christian Gospels, which does not accurately reflect Isaiah's significance in a Jewish context. 

Where possible, it is recommended that you locate versions specifically created in the context of the Jewish faith, such as the Jewish Publication Society translations recommended on this page. 

References in the  Tanakh

When citing or referring to specific passages in the Tanakh, students and scholars, as well as faith communities, use a standard system of references. Almost all editions and translations of these texts use the same system of divisions and numbering, so that you can use the reference to find a particular passage no matter which version of the text you are using! Being able to read this system is crucial for interacting with ancient texts as well as secondary, scholarly sources about them.  

The example below shows how specific verses are usually cited. Other ancient texts, for example pseudepigrapha or the Dead Sea Scrolls, are referenced slightly differently. 

Most scholars also use a consistent system of abbreviations for the different books, manuscripts, etc. that make up our known versions of the Bible. You can find a list of these abbreviations in the SBL Handbook of Style: 

Midrashim, the Talmud & and Other Commentaries

Midrash (pl: Midrashim; "investigation") is a method of exegesis, or scriptural interpretation, and also refers to a series of commentaries using this method. Midrash began as an orally-transmitted method during the Second Temple Period (c.516 BCE to 70 CE) and was first written down by rabbis in the 3rd century CE. Within Midrash, the Halakh ("law") refers to legal, ritual and doctrinal interpretations, while Haggadah ("narrative") interprets stories and ideas contained with the Tanakh.  

The Talmud ("teaching") is a compilation of rabbinic discussion, teachings and interpretation compiled between the 1st and 7th centuries CE. It encompasses the Mishnah ("repeated study"), an orally-transmitted legal code which explains how the Tanakh is to be lived in the world; and the Gemara ("completion"), rabbinic discussions and interpretation which interpret the Mishnah, while quoting from Midrash and using a similar method of exegesis. 

Both Midrash and the Talmud, while not considered divinely inspired and not universally accepted, hold a significant place in the Jewish religious tradition. 

For a helpful overview of the history and significance of the Midrash and Talmudic literature, see: 

As with the Christian Bible, there also exist modern commentaries which hold less religious weight and are intended to assist students, scholars, and occasionally practitioners in working with Tankah more effectively. These kinds of commentaries will help you better understand what you are reading, and highlight important parts of the text which you should particularly pay attention to  and ask questions about it. 

In the Library: 

At Holy Cross, we organize our books using a system called Library of Congress Classification or LCC. LCC is based on the subject of the books. Each letter represents a specific subject. Each subject is broken down into more specific letter sections, each of which is further broken down into number ranges for specific topics. Most call numbers have additional  numbers and letters on the end of them, which are used to give each book a unique spot on the library shelves. 

Midrashim, Talmud literature and other commentaries will be located in the following sections: 
 

Suggested Resources - Midrashim & Talmud:

Suggested Resources - Other Commentaries: 

The Libraries own many different commentaries on the Bible.  The best series for study of the Tanakh, the JPS Commentary series, is located in the Main Reading Room's reference collection, alongside other highly-recommended Bible commentaries. Other commentary series are available in the stacks for you to check out. 

Jewish Law

Like other religious traditions, Judaism has developed its own legal traditions to guide life in a secular world. 

Halakhah (pl. Halakot, "the way to walk") encompasses civil, criminal, and religious law in the context of Jewish life. Halakhah as a legal system is variously based upon the Mitzvot ("commandments", found in the Torah) and the Talmud, including the Mishnah. Responsa literature (scholarly jurisprudence based on specific cases/questions of law) also plays an important role in Jewish law. 

While halakhah and its sources are universally important, the weight of halakhic authority and the way it is applied varies between different movements within Judaism. 

For a helpful overview of halakah's history and significance, see: 

In the Library: 

At Holy Cross, we organize our books using a system called Library of Congress Classification or LCC. LCC is based on the subject of the books. Each letter represents a specific subject. Each subject is broken down into more specific letter sections, each of which is further broken down into number ranges for specific topics. Most call numbers have additional  numbers and letters on the end of them, which are used to give each book a unique spot on the library shelves. 

Works on halakhah will be located as below. However, the source texts (Torah, Talmud, etc.) will be found at the places indicated on their respective sections of this guide. 
 

Note that Dinand Library does not have an extensive collection on halakhah.