Time and Process in Ancient Judaism

Note on Transliteration Introduction: Anthropological and Other Perspectives 1 Time-or its Absence-in Early Rabbinic Culture 2 Timing and Time-Reckoning 3 Calendar, Chronology, and History 4 Time and Ethics: From Antiquity to the Middle Ages 5 The Greeks and Jewish Hellenistic Culture 6 Jewish Culture and the Ancient Near East Concluding Remarks Bibliography Index

'This excellent, illuminating, insightful, perceptive, cogently argued, clearly written book is one of the most interesting books I have read in a long time, offering a new perspective on the world-view of ancient Judaism and its links with other cultures of the Near East of late antiquity. Stern casts his new wide and his findings are intriguing ... Readers may find this book a source of delight and astonishing breadth, one that they cannot put down. It makes an original contribution to the fields of Rabbinics and Jewish studies. It is also cross-disciplinary with the fields of philosophy, classics, history of ideas, history in general, and anthropology.' David B. Levy, H-Judaic 'A fascinating demonstration that there was no concept of time in ancient Judaism ... has huge implications for any understanding of historicalA" texts, and will impact on the understanding of sacred timeA", eschatology, and liturgy.' M. Barker, Society for Old Testament Study Book List 'This is a well-informed study raising issues of the degree of Hellenization of ancient Judaism, as well as links between Judaism and other ancient Near Eastern cultures.' Stephen D. Benin, Religious Studies Review ENDORSEMENTS 'Time and Process in Ancient Judaism is an original and sophisticated study of a subject that is of considerable importance for historians of the relationship of Jews to Graeco-Roman culture in late antiquity.' Martin Goodman

This illuminating study focuses on the absence of a concept of time in ancient Judaism, and the predominance instead of process in the ancient Jewish world-view. (Judaism)