Meanings of Death in Rabbinic Judaism

David Kraemer is Professor of Talmud and Rabbinics at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America in New York.

• 1 The presence of death 2 Jewish death customs before the rabbis 3 Early rabbinic death-practices: The evidence of the Mishnah 4 Early expansions and commentaries: The testimony of the Tosefta and Tannaitic Midrashim 5 Jewish death-practices in reality: The catacombs at Beth Shearim 6 Jewish death-practices in early Byzantine Palestine: The Yerushalmi and Aggadic Midrashim 7 Law as commentary: The Bavli on death and burial 8 The Bavli interprets the mourner 9 Post-Talmudic developments in Jewish death-practice 10 A personal theological postscript

'His analyses of the pertinent Rabbinic narratives as well as laws are systematic and cogent, a coherent set of questions coming to bear at each point in his presentation' - Jacob Neusner, The Jerusalem Post 18/02/00'This book contributes significantly to the growing interdisciplinary field of death studies...' - Douglas J. Davies, University of Durham, Journal of Semetic Studies'This book will be a source of enjoyment and inspiration to anyone interested in the encounter between Buddhism and Christianity and indeed in inter-religious encounter in general.' - 'Elizabeth J. Harris, Reviews in Religion and Theology'David Kraemer ... provides an interesting, yet highly critical academic insight into Jewish practices as expounded in rabbinic literature.' - Rabbi Martin van den Bergh, Mortality