The (Im)possibility Of Separating Rabbinic Texts Into Literary Genres: Form Analysis and Text Linguisticslysis and Text Linguistics

Authors

Rivka Ulmer, Bucknell UniversityFollow

Publication Date

2025

Description

This paper analyzes rabbinic homiletic texts from the perspective of form analysis in combination with text-linguistic theories. My study indicates that, from the perspective of functional considerations, it is not meaningful to lift small literary forms from a coherent text that depends on a co-text to create meaning. Additionally, the concepts of genre and parable need to be abandoned and replaced by text-type and mashal. The form-analytical description of rabbinic homilies is based on research performed at the Institute of Judaic Studies in Frankfurt am Main. The text-linguistic concepts are based on strict formalizations that demonstrate textual relations.These theories were applied to rabbinic homilies that are found in the Pesiqtot and the Tanhuma-Yelammedenu literature. A case study focuses on Pesiqta Rabbati 30 on Isaiah 40:1 Comfort, comfort My people, says Your God (Isaiah 40:1), a haftarah reading after the Ninth of Av.

Journal

Jewish Studies Quarterly

Volume

32

Issue

1

First Page

1

Last Page

23

Second Department

Religious Studies

DOI

10.1628/jsq-2025-0002

Recommended Citation

Ulmer, Rivka. "The (Im)possibility Of Separating Rabbinic Texts Into Literary Genres: Form Analysis and Text Linguisticslysis and Text Linguistics." (2025) : 1-23.