Arba'ah Turim
Also called the Tur. One of the three great codes of Jewish law of the Middle Ages; its four-part structure became the skeleton of the Shulchan Aruch.
Read online ↗Reference
Rabbinic Works
The classical rabbinic library at a glance: what each work is, where it arose, and where to begin reading.
Avot D'Rabbi Natan
A commentary on an early version of the mishnaic tractate Avot, printed among the 'minor tractates' after the Talmud. Early material, later redaction.
Read online ↗Babylonian Talmud
The expansive discussion of the Mishnah developed in the Babylonian academies, and the central text of rabbinic Judaism. See Talmud.
Read online ↗Exodus Rabbah
The midrashic collection on the Book of Exodus; late in its editing, but carrying far older teachings.
Read online ↗Genesis Rabbah
The midrashic collection on the Book of Genesis, and one of the earliest of the classical midrashim.
Read online ↗Guide for the Perplexed
Maimonides' great philosophical work, written in Arabic and known in Hebrew as Moreh Nevukhim.
Read online ↗Jerusalem Targum
An Aramaic translation of the Torah incorporating midrashic material. Sometimes called Targum Jonathan, but that attribution is mistaken.
Read online ↗Kallah Rabbati
A post-talmudic 'minor tractate.' Two of its ten chapters treat marriage; the rest is ethical and theological. Scholars disagree sharply on its date.
Read online ↗Leviticus Rabbah
The midrashic collection on the Book of Leviticus, built as a series of finished sermons.
Read online ↗Mekhilta D'Rabbi Ishmael
A midrashic work on Exodus. Its major sections include Pisha (the laws of Pesach, Exodus 12-13), Bahodesh (the revelation at Sinai, Exodus 19-20), and Shirata (the Song at the Sea, Exodus 15).
Read online ↗Mekhilta D'Rashbi
A compendium on Exodus reflecting the school of Rabbi Akiva, reconstructed only recently. 'Rashbi' is Rabbi Shimon ben Yohai, to whom it is ascribed.
Read online ↗Midrash on Psalms
Also known as Midrash Shoher Tov. Interprets the verses of each psalm; some sections may be as late as the 13th century.
Read online ↗Midrash Tanhuma
Its distinctive style was imitated by later collections that took its name.
Read online ↗Mishnah
The collection of rabbinic teachings edited in the Land of Israel, organized by subject and covering both ritual and civil law. Both Talmuds are expansive discussions of it.
Read online ↗Mishneh Torah
The first code to arrange halakhah topically, and one of the three major codes of the Middle Ages.
Read online ↗Netivot Shalom
The teachings of the Slonimer Rebbe, read well beyond Hasidic circles. Still in copyright; no free full text online.
Numbers Rabbah
A midrashic commentary on Numbers, largely built from earlier midrashic material.
Read online ↗Pesikta D'Rav Kahana
Sermonic material for the festivals and special Shabbatot, organized by the occasions of the year.
Read online ↗Pirkei Avot
The tractate of ethical and spiritual teachings, attributed to sages from Second Temple times through the age of the Mishnah. Its sixth chapter is a later addition.
Read online ↗Pirkei D'Rabbi Eliezer
A mystical midrash retelling the Torah's narratives, ascribed to the second-century sage Rabbi Eliezer ben Hyrcanus.
Read online ↗Seder Eliyahu Rabbah
The larger book of the mystical midrash Seder Eliyahu, also known as Tanna D'Vei Eliyahu.
Read online ↗Seder Eliyahu Zuta
The shorter companion book of Seder Eliyahu. See Seder Eliyahu Rabbah.
Read online ↗Seder Olam Rabbah
A chronology of Jewish history from creation to the Bar Kokhba revolt, and the basis of traditional Jewish dating.
Read online ↗Sefer B'nei Yisakhar
The main written work of this Hasidic master, arranged around the months and festivals of the year.
Read online ↗Semahot
Devoted chiefly to the laws of mourning; its name, 'joys,' is a deliberate euphemism.
Read online ↗