“The midrash does not invent: he reveals what was always hidden in the text.” — Maximum hermeneutics jewish

1) What it is and why it matters

The Midrash HaGadol it is a great collection and reprocessing of materials midráshicos on the Torah (Pentateuch). Their distinctive feature is the amalgam from very diverse sources (tannaíticas, talmudic, geónicas and post-talmudic) integrated in a Hebrew prose, clear, without always cite the sources, which gives it a value encyclopedic and, at the same time, requires critical reading.

2) Authorship, date and place

• Authorship: Current research attributes the work to David ben Amram (bar Amram) Adaniwise yemeni associated with Aden. During a time circulated alternative hypotheses (e.g., Abraham Maimonides), now rejected by the majority of scholars.
• Place: Yemen (area of Aden), within the rabbinic tradition yemeni.
• Chronology: Between century XIII and XIV. Some references placed the compilation in the XIII; the other, in the XIV. The fork XIII–XIV is the most prudent.

3) the Structure and scope

• Coverage: Comment midráshico on the five books of the Torah, organized according to the parashot weekly. Each section is open with a preface poetic rimado own Adani.
• Editions of classic books:
  • Genesis: ed. S. Schechter (1902); then ed. critical M. Margulies (Mossad Harav Kook, 1947).
  • Exodus: ed. partial D. Z. Hoffmann (1913); later editions in Jerusalem.
  • Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy: eds. E. N. Rabinowitz, S. Fisch and other (s. XX), culminating in the series of Mossad Harav Kook (edition in five volumes).

4) Sources that integrates

The compiler fuses materials:

• Midrashim tannaíticos: Mekhilta of R. Ishmael, Sifrá, Sifré, Mekhilta of R. Shimon b. Yochai, Sifré Zuta, and collections today lost in their original form (e.g., parts of the Mekhilta of Rashbí be reconstructed to a large extent thanks to the HaGadol).
• Talmudes: Babylonian and Jerusalem.
• Targumes and literature geónica / post-talmudicin addition Maimonides (e.g., Mishné Torah), and, on occasion, material kabbalistic. Usually do not give explicit reference, the singular characteristic of the work.

“The Midrash HaGadol is the mirror where Yemen reflected throughout the Torah.” — Academic tradition modern Adani

5) literary Features and method

• Language and style: Hebrew fluid, with proemios poetic at the start of each parashah; combines aggadá (narrative/theological) with selections halájicas when it is relevant.
• Technique: Recomposed and re-contextualizes parts are pre-existing to build thematic units for parashah; the result is a new creation where sometimes it is difficult to determine the precise origin of each passage.
• Hermeneutic function: Contemporary studies highlight its value as midrash late that accentuates resources rhetorical/poetic in addition to the exegesis.

6) Transmission, “discovery” and modern manuscripts

Although known in Yemen, the HaGadol breaks in european scholarship at the end of the NINETEENTH century thanks to Jacob Saphir (who saw the manuscripts in the hands of the leading Rabbi of Yemen and took one to Jerusalem/Berlin in 1878), and then by the work of Schechter and Hoffmann, which started its publication. Are known today hundreds of manuscripts in public and private collections.

7) How to use it critically

• Historical value-text: It is a source of the first importance to recover midrashim lost or old variant (e.g., Mekhilta of Rashbí), but should not be used uncritically due to their tendency to quote and mix materials of different periods.
• Practical criteria:
  1. Confront passages with parallels in Mekhilta/Sifrá/Sifré, Midrash Rabbah, Pesikta de Rav Kajana and Pesikta Rabbatí. 2) Verify dependencies of Mishné Torah when the language to suggest it. 3) Distinguish aggadá (predominant) dating halájicas incorporated.

8) Themes and theologies frequent

• Theology of providence and merit/fault;
• Figures patriarchal as ethical models;
• Symbolism of sanctuary/rituals;
• Emphasis on moral and community typical of the midrash late;
  These lines arise from their mounting of classical sources yemeni and universal, and tone homiletical from the compilation. (Panorama derived; for the critical apparatus, see editions and studies cited.)

“The wise do not question what the text says, but what the text is silent.” — Hermeneutical principle classic

9) Example of dependency maimonídea

Modern editors have pointed out verbal parallels between the passages of the HaGadol and Maimonides (e.g., descriptions of the ketóret in Exodus), evidence that Adani used Mishné Torah as source.

10) Editions and access recommended

• Mossad Harav Kook (Jerusalem): editions of Genesis (Margulies, 1947) and other volumes; the basis of serious work with variants of manuscripts.
• Historical publications: Schechter (1902, Genesis), Hoffmann (1913, Exodus).
• Reviews of reference: Encyclopaedia Judaica (input “Midrash Ha-Gadol”, available at Jewish Virtual Library and Encyclopedia.com).
• Context yemeni / catalogs: Libraries and catalogues of manuscripts (e.g., NLI; Digital Scriptorium).
• Conceptual framework of the genre (to be placed): Introductions to the Midrash (e.g., portals Sefaria).

11) State of the research

• Current consensus in attribution David b. Amram Adani and origin yemeni.
• Lines recent: analysis rhetorical-poetic the midrash late; study of intertextuality with sources tannaíticas and with Maimonides; reconstruction of lost traditions from the HaGadol.

“The Midrash is the breath of the sacred text; without it, the letter would be stone.”

12) How to “read” the Midrash HaGadol today (guide in 6 steps)

1. I chose the parashah you are interested in and check the critical edition corresponding.
2. Pinpoint reasons (e.g., hospitality of Abraham, faith, shrine, social justice).
3. Source tracking: compare with Mekhilta/Sifrá/Sifré, Midrash Rabbah, Pesiktot and the Talmud.
4. Detectá loans maimonídeos or other post-talmudic.
5. Anotá variants manuscripts when editing the source (the editions of Mossad Harav Kook include device).
6. Conclusion critical: diferenciá exegesis old of edit/compile medieval.