Twentieth century European philosophical concepts assimilated in Talmud studies at the Hildesheimer Rabbinical Seminary in Berlin and at Yeshivat Siach Yitzhak in Israel

Abstract

Students who seek to study Talmud in the traditional Orthodox manner cus­tomarily do so at a yeshiva, as this is the fundamental method of Talmud studies in the yeshiva world, though at times the emphases vary. Talmud studies accompanied by academic studies is a level beyond that of traditional Talmud studies (though some would perceive it as a shortcoming). More innovative is Talmud studies accompanied by philo­sophical concepts. Indeed, from philosophers would not perceive this as an innovation, as some already employed this method of study in 20^th century Europe, for example E. Lévinas. But in the context of Orthodox Talmud studies, such as at the Hildesheimer Rabbinical Seminary in Berlin or at Yeshivat Siach Yitzhak, this is a significant innovation. The purpose of the article is to show the methods of Talmud instruction (reflected also in independent study) at these two institutions, as well as the philosophical concepts assimilated in these studies and their significance and contribution to understanding the Talmud and, as an outcome, also the different terms associated with the philosophical concepts.