The Terminology of Rabbinic Midrash: Annotated Database as a Key to Understanding Midrashic Interpretation

• In Event: Every Tag and Tag: Annotating Hard-to-Note Phenomena in Jewish Studies

Abstract

As the earliest running commentary on the Torah, Midrash plays a crucial role in As the earliest running commentary on the Torah, Midrash plays a crucial role in adjusting the biblical canon to fit the changing moral, cultural, and religious agendas and ideologies of its Jewish readers in various periods. Midrash is usually seen as a hectic, excessive, and even chaotic practice. Despite over two hundred years of scholarly study, the interpretive practices of Midrash remain enigmatic, preventing readers and scholars from recognizing the full significance of this unique and momentous textual phenomenon.

The ISF project, "A Database and Lexicon of the Terminology of Tannaitic Midrashim: A New Method," (headed by Prof. Ishay Rosen-Zvi) focuses on a comprehensive understanding of the hermeneutics of Tannaitic Midrash, a topic that has troubled scholars ever since the beginning of Wissenschaft des Judentums. Its method employs a data-driven approach grounded in the thorough annotation of Midrashic texts, with a particular emphasis on terminology. This project pays special attention to the tagging process, aiming to unveil the underlying structure and interpretative strategies of Tannaitic Midrash. By tagging Midrashic homilies both as complete units and in a higher resolution by terms and techniques, the project addresses the challenge of deciphering Midrash's "genome" and shedding light on its interpretive techniques. This presentation will highlight the significance of annotated databases in working on unanswered questions in the field.

Authors

• YANIR MARMOR

• Yaakov Kroizer, HUJI, TAU

• Hallel Baitner, Tel Aviv University