Includes bibliographical references (pages 205-213) and index
This book examines the nature and sources of the unique authority accorded in Judaism to the Sages of the first five centuries AD. These teachers-often referred to reverentially as Chazal, a Hebrew acronym for "our Sages of blessed memory"--Occupy a central and unrivalled position in traditional Judaism. Their statements, collected in the vast corpus of Rabbinic literature, serve as the basis for Halakhah (Jewish law) which developed since the Babylonian Talmud was redacted over thirteen centuries ago. Berger critically examines the notion of the Sages' authority, laying bare the assumptions that undergird it and the implications that follow from it. Berger's purpose is not to justify specific normative claims about talmudic law, but to show the deeply nuanced concept of authority in a textual and interpretive tradition
The domains of divine revelation and rabbinic activity and their relationship -- Institutional authority of the Talmudic sages -- "The judge in charge at the time": rabbinic authority as divine command -- The sages as the Sanhedrin -- Ordination: standing in the sandals of Moses -- Personal qualities of the Talmudic sages -- The rabbis as experts -- The divinely guided sages -- Rabbinic authority as authority transformed -- The authority of publicly accepted practice -- The authority of texts -- Rethinking authority: interpretive communities and forms of life
