Questions tagged [authorship]
Questions pertaining to authorship.
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The Origins of the Zohar - Why is it accepted as being true?
I've read arguments and counter arguments for the origins of the Zohar and I'm perplexed.
I personally accept the truths in kabbalah and chassidut, but I didn't realize how the Zohar sort of just "...
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What does Avot 6:6 mean when it invokes redemption?
The last element of the list of forty-eight habits of Torah-acquisitive people in Avot 6:6 is, unlike the previous forty-seven, presented with a statement about its particular positive consequences:
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Is there a place for the documentary-hypothesis in observant Judaism?
The documentary-hypothesis implies that Moses wasn't the writer of the Torah verbatim, but he could have transmitted it before it was written down. Evidence in the text shows several sources and that ...
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Did the Men of the Great Assembly Canonize Tanach?
Many Jewish websites, (Aish, Jewish History, Ou), state that the the Men of the Great Assembly finalized the contents of Tanach in the early Second Temple Period. No source is brought to support this ...
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Why does the authorship of the Zohar matter?
I've seen and heard a lot of controversy about the authorship of the Zohar, but it isn't quite clear to me that it matters. The nearest theory I can come up with is that if the Zohar is by Rashbi, ...
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Potential issue with Theory on Divine Origins of Judaism?
The core of a theory is that since Judaism is based on events witnessed by something like 3,000,000 Jews, it is true, while other religions rely on an individual or a few individuals who experienced a ...
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Who wrote the anonymous explanations of Rashi printed within the text of Rashi?
Who wrote the anonymous explanations of Rashi printed within the text of Rashi? Sometimes when reading Rashi's commentary on the Torah one finds comments in parentheses that say things such as:
ס"א, (...
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Other Major Jewish Books Whose Authorship is in Dispute beside the Zohar
I have seen various discussions over time arguing about who wrote the Zohar.
In one discussion a person arguing for the side that the Zohar was written by Moses de Leon stated that one interesting ...
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Who is the author of the 5th parek of pirkei avot?
Most of pirkei avot is very specific about attribution of various ethical teachings, with the notable exception of the 5th parek, mishnayot 1-19, which are all anonymous.
Is there a tradition of who ...
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Did R' Moshe de Leon write the Zohar
Although "traditionally" ascribed to Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai zt"l, the Zohar has been beset with controversy about its authorship since it was discovered and published by R' Moshe de Leon. Notably ...
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Sources in Rishonim on the Authenticity of the Zohar
Are there any early contemporary discussions from the time of the revelation of the Zohar among recognized Rishonim about its authenticity?
I mention "among recognized Rishonim" because I am aware ...
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Who is the author of Tehilim 137?
Who is the accepted author of Psalm 137, and if it was David Hamelech, then is it accepted as a prophecy?
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Who was the author/compiler of the Ikkar Tosfos Yom Tov?
I've noticed when learning Mishnayos that with the more basic layouts consist of the Mishna and the commentaries of Rav Ovadia M'Bartenura and the Ikkar Tosfos Yom Tov.
It is known that Rav Yom-Tov ...
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Who is the author of the Pirush on the first four chapters of Rambam's Hilchos Yesodei HaTorah?
The first four chapters of Hilchos Yesodei HaTorah have a lengthy commentary that is titled simply "פירוש". In standard editions of the Rambam, it wraps around the text, facing the "כסף משנה" (see ...
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Who authored the three hagahos in Rosh HaShanah?
In Rosh HaShanah 11b, at the top of the page in the standard Vilna style printings, is a marginal gloss introduced with the word הג״ה. There is another, introduced with the same word, on the right-...
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Who wrote the Aramaic translation for Psalms and when?
The Talmud in Migila specifies that no translation (Targum) for the Ktuvim was written since although Rabbi Yonatan Ben Uziel wanted to, he was told not to do so:
עוד ביקש לגלות תרגום של כתובים ...
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Are there traditional Orthodox websites that counter thetorah.com?
thetorah.com promotes arguments for the view that the Torah (and other books of Tanach) were written by multiple authors over a long period of time. They do this while still seeing themselves under ...
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Who authored the 13 Ani Maamin's?
The Rambam in his Hakdama to his Pirush on Perek Chelek in Mesechtas Sanhedrin mentions the points of belief a Jew must have. To the best of my knowledge these are the basis of the well-known ...
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Who wrote the verse near the end of the story about Mahn in Shmot 16:35?
I am aware that the Talmud discusses a debate as to who wrote the last few verses in the Torah about Moses's death.
Near the end of the story about mahn, in Shmot (Exodus) 16:35, the verse says that ...
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Do Jews view Scripture as the "word of God"?
I am curious whether Jews view Scripture (i.e. the Tanach) as "the word of God," and if so, in what way? Is it "inspired" by God? Is it a "product of the Spirit of God"? Is God the "Author"? [etc.]
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Why might we think that Moses did not write Parashat Bil'am?
In Bava Basra 14b, a ברייתא is quoted as saying "Moshe wrote his book (i.e. the Pentateuch), Parashat Bil'am, and [the Book of] Iyov." Why did the ברייתא even raise the issue of Moshe's authorship of ...
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Did Rashbi Write the Zohar?
In my experience, many religious Jews think that Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai wrote the book we have today called the Zohar.
The Zohar is a Jewish work of mysticism that was published in the 13th century. ...
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Why do Jews believe the entire Torah, as opposed to parts or most, was given by God to Moses?
It is the Rambam's 8th Principle of Faith that the entire Torah (possibly except the last several verses) was dictated by God to Moses. Why do we believe that? Why, for example, can't we say that the ...
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Sefer Torah Lishma **not** from the Ben Ish Hai?
Yabia Omer vol. 9 Orah Haim sim. 96:
גם ראיתי בקובץ "משנת חכמים", (תשרי תש"ס), במאמר מאת הרה"ג עזריאל מנצור (עמוד לה) שכתב, ששאל על זה מאת הרה"ג יעקב מוצפי זצ"ל, ואמר לו, שספר "תורה לשמה" אינו לרבי ...
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Where can I find the Chasam Sofer's poems?
According to the Jewish Encyclopedia, the Chasam Sofer wrote several poems. Where can I find them? I've been unable to do so.
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Authorship of Rashi's Bible commentary
Besides for the commentary on Divrei Hayamim (which as noted here was not written by Rashi), is the authorship of any of the commentaries to the Bible attributed to Rashi disputed?
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What sources did Moshe Rabbeinu use to write the Torah?
I was asked this question the other day by someone and didn't know how to answer him. How did Moshe Rabbeinu know the stories of Adam Harishon and Chava? What about Avraham Avinu, Yitzchak Avinu and ...
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Who wrote the Piskei Tosfos?
After the section of Gemara in most sefarim, before the Rosh there is a section of the Piskei Tosfos. Who authored this work?
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Is it true that a certain book of the Tanach was rewritten because it was lost?
I remember being told that a certain book in the Tanach had to be rewritten after it was lost during the Kings period. Is it considered true? If it is, are there mekorot/academic sources for this?
I ...
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Authenticity of Maggid Mesharim
The title says it all: what do various sources say regarding the authenticity of the Meggid Mesharim; a book supposedly containing angelic revelations to R. Joseph Karo. Did R. Karo really write it?
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What is the origin of the song Echad Mi Yodeya?
Who is the author or what is the origin of the song commonly found in the haggadah called Echad Mi Yodeya?
user5092
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Rashi Script in Aruch Hashulchan
In my edition of the Aruch Hashulchan, there is often a paragraph that has Rashi script written inside brackets (see pic). What is the Rashi script? Is it the mechaber or someone/something else? I ...
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Who wrote/compiled Rashi on the Rif
In Rashi on the Rif?, a number of questions are posed about this commentary, however, there is one big question still remaining:
Who actually wrote or compiled this Peirush? Was it Rashi himself, ...
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Who authored the Tanach?
According to traditional Jewish thought, who authored the twenty-four books of the Tanach?
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Source for Chasam Sofer quote about Zohar
What is the source for the Chasam Sofer having said (regarding the Zohar), "If we could sift the book and keep only what R’ Shimon Bar Yochai wrote, it would be a very very thin book. You would only ...
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Authorship of Mevo Hatalmud
Who authored the Mevo Hatalmud? It is commonly assumed to have been authored by R. Shmuel Hanagid, and this is assumed by R. Ishtori Haparchi in his Kaftor Vafreach (ch. 5) and by the Chida in Shem ...
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Did the Beit Yosef Write Every Siman in Shulchan Aruch?
At the end of this video, Rabbi David Bar-Hayim makes the claim that not every Sif in Shulchan Aruch (as it is before us) was written by the Beit Yosef himself (Rabbi Yosef Karo). He says that parts ...
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Who composed THIS melody for Shoshanat Ya'akov?
For my latest lesson video on Jewish Music Toronto, I did the song Shoshanat Ya'akov. I'm really happy with how the video came out, especially because I got to reference the Mi Yodeya community a ...
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"Biur Sheimot Kodesh ve-Chol leha-Rambam" Authentic?
I just came across a work called ביאור שמות קדש וחול which is attributed to the Rambam--see, e.g., here. Is this an authentic work of the Rambam? What is known about it? I found the work on ...
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Who wrote Deuteronomy?
I know this has been covered by many commentators in the past, and here also, but I am still looking for a clear resolution of the ambiguities.
Who wrote the Book of Deuteronomy? Does Tradition ...
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Rambam on Megilas Esther
There is a book seen here which purports to be the exegesis of the Rambam on the Book of Esther. I can't seem to find any information on the Rambam having ever written such a work.
Question:
a)...
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How did it happen that the m'chaber came to be called that?
The author of Shulchan Aruch, in his capacity as the author of Shulchan Aruch, is often called "the m'chaber", or "ham'chaber", literally "the composer" or "the author". (Obviously, many authors are ...
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Who wrote the Haggada?
Who wrote our haggada? Was is a tanna, amora or reishon?
I've heard different rumors from different people. Some say Rashi compiled it. Some say it was a tanna while others say it was an amora.
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When beseeching God, why does the kohein gadol appeal to "the torah of Moshe" and not directly to "your torah"?
Yoma 6:2 reports what the kohein gadol says over the goat to be offered:
“Please, ‘Hashem’! They have done wrong, they have transgressed, they have sinned before You, Your people the House of ...
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According to the opinions that Iyov did not live in the days of Moshe, who wrote his Sefer?
Bava Basra 15a-b lists a number of opinions as to when Iyov lived:
R' Levi bar Chama: In the days of Moshe
Rava: In the days of the Meraglim
Unnamed student of R' Shmuel bar Nachmani: Iyov never ...
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What is the status of the "minor tractates"?
There is a collection of "minor tractates" some of which contain material not found in other works of torah sh'baal peh (the oral law). What is the origin of these tractates? Who wrote/compiled them? ...
user2110
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Who wrote the "pirush" on the book of Mada of the rambam [duplicate]
I am learning the book of Mada of the rambam. The publisher is "hozaat shabse frankel Ltd."
On the outer side of the page there is an explanation called "pirush".
I tried to find out who wrote it ...
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How do I know if a midrash is accepted?
I have found many different types of midrashic works. Some are, as far as I can tell, accepted as being authoritative. Meaning they were written (compiled?) by the sages in roughly the Talmudic era. ...
user2110
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Targum Pseudo-Jonathan in Rabbinic Literature
The Gemara Megillah (3a) implies that Onkelos translated just the Chumash, whereas Yonattan ben Uzziel translated just Nevi'im:
וא''ר ירמיה ואיתימא רבי חייא בר אבא תרגום של תורה אונקלוס הגר אמרו ...
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Who is the author of Gott Fun Avrohom?
Gott Fun Avrohom (Yiddish: גאט פון אברהם) is a prayer written primarily in Yiddish and in some Ashkenazi communities it is recited by women before Havdalah. (Sometimes it is also recited by men as ...
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