THE TORAH IN THE MODERN JEWISH TRADITION
THE TORAH IN THE MODERN JEWISH TRADITION

Summary/Abstract: After destruction of the temple, Jewish medieval interpretation lacked a uniform centre. In the early Middle Ages, Jewish interpretation was marked by local and theoretical differences. The medieval Jewish interpretation of Scripture followed the tradition of midrash, and was also influenced by Arabic philosophy and education. At the beginning of the modern era, the Jewish communities were divided into three geographical and cultural areas. This division was significant, also for Bible study, because it determines the interval when thinking of a modern Europe of the West was supposed to undergo integration into all elements of Jewish society. In Eastern Europe, the Bible was understood as a bridge between Jews and Christians. In the Middle Ages, Jewish exegetes had responded to Christian study of the Hebrew Bible by various polemics and debates. Nowadays, Jewish scholars adhere to philosophical and historical discoveries which are also processed by Christian Biblicists and which becomes a stimulus of their studies.

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