Prof. Emmanuel Friedheim

Professor Emanuel Friedheim's Publicatitons

2006: E. Friedheim, Rabbinisme et paganisme en Palestine romaine – Étude historique des Realia talmudiques (Ier-IVème siècles), Religions in the Graeco-Roman World 157, Brill Academic Publishers, Leiden – Boston. Link

"This study displays an impressive erudition, as the footnotes attest, and provides a welcome analysis of important material by an expert in Talmudic studies. Combining archaeological, papyrological, epigraphical, and literary sources, it constitutes a gold mine of information for students of ancient religions. It also provides innovative solution to historical problems posed by enigmatic passages of the Talmud on pagan cults (e.g., the identification of the “breastfeeding woman” [199–241]) … In general, this monograph serves as an invaluable tool for anyone wishing to investigate rabbinic texts on Pagan cults", [S. Inowlocki, Review of Biblical Literature, 2 (2008)]

"Der Band setzt neue Akzente in der Diskussion um das Verhältnis zwischen Juden und Nichtjuden und die Definition jüdischer Identität in der Spätantike." [C. Hezser, 'Rezensionen – E. Friedheim, Rabbinisme…', Frankfurter Judaistische Beiträge, 34 (2007-2008), p. 204]

Translation: "The volume sets new accents in the discussion about the relationship between Jews and non-Jews and the definition of Jewish identity in Late Antiquity"

"Phenomena such as the vitality of pagan cults in the time of the Mishnah and the Talmud and economic and confessional aspects of Jewish attraction to polytheism have recently been thoroughly examined by Emmanuel Friedheim in a number of articles and in a monograph published in 2006 (Rabbinisme et paganisme…) From these works it emerges…" [M. Ben Zeev, Journal for the Study of Judaism in the Persian, Hellenistic and Roman Periods, 41 (2010), p. 388].

"Emmanuel Friedheim, author of a brilliant study on the ample knowledge of the ancient rabbis about pagan cults, offers "Quelques réflexions…". The well-documented essay makes a pendular movement between two great specialists of ancient religion, Franz Cumont and David Flusser…" [P. J. Tomson, Review of Biblical Literature, 10 (2011)]

"Die historische Einbettung rabbinischer Texte ist ein sehr schwieriges Unterfangen. Friedheim hat ein sehr beeindruckendes, zumeist überzeugendes Buch geschrieben, das jüngere Publikationen gut ergänzt. Das Buch ist ausgezeichnet geschrieben und lebt auch vom Enthusiasmus des Autors". [R. Bloch, 'Rabbinisme et paganisme, Buchbesprechungen', Museum Helveticum, 66 (2009), p. 266]

Translation: "The historical embedding of rabbinic texts is a very difficult undertaking. Friedheim has written a very impressive, mostly convincing book that complements recent publications well. The book is excellently written and also thrives on the author's enthusiasm."

"La monographie, tout à fait fondamentale, que publie l'auteur s'emploie à vérifier les connaissances des rabbins concernant la diversité des cultes païens ayant existé en Palestine à l'époque de la Mishnah et du Talmud… Après avoir présenté de manière très claire les objectifs de son étude et dressé un état de la question, … l'auteur commence sa brillante démonstration… Une riche bibliographie et deux indices (des textes anciens et des noms propres) complètent cet ouvrage aussi bien informé qu'argumenté." (Ch. Grappe, Revue d'histoire et de philosophie religieuses, 87/3 (2007), pp. 330-331)

Translation: "The author's thoroughly fundamental monograph sets out to verify the rabbis' knowledge of the diversity of pagan cults that existed in Palestine at the time of the Mishnah and the Talmud... After presenting in a very clear manner the objectives of his study and drawing up a state of the question, ... the author begins his brilliant demonstration... A rich bibliography and two indexes (of ancient texts and proper names) complete this work that is as well-informed as it is well argued."

עריכת ספר:

M. Beer, The Sages of the Mishnah and the Talmud – Teachings, Activities and Leadership, E. Friedheim, D. Sperber & R. Yankelevitch (eds.), Bar-Ilan University Press, Ramat-Gan 2011. (Hebrew) Link

מאמרים בכתבי-עת ובספרים שפיטים:

1. 2023: Y. Escojido & E. Friedheim, "The Liberation of Jewish Slaves in the Letter of Aristeas as an Expression of Fear of Assimilation: A Study of the Assimilation Process Affecting Jewish Slaves in the Hellenistic Diaspora", Jewish Studies, 57/2, pp. 39-78. (Hebrew) Link
2. 2023: E. Friedheim, "On The Historical Meaning of the Tannaitic Expression: 'No Time to Pour [Libation Wine]' – A Study in the Realia of Roman Palestine in the Second Century CE", Revue Biblique, 130/1, pp. 72-97. Link
3. 022: E. Friedheim, "La société juive en Palestine romaine face aux interdits alimentaires ou une perception plurielle de l'identité judéenne", in: H. Monchot & B. Caseau (eds.), Religions & interdits alimentaires – Archéozoologie et sources littéraires, CNRS - UMR 8167 – Orient & Méditerranée 38, Leuven: Peeters Academic Publishers 2022, pp. 67-75. Link
4. 2021: Y. Escojido & E. Friedheim, "Translation of the Torah into Greek in Return for the Liberation of Jewish Slaves: A New Look at the Historical Background of the Prologue to the Letter of Aristeas", Zion - A Quarterly for Research in Jewish History, 86/3, pp. 355-398. (Hebrew) Link
5. 2021: E. Friedheim, "Quelques notes historiques sur la synagogue antique, la maison d'études et le milieu rabbinique en Judée/Galilée au temps de la Mishna et du Talmud", Tsafon – Revue d'études juives du Nord, 81, pp. 7-14. Link
6. 2021: E. Friedheim, "Quelques remarques concernant la Halakha philonienne face aux conceptions halakhiques judéennes de son temps", in: S. Morlet & O. Munnich (eds.), Les études philoniennes – Regards sur cinquante ans de recherche (1967-2017), Studies in Philo of Alexandria 13, Leiden – Boston: Brill Academic Publishers, pp. 256-271. Link
7. 2021: E. Friedheim, "Between the Shoah and Masada – An Unfulfilled Historical Journey", in: J. Tydor Baumel-Schwartz & Sh. Refael (eds.), Researchers Remember – Research as an Arena of Memory among Descendants of Holocaust Survivors – A Collected Volume of Academic Autobiographies, Bern – Berlin – Bruxelles – New York – Oxford: Peter Lang, pp. 333-341. Link . For the Hebrew version of the book: Link
8. 2020: E. Friedheim, "Le Judéo-Polythéisme en Galilée au temps de la Mishna et du Talmud – Sources Complémentaires", Revue des études juives, 179 (3-4), pp. 291-313. Link
9. 2019: E. Friedheim, "Le rabbinisme et le judéo-christianisme sur les notions d’étude/travail et de richesse/indigence aux premiers siècles de notre ère", in: D. Jaffé (ed.), Juifs et chrétiens aux premiers siècles: Identités, dialogues et dissidences, Judaïsme ancien et christianisme primitif, Paris: Editions du Cerf, pp. 363-386. Link
10. 2018: E. Friedheim, "Review of: Z. Weiss, Public Spectacles in Roman and Late Antique Palestine, Harvard University Press, Cambridge (Mass.) – London 2014", Cathedra for the History of Eretz-Israel and its Yishouv. 167, pp. 161-164. Link
11. 2018: E. Friedheim, "La perception de l'histoire dans la littérature rabbinique des premiers siècles de notre ère", in: M. Leroy & M. Staszak (eds.), Perceptions du Temps dans la Bible, Leuven – Paris – Bristol, Peeters Academic Publishers, pp. 530-542. Link
12. 2018: E. Friedheim, "La place de la prêtrise yabnéenne dans le Judaïsme rabbinique ou la question du militantisme sacerdotal face au climat insurrectionnel contre Rome", in: S. C. Mimouni & L. Painchaud (eds.), La question de la "sacerdotalisation" dans le Judaïsme synagogal, le christianisme et le rabbinisme, Turnhout: Brepols Academic Publishers, pp. 61-84. Link
13. 2017: E. Friedheim, "Quelques notes sur la signification historique du silence philonien à propos de la Bibliothèque d'Alexandrie", in: Ch. Rico & A. Dan (eds.), The Library of Alexandria: A Cultural Crossroads of the Ancient World – Proceedings of the Second Polis Institute Interdisciplinary Conference, Jerusalem: Polis Institute Press, pp. 245-255. Link
14. 2017: Emmanuel Friedheim & Arieh Rona, Was Herod a A Maritime Strategist? – A Study on the Elaboration of the Caesarea-Sebastos Maritime Port, Haifa Research Center for Maritime Policy and Strategy & the Chaikin Chair for Geostrategy, Haifa University, 2017. ISBN 965-7437-59-9 (42 pages). (Heb). Link        
15.  2017: "Review of: 'T. Murcia, Jésus dans le Talmud et la littérature ancienne, JAOC 2, Brepols, Turnhout 2014", Ancient Judaism – International Journal of History and Philology (Brepols), 5, pp. 314-318. Link
16. 2017: "The Mithrakana in the Yerushalmi – A Historical Note", MAARAV- A Journal for the Study of the Northwest Semitic Languages and Literatures, 21/1-2 (2017), pp. 319-328. Link
17. 2017: "An Onion for Idolatry – A Study in Talmudic Realia", in: A. S. Ferziger (ed.), The Paths of Daniel – Studies in Judaism and Jewish Culture in Honor of Rabbi Professor Daniel Sperber, Ramat-Gan, pp. 91-102. (Hebrew). Link
18. 2016: "Review of: José Costa, De l'importance des textes considérés comme mineurs: l'exemple du Midrash Hallel – Traduction annotée d'un Midrash entre aggada et mystique", Zion – A Quarterly for Research in Jewish History, 81/1, pp. 123-125. (Hebrew) Link
19. 2016: "Les odeurs, les bruits ou quelques remarques sur une vision judéenne des désagréments écologiques aux premiers siècles de notre ère", Tsafon – Revue d'études juives du Nord, 71, pp. 139-145. Link
20. 2015: "Le milieu rabbinique face aux diversités sociales et religieuses en Palestine romaine du Ier au Ive siècle de notre ère", in: M-A. Vannier (ed.), Judaïsme et christianisme chez les Pères, JAOC 8, Turnhout, pp. 147-164. Link
21. 2015: "Sur l'existence de Juifs polythéistes en Palestine au temps de la Mishna et du Talmud: Une nouvelle approche", in: C. Clivaz, S. C. Mimouni & B. Pouderons (eds.), Les judaïsmes dans tous leurs états aux Ier- IIIe siècles – Les Judéens des synagogues, les chrétiens et les rabbins, JAOC 5, Turnhout 2015, pp. 73-116. Link
22. 2015: E. Friedheim, "La culture gréco-romaine et le milieu rabbinique ou la question de l'identité juive en Palestine romaine", Annuaire de l'École Pratique des Hautes Études – Section des Sciences Religieuses, 124, pp. 151-154. Link
23. 2015: "Review of: B. Eckhardt (ed.), Jewish Identity and Politics between the Maccabees and Bar Kokhba", Sehepunkte – Rezensions Journal für die Geschichtswissenschaften, 9.
24. 2015: "Review of: M. Bar Ilan, Astrology and other Sciences among the Jews of Israel in the Hellenistic-Roman and Byzantine Periods, Mossad Bialik, Jerusalem 2011", Tsafon – Revue d'Études Juives du Nord, 68, pp. 62-63. Link
25. 2014: "Un oignon de l'idolâtrie – ou la dimension historique d'un vocable talmudique', Revue des études juives, 173/1-2, pp. 1-14. Link
26. 2014: "Le contexte historique éclairant le texte halakhique ou les positions des Sages vis-à-vis de la culture gréco-romaine du IIe au IVe siècle", Ancient Judaism – International Journal of History and Philology, 2, pp. 43-78. Link
27. 2014: "Sites et cultes guérisseurs en Galilée', Le monde de la Bible, 208, pp. 46-47.
28. 2014: "Richesse et pauvreté dans le judaïsme intertestamentaire et talmudique", Pardès: Études et culture juives, 54, pp. 157-168. Link
29. 2013: "Entre rigueur et clémence ou les Sages d'Eretz-Israël face au polythéisme à l'ère talmudique', Pardès: Études et culture juives, 53, pp. 173-184. Link
30. 2013: "Quelques remarques sur le regard de la diaspora babylonienne vis- à-vis d'Eretz-Israël à l'époque talmudique", Tsafon – Revue d'études juives du Nord, 65, pp. 31-45. Link
31. 2013: "Haine et mépris ou le fondement historique de la rivalité entre judaïsme palestinien et babylonien au IIIème siècle de l'ère commune", Judaica – Beiträge zum Verstehen des Judentums, pp. 14-33. Link
32. 2012: "Polythéisme et monothéisme juif ou la question des convergences cultuelles au sein du second temple de Jérusalem", Revue biblique, 119/3, pp. 366-382. Link
33. 2012: "Jewish Society in the Land of Israel and the Challenge of Music in the Roman Period', Review of Rabbinic Judaism – Ancient, Medieval and Modern, 15/1, pp. 61-88. Link
34. 2011: "Quelques remarques historiques sur les conceptions halakhiques du pèlerinage juif sur les sépultures des Justes: Entre opposition et approbation", Judaica – Beiträge zum Verstehen des Judentums, 67/4, pp. 347-359. Link
35. 2011: "On the Historical Significance of a Pagan Term in the Torah of the Land of Israel", Sidra – A Journal for the Study of Rabbinic Literature, 26, pp. 141-153. [Hebrew]. Link
36. 2010: "Quelques remarques sur l'évocation de Jérusalem dans la littérature gréco-latine non-chrétienne', Revue d'histoire et de philosophie religieuses, 90/2, pp. 161-178. Link
37. 2010: E. Friedheim & S. Dar, "Some Historical and Archaeological Notes about Paganism in Byzantine Palestine', Revue biblique, 117/3, pp. 397- 409. Link
38. 2010-2009: "L'historicité des sources talmudiques ou quelques remarques historiques sur l’éducation juive en Palestine au temps de la Mishna et du Talmud", Tsafon – Revue d'études juives du Nord, 58, pp. 45-58. Link
39. 2010: "Les écrits rabbiniques et la société juive en terre d'Israël au temps de la Mishna et du Talmud ou la question historique des rapports entre normativité et dissidence", Les Cahiers du Judaïsme, 28, pp. 32-37. Link
40. 2010: “Quelques réflexions historiques sur les origines païennes présumées du christianisme primitif,” in: D. Jaffé (ed.), Studies in Rabbinic Judaism and Early Christianity – Text and Context, Ancient Judaism and Early Christianity, Volume 74, Leiden – Boston: Brill Academic Publishers, pp. 163-185. Link
41. 2010: "Some Notes about the Samaritans and the Rabbinic Class at the Crossroads", in: M. Mor & F. von Reiterer (eds.), Samaritans – Past and Present: Current Studies, Studia Judaica – Forschungen zur Wissenschaft des Judentums, Band 53, Walter de Gruyter Press, Berlin–New York, pp. 193-202. Link
42. 2009: "Sol Invictus in the Severus Synagogue at Hammath Tiberias, the Rabbis and Jewish Society: A Different Approach', Review of Rabbinic Judaism – Ancient, Medieval and Modern, 12/1, pp. 89- 128. Link
43. 2009: "Did the Sages Ban Music after the Destruction of the Second Temple?", BDD (Bekhol Derakhekha Daehu) – Journal of Torah and Scholarship, 22, pp. 97-105. [Hebrew] Link
44. 2009: “A Historical Study of the Halakhic Attitudes of the Land of Israel Sages to Greek and Roman Culture in the Days of the Mishnah and Talmud”, AJS Review: The Journal of the Association for Jewish Studies, 33/2, pp. 1*-18*. [Hebrew] Link
45. 2009: "How Jewish Society in Eretz Israel Confronted the Challenge of Music in the Roman Period", Cathedra for the History of Eretz- Israel and its Yishuv, 132, pp. 55-76. [Hebrew] Link
46. 2008: “Hilaria: On the Historical Meaning of a Pagan Celebration Mentioned in the Land of Israel Midrashim,” Judaica – Beiträge zum Verstehen des Judentums, 64/3, pp. 118-135. Link
47. 2007: “The Religious and Cultural World of Aelia Capitolina: A New Perspective,” Archiv Orientální (Oriental Archive – Quarterly Journal of African and Asian Studies), 75/4, pp. 125-152. Link
48. 2006: “The Public Roman Bath in Roman Palestine: A Dilemma Concerning its Definition as a Locus Consecratus,” Cathedra Quarterly for the History of Eretz-Israel and its Yishuv, 119, pp. 173-180 [Hebrew] Link
49. 2006: “A New Look at the Historical Background of Mishna 'Avoda Zara I, 1,” Zion: A Quarterly for Research in Jewish History, 71/3, pp. 273-300 [Hebrew] Link
50. 2005: “Timi de-Romi and Tyche de-Romi: A Reexamination of the Historical Significance of a Talmudic Expression,” Jewish Studies: An Internet Journal 4, pp. 23-33 (Hebrew). Link
51. 2004: “Medicine and Jewish and Pagan Cultures in the Land of Israel during the Roman Period,” Jerusalem and Eretz Israel: A Quarterly for Archaeology, 2, pp. 1-28 (Hebrew). Link
52. 2004: “The Public Pagan Festivals Mentioned in Mishna Avoda Zara I. 3 and the Cultural Reality in the Land of Israel during the Roman Period,” Bekhol Derakhekha Daehu [BDD]: Journal of Torah and Scholarship, 14, pp. 47-72 (Hebrew). Link
53. 2004: “Sur les relations Judéo-Samaritaines du Ier au IVème siècles p. C. – Entre accommodement et éviction,” Theologische Zeitschrift, 60/4, pp. 193-213. Link
54. 2004: “Contribution talmudique à l'étude de la vénalité de sacerdoces en Palestine au IIIème siècle p. C.,” Archiv Orientální (Oriental Archive -Quarterly Journal of African and Asian Studies), 72, pp. 157- 175. Link
55. 2003: “Who Are the Deities Concealed behind the Rabbinic Expression 'A Nursing Female Image'?”, Harvard Theological Review, 96/2, pp. 239-250. Link
56. 2003: “Politique et rabbinisme en Palestine romaine. Opposition, approbation et réalités historiques,” Theologische Zeitschrift, 59/2, pp. 97-112. Link
57. 2003: “The Worship of Tyche in the Land of Israel during the Roman Period: A Study in Historical Geography,” Jerusalem and Eretz Israel: A Quarterly for Archaeology, 1 (2003), pp. 47-85 (Hebrew). Link
58. 2002: “Rabban Gamaliel and the Bathhouse of Aphrodite in Akko: A Study of Eretz-Israel Realia in the 2nd and 3rd Centuries C.E.,” Cathedra Quarterly for the History of Eretz-Israel and Its Yishuv, 105, pp. 1-32 (Hebrew). Link
59. 2002: “The Names 'Gad, Gadya, Gada' among the Palestinian and Babylonian Sages and the Rabbinic Struggle against Pagan Influences,” in: A. Demsky (ed.), These Are the Names: Studies in Jewish Onomastics, III, Bar-Ilan University Press, Ramat Gan, pp. 117-126 (Hebrew). Link
60. 2002: “Quelques remarques sur l'introduction du culte de Jupiter héliopolitain à Nicopolis-Emmaus à l'époque romaine,” Revue biblique, 109/1, pp. 101-108. Link
61. 2001: “The Pagan Cults of Ascalon during the Roman Period,” in: Z. Safrai, A. Sasson, and N. Sagiv (eds.), Ashkelon: A City on the Seashore, Ashkelon Academic College-Eretz-Israel Museum, Tel-Aviv, pp. 147-174 (Hebrew). Link
62. 2001: “The Real Historical Meaning of the Talmudic Expression 'A Qilor Dedicated to Idolatry',” Tarbiz: A Quarterly for Jewish Studies, 70/3-4, pp. 403-415 (Hebrew). Link
63. 2000: “The Travelling Merchant and Arabian-Syrian Pagan Rituals Mentioned in the Tosefta,” Tarbiz: A Quarterly for Jewish Studies, 69/2, pp. 167-175 (Hebrew). Link
64. 2000: “Sanctification of an Axe to a Pagan Deity: An Anatolian-Syrian Ritual Known to Rabbi 'Akiva,” Cathedra Quarterly for the History of Eretz-Israel and Its Yishuv, 95, pp. 25-36 (Hebrew). Link
65. 2000: “The Real Historical Meaning of the Mishnaic Term 'The Day of Shaving the Beard and Lock of Hair,'” Bekhol Derakhekha Daehu [BDD]: Journal of Torah and Scholarship, 10, pp. 63-78 (Hebrew). Link
66. 2000: “The Role of the Roman Army in the Spread of Paganism in Judea and Samaria after the Great Revolt,” in: Y. Eshel (ed.), Judea and Samaria Research Studies, 9, pp. 201-218 (Hebrew). Link
67. 2000: “Jewish Idolaters in the Land of Israel during the First Centuries C.E.,” Proceedings of the Twelfth World Congress of Jewish Studies, Division B: History of the Jewish People, pp. 21-44 (Hebrew). Link
68. 2000: “The Syrian Pagan Cults of Ptolemais-Akko during the Hellenistic and Roman Periods,” in: J. Schwartz, Z. Amar, and I. Ziffer (eds.), Jerusalem and Eretz Israel: Arie Kindler Volume, Ingeborg Rennert Center for Jerusalem Studies in Bar-Ilan University and Eretz- Israel Museum, Tel Aviv, pp. 89-100 (Hebrew). Link
69. 1999: “Quelques facettes esséniennes chez Flavius Josèphe et la mystérieuse absence de l'historien de la littérature rabbinique,” Studies in Religion/Sciences Religieuses, 28/4, pp. 465-488. Link
70. 1999: “A New Approach to the Historical Meaning of the Tannaitic Expression ‘Image of a Suckling Woman and Sarapis,’” Sidra: A Journal for the Study of Rabbinic Literature, 15, pp. 139-159 (Hebrew). Link
71. 1998: “The Pagan Syrian Cults of Neapolis-Shechem after the Bar Kokhba Revolt,” in: Y. Eshel (ed.), Judea and Samaria Research Studies, 7, pp. 141-153 (Hebrew). Link
72. 1997: “The Pagan Cults of Samaria-Sebaste in the Hellenistic and Roman Periods and the Ethnical Composition of the Local Population,” in: Y. Eshel (ed.), Judea and Samaria Research Studies, 6, pp. 157-170 (Hebrew). Link
73. 1997: “Public Leadership in the Land of Israel in the Days of the Mishnah and Talmud,” Sinai: A Monthly for Torah and Jewish Studies, 119/3, pp. 276-287 (Hebrew). Link