"Midrash vaYosha" and the development of narrative in medieval Jewish exegesis [Ressource électronique] /
Rachel S. Mikva
- (465 p.)
Ph. D. : Midrash : The Graduate School of The Jewish theological seminary : 2008
Bibliogr. p. 439-465
The so-called "minor midrashim" can provide major insight into the development of midrash in the Middle Ages. By tracing the journey of Midrash vaYosha (MV), this study explores the relationship of midrash to synagogue homily and Targum, the evolution of a text through its written transmission and re-oralization, and the changing dimensions of narrative within midrash. The earliest redaction (Recension A, 11-12th c.) of this brief lemmatic exegesis on the Song at the Sea took shape in Ashkenaz in close relationship with synagogue observance of seventh-day Passover. Its inclusion in French and Italian mahzorim, the presence of Torah reading notes, and relevant halakhic discussion all indicate it was an outgrowth of the special Targumic-exegetical practice attached to the Torah reading for this day. The fluid manuscript record, then, becomes a witness to the continuing relationship of written transmission and re-oralization, as well as the "open book" phenomenon of medieval literature.