Midrash ha-Gadol
Encyclopedia
Midrash HaGadol or The Great Midrash (Hebrew: מדרש הגדול) is an anonymous late (14th century) compilation of aggadic midrashim on the Pentateuch taken from the two Talmuds and earlier Midrashim. In addition, it borrows quotations from the Targums and Kabbalistic writings , and in this aspect is unique among the various midrashic collections. This important work—the largest of the midrashic collections—came to popular attention only relatively recently (late 19th century) through the efforts of Jacob Saphir
, Solomon Schecter, and David Zvi Hoffman
. In addition to containing midrashic material that is not found elsewhere, the Midrash HaGadol contains what are considered to be more correct versions of previously-known Talmudic and Midrashic passages.
to Jerusalem and then to Berlin
in 1878 by a certain Mr. Shapira, and this Midrash subsequently became the subject of much scholarly attention. There are currently several (at least six or seven that were known to Dr. Fish) manuscripts of this work residing in various public and private Hebraica collections.
The Midrash Hagadol on Genesis was first published by Solomon Schecter in 1902. A large portion of Midrash Hagadol on Exodus was then published by David Zvi Hoffman
in 1913. Midrash Hagadol on Book of Numbers
was published by S. Fisch in 1940 in a more accessible style than the previous efforts, which were principally arranged for a scholarly audience. More recent editions listed by are those on Genesis and Exodus by M. Margulies (1967), on Leviticus
by E.N. Rabinowitz (1932) and A. Steinsalz (1975), on Numbers by E.N. Rabinowitz (1973), and on Deuteronomy
by S. Fish (1972).
by Abraham ben Rambam, and translated into Hebrew by David al-Adani. While Dr. Fish offers possible explanations for how the work—if indeed authored by Abraham ben Rambam in Egypt
—came first to be "lost" and then to be rediscovered in Yemen, find the attribution to Abraham ben Rambam "only extremely weakly attested," and report that modern scholars almost uniformly attribute the work in its entirety to David bar Amram al-Adani. (S. Fish concedes this as well in his Encyclopedia Judaica article on the topic.)
, Sifre Zutta
, Mekhilta on Deuteronomy, Mekhilta de-Rabbi Ishmael
, Sifre
, and other unknown midrashic sources. In addition, the midrash makes use of the work of Rambam and Alfasi, as well as many geonic writings , but the sources are never cited—a unique characteristic of this midrash . All these various sources are fused in such a way that the product is a new literary creation in which the original ingredients can frequently not be unambiguously discriminated.
A "Midrash HaGadol that was brought from Aden
" is cited by Joseph Shalit Riqueti
in Sefer Chochmat HaMishkan (1676), but it is not known whether this is the same as the work under consideration here.
Jacob Saphir
Jacob Saphir was a Meshulach and traveler of Rumanian descent, born in Oshmyany, government of Wilna.While still a boy he went to Palestine with his parents, who settled at Safed, and at their death in 1836 he moved to Jerusalem...
, Solomon Schecter, and David Zvi Hoffman
David Zvi Hoffman
David Zvi Hoffmann , was an Orthodox Rabbi and Torah Scholar. Born in Verbó in 1843, he attended various Yeshivas in his native town before he entered the college at Pressburg, from which he graduated in 1865...
. In addition to containing midrashic material that is not found elsewhere, the Midrash HaGadol contains what are considered to be more correct versions of previously-known Talmudic and Midrashic passages.
Discovery
The existence of the Midrash HaGadol was first brought to the attention of Jewish scholarship by Jacob Sapir, who in his Even Sapir (1866) reports seeing a manuscript of the work in the possession of the Chief Rabbi of Yemen . His remarks about the "discovery" are reproduced in , where he describes a work on the entire Pentateuch containing "twice as much as our Midrash Rabbah". (It is worth noting that while this collection was new to European Jewry, it was probably well-known to the Jews of Yemen.) The first manuscript was brought from YemenYemen
The Republic of Yemen , commonly known as Yemen , is a country located in the Middle East, occupying the southwestern to southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the north, the Red Sea to the west, and Oman to the east....
to Jerusalem and then to Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
in 1878 by a certain Mr. Shapira, and this Midrash subsequently became the subject of much scholarly attention. There are currently several (at least six or seven that were known to Dr. Fish) manuscripts of this work residing in various public and private Hebraica collections.
David Zvi Hoffman
David Zvi Hoffmann , was an Orthodox Rabbi and Torah Scholar. Born in Verbó in 1843, he attended various Yeshivas in his native town before he entered the college at Pressburg, from which he graduated in 1865...
in 1913. Midrash Hagadol on Book of Numbers
Book of Numbers
The Book of Numbers is the fourth book of the Hebrew Bible, and the fourth of five books of the Jewish Torah/Pentateuch....
was published by S. Fisch in 1940 in a more accessible style than the previous efforts, which were principally arranged for a scholarly audience. More recent editions listed by are those on Genesis and Exodus by M. Margulies (1967), on Leviticus
Leviticus
The Book of Leviticus is the third book of the Hebrew Bible, and the third of five books of the Torah ....
by E.N. Rabinowitz (1932) and A. Steinsalz (1975), on Numbers by E.N. Rabinowitz (1973), and on Deuteronomy
Deuteronomy
The Book of Deuteronomy is the fifth book of the Hebrew Bible, and of the Jewish Torah/Pentateuch...
by S. Fish (1972).
Authorship
According to , the work dates to the late 14th century. A discussion of its authorship is provided in , wherein he reviews the evidence in favor of the three then-prevailing opinions regarding authorship of the Midrash HaGadol, variously that it is the work of Rambam, his son Abraham ben Rambam (the author according to Yemenite tradition), or David bar Amram al-Adani. After discounting Rambam as a possible author, and reviewing some compelling factors in favor of the other two possible authors, offers the conciliatory hypothesis that the work was composed in the Arabic languageArabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
by Abraham ben Rambam, and translated into Hebrew by David al-Adani. While Dr. Fish offers possible explanations for how the work—if indeed authored by Abraham ben Rambam in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
—came first to be "lost" and then to be rediscovered in Yemen, find the attribution to Abraham ben Rambam "only extremely weakly attested," and report that modern scholars almost uniformly attribute the work in its entirety to David bar Amram al-Adani. (S. Fish concedes this as well in his Encyclopedia Judaica article on the topic.)
Sources
The Midrash HaGadol contains material from Mekhilta de-Rabbi ShimonMekhilta de-Rabbi Shimon
The Mekhilta de-Rabbi Shimon is a Halakic midrash on Exodus from the school of R. Akiba, the "Rabbi Shimon" in question being Shimon bar Yochai. No midrash of this name is mentioned in Talmudic literature, but medieval authors refer to one which they call either "Mekilta de-R. Simeon b. Yoḥai," or...
, Sifre Zutta
Sifre Zutta
Sifre Zutta is a midrash on the Book of Numbers. . Medieval authors mention it under the titles "Sifre shel Panim Aḥerim" and "Wi-Yeshalleḥu Ẓuta"; and to distinguish from it the Sifre, Or Zarua Sifre Zutta (Hebrew: ספרי זוטא) is a midrash on the Book of Numbers. (Zur Gesch. der Jüdischen...
, Mekhilta on Deuteronomy, Mekhilta de-Rabbi Ishmael
Mekhilta
This article refers to the Mekhilta de-Rabbi Ishmael. There is a separate article on the Mekhilta de-Rabbi ShimonMekhilta or Mekilta is a halakic midrash to the Book of Exodus...
, Sifre
Sifre
Sifre refers to either of two works of Midrash halakhah, or classical Jewish legal Biblical exegesis, based on the biblical books of Bamidbar and Devarim .- The Talmudic-Era Sifre :The title "Sifre debe Rab" is used by R. Hananeel on Sheb. 37b, Alfasi on Pes...
, and other unknown midrashic sources. In addition, the midrash makes use of the work of Rambam and Alfasi, as well as many geonic writings , but the sources are never cited—a unique characteristic of this midrash . All these various sources are fused in such a way that the product is a new literary creation in which the original ingredients can frequently not be unambiguously discriminated.
A "Midrash HaGadol that was brought from Aden
Aden
Aden is a seaport city in Yemen, located by the eastern approach to the Red Sea , some 170 kilometres east of Bab-el-Mandeb. Its population is approximately 800,000. Aden's ancient, natural harbour lies in the crater of an extinct volcano which now forms a peninsula, joined to the mainland by a...
" is cited by Joseph Shalit Riqueti
Joseph Shalit Riqueti
Joseph Shalit ben Eliezer Riqueti was a Jewish-Italian scholar born at Safed, and who lived in the second half of the 17th century at Verona, where he directed a Talmudical school. He was the author of Ḥokmat ha-Mishkan or Iggeret Meleket ha-Mishkan , on the construction of the First Temple...
in Sefer Chochmat HaMishkan (1676), but it is not known whether this is the same as the work under consideration here.