Barry Scott Wimpfheimer

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Barry Scott Wimpfheimer is an American scholar of the Talmud and Rabbinic literature. He is an associate professor at Northwestern University and chair of its department of religious studies.[1]

Barry Scott Wimpfheimer
AwardsNational Jewish Book Award (2018)
Academic background
Education
Academic work
DisciplineRabbinic literature
Institutions

Biography

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Wimpfheimer grew up in an Orthodox household in Riverdale, New York and began studying the Talmud in 5th grade.[2][3] He earned his B.A. from Columbia University and M.A. from Yeshiva University in Talmudic studies. He received his rabbinic ordination in 2000.[4] He then earned a Ph.D. from Columbia in religion, studying under David Weiss Halivni.[4] His work has focused on the Babylonian Talmud as a work of law and literature.[3][5]

Wimpfheimer's book on the history and evolution of the Talmud, The Talmud: A Biography (2018) won a National Jewish Book Award in 2018.[6] He argued that the Talmud can be read in three different ways: the essential Talmud, which sees the Talmud as a work of religious literature produced at a certain historical period; the enhanced Talmud, which sees the text as the central canonical work of Judaism after the Destruction of the temple; and the emblematic Talmud, which sees the scripture as the primary symbol of Jews, Judaism and Jewishness.[3][2]

Wimpfheimer also teaches an online introductory Talmud course via Coursera.[7] He is the co-editor of Prooftexts: A Journal of Jewish Literary History.[8]

References

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  1. ^ "Barry Wimpfheimer: Department of Religious Studies - Northwestern University". religious-studies.northwestern.edu. Retrieved 2022-06-01.
  2. ^ a b "A New 'Biography' of the Talmud Argues That The Text Is More Important Now Than Ever Before". Tablet Magazine. 2018-04-10. Retrieved 2022-06-01.
  3. ^ a b c "Northwestern professor offers a 'biography' of the Talmud". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2022-06-01.
  4. ^ a b "BARRY SCOTT WIMPFHEIMER curriculum vitae" (PDF). Retrieved June 1, 2022.
  5. ^ Tenorio, Rich. "New Talmud 'biography' seeks to bring the foundational text to life". www.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved 2022-06-01.
  6. ^ "The Talmud: A Biography | Jewish Book Council". www.jewishbookcouncil.org. 2018. Retrieved 2022-06-01.
  7. ^ "Looking for online educational opportunities? Learn all about The Talmud in Professor Barry Wimpfheimer's free online course: Crown Family Center for Jewish and Israel Studies - Northwestern University". jewish-israel-studies-center.northwestern.edu. Retrieved 2022-06-01.
  8. ^ "Prooftexts". Indiana University Press. Retrieved 2022-06-01.