Learning to Read Midrash

Rating:
Summary: An excellent introduction into reading the Midrash
Review: I read this work slowly , studying each portion of the work carefully. I felt that by doing so I was adding both to my knowledge and to my skill of how to read Midrash. This work shows how varied and rich and contradictory Midrashic readings can be . It comes from an author who has studied and taught this material for years and is able to provide skilled insights that can be of great use to readers and learners at all levels.
This is an important work , and should have a place in the library of anyone who wishes to deepen in their study of Midrash.

Rating:
Summary: great book by a great teacher
Review: I'm writing to recommend a unique book from one of my teachers that has just been published. It is called "Learning to Read Midrash," and helps provide you with a basic methodology for accessing midrashic literature. The author, Simi Peters, is a gifted teacher and writer who draws on traditional and academic sources to really bring the material alive. Her class at my yeshiva last year, Nishmat, first thing on Sunday mornings (!!??) has been one of the highlights of my learning here in Israel.

Rating:
Summary: For people who want to understand midrash
Review: One who reads Learning to Read Midrash expecting to find interesting midrashim with insightful analyses will not be disappointed. This, however, is only an added bonus for readers of this book. The primary goal of the work is to provide a method for independent study of midrash. Simi Peters achieves this goal very well by detailing a systematic process for uncovering additional layers of meaning in midrashim that may seem simplistic or may be difficult to comprehend. The methodology focuses on a close reading of the midrashic text and a careful comparison to the Biblical text on which it is based. The book focuses on two particular genres in midrashic literature - the mashal (parable) and the narrative expansion. Through the application of her methodology, the author raises midrash to a sophisticated level of Biblical exegesis. As we revisit the stories of our childhood, such as the story of Avraham breaking his father's idols, we discover a complex and insightful narrative and understand its connection to the Biblical text. More importantly, after reading this book, we feel empowered to study midrash on our own and to gain a greater understanding of both the midrashim and the Biblical passages on which they are based.

Learning to Read Midrash is very clearly written, and is appropriate for readers with varied background in Jewish study. It includes, as well, interesting background material on midrashic literature, its place in the literature of the tannaim, and its place in the tradition of Biblical exegesis. It is recommended for teachers of classical Jewish texts, as well as those who wish to enhance their own learning.
-Shmuel Peerless
Lookstein Education Digest