Pirke de-Rabbi Eliezer: Nach der Edition Venedig 1544 unter Berucksichtigung der Edition Warschau 1852.

• Author: Ulmer, Rivka B. Kern
• Position: Book review

Pirke de-Rabbi Eliezer: Nach der Edition Venedig 1544 unter Berucksichtigung der Edition Warschau 1852. Edited and translated by DAGMAR BORNER-KLEIN. Studia Judaica, vol. 26. Berlin: WALTER DE GRUYTER, 2004. Pp. xlix + 800. [euro]198.

Pirqe de-rabbi Eli'ezer (hereafter PRE) is not easily classified within the canon of rabbinic literature. Although the genre of the work is clearly related to midrashic literature, it does not have the major formal characteristics of midrash, such as consistently attributing statements to various Rabbis. Furthermore, PRE rarely utilizes the established hermeneutical rules generally found in midrashic works. On the other hand, PRE is similar to homiletic midrash in that it sets forth ideological agendas; another similarity is its reliance upon narrative (agadic) material. PRE commences with an extended biography of Rabbi Eliezer ben Hyrkanos, who embodied the value of Torah study and is portrayed as a saintly Rabbi (chapters 1-2). The subsequent chapters may be divided into the following subject areas: creation (chapters 3-11); a "historical" narrative from Adam to Moses (chapters 4-48); an excursus about the descendants of Amalek who played adversarial roles in Jewish history (chapters 49-50); redemption and miracles (chapters 51-52); the exodus experience, including Miriam's leprosy and the healing powers of Moses' serpent (chapters 53-54). PRE contains numerous excerpts from other works; it draws upon the Pseudepigrapha, the Jewish mystical tradition, and parts of PRE are related to Targum Pseudo Jonathan. The creator of PRE seamlessly integrated the anonymous excerpts and created a work that is almost poetic in its language. It should be noted that similar to the genre of Middle Eastern fairy tales, which exist in hundreds of versions, PRE also has multiple Hebrew versions.

The edition of Pirqe de-rabbi Eli'ezer under review presents a particular version of the text, namely the second printed edition from Venice (1544) and also partially integrates the Warsaw edition (1852) based upon the Venice edition. The editor, Borner-Klein, has wisely elected not to rely upon the heavily censored editio princeps (Constantinople, 1514). The very readable Hebrew text is accompanied by a smooth German translation that greatly facilitates access to this difficult text. This bilingual edition has an additional function of providing a study text for college students. Once a text has been translated, its identity is no...