The Shaping of Jewish Tradition

The speaker claims that the Hellenistic period is one of the most important and formative times for the history of Judaism. It signalled the transformative vitality of a Judaism that continued to configure itself and its texts, often in the face of great loss and the threat of destruction. This dynamic and resilient nature is exemplified by a whole host of texts across the Second Temple period. Through the convergence of cultures in the Hellenistic period, she will explain how scriptural traditions create patterns for the shaping of law, interpretation, and conceptual innovation.