Battle of the Two Talmuds: Judaism's Struggle with Power, Glory, & Guilt

by Leon H. Charney, Saul Mayzlish

The authors reached back into history to understand the reasons and methods brilliant rabbis and Talmudic scholars abandoned the Holy Land, both physically and spiritually, to settle in what came to be known as the lands of the Diaspora. This dramatic exodus was contrary to the biblical injunction that all Jews must live in the land of Israel. The Battle of the Two Talmuds explains in great detail how the Babylonian scholars created their own interpretation of the Torah that grew to take precedence over that of the Jerusalem scholars. This book shows that all human beings are subject in various ways to power, glory, and guilt. It was power, glory, and guilt that has effected the tradition and scholarship of Judaism for the past 2,000 years. The reader learns how these qualities intertwined in a positive way to make Judaism an enduring and vibrant religion.

208 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

An accomplished author, Charney has written four books: “Battle of the Two Talmuds,” “The Charney Report: Confronting the Arab-Israeli Conflict,” “The Mystery of the Kaddish” and “Back Door Channels: The Price of Peace” – which formed the basis for the critically acclaimed documentary film of the same name.

For more than 20 years, Charney has moderated “The Leon Charney Report,” an award-wining, nationally televised program featuring one-on-one interviews with some of the best and brightest from around the world.

Charney is the recipient of many awards, including four honorary doctorate degrees. A noted philanthropist, Charney is the major benefactor of the University of Haifa’s Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences and he donated millions to New York University Medical Center for a new cardiac wing of the hospital. Charney is married to Israeli-born Tzili Doron and with her he has twin boys. They divide their time between residences in New York City, Tel Aviv and Boca Raton, Fla.

Reviews

[Adam Cherson]

I no longer rate books with stars. I read the audiobook version of this book. As a student of Hebraic history, I found this book well worth my time. I knew next to nothing about the Babylonian period and this book opened my eyes to the differences between the Jerusalem Jewry and the Babylonian Jewry during the Talmudic period. For example, I had not realized that so many Jews remained in Babylonia, apparently under the influence of a wealthy Jewish elite, even after being permitted to return to Jerusalem in 538 BCE and 458 BC; at the time of the destruction of the 2nd Temple in 70 CE, the Jewish population of Israel and of Babylonia was almost equal. Thereafter, many of the Israeli Jews fled to Babylonia. By the time of 400 CE Israel had begun to cede its role as the center of Judaism to Babylonia, which had been a co-equal with Israel for 900+ years by that time. There is much more to be learned here about the differences between the Serphardic and Ashkenazic traditions.

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book offers a great look at Jewish history and the competition between scholars of the Torah and how their interpretations have impacted the direction of Judaism in history. It is a fascinating book that helps us to understand some of the questions about how the Jewish community has become what it is today and helps us to understand the conflicts that Judaism currently faces. It was a great to read and is recommended to anyone interested in this part of history.