Review of Sokol, The Snake at the Mouth of the Cave (Koren)

TALMUD WATCH:: Miraculous Tales of Ancient Judaism Dissected (By Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin, San Diego Jewish World).

The title of Sokol’s book, The Snake at the Mouth of the Cave, is the title of one of eight tales and is only one of several strange events in that tale. The stories focus on many human problems: improper behavior by pious men, interpersonal conflict, alienation, pain, triumph, success, failure, love, fear, anger, redemption, yearnings, and more. He analyzes all of the accounts in a rational eye-opening manner. He tells us the sources of each of them and gives us an enlightening introduction to each, including the biography of the main character and the conditions of the time he lived.

Cross-file under New Book:

Rabbi Dr. Moshe Sokol, The Snake at the Mouth of the Cave (Jerusalem: Koren, 2021) $24.95,ISBN: 9781592645473

Description

The Talmud is well known for its complex legal discussions and halakhic discourse, yet the Talmud also contains a large amount of aggada, non-halalkhic teachings about theology, ethics, spirituality, psychology, health, and many other topics, interspersed throughout the text. This fascinating material has not merited the same amount of scholarly attention over the centuries as has the halakhic portion, and its riches are waiting to be mined.
The Snake at the Mouth of the Cave by Rabbi Dr. Moshe Sokol offers eye-opening studies of eight aggadic stories about sages. These narratives contain dramatic explorations of human nature revolving around a common theme: the cost of living a deeply principled life, and the complex ways in which human nature, past experiences, and future hopes shape difficult moral choices. Rabbi Sokol sheds light on these stories, drawing on classical rabbinic commentaries, contemporary scholarship, and insights from such diverse fields as psychology, literature, cultural studies, philosophy, history, and more.
The Talmud has endured for millennia, and despite predictions to the contrary, the study of Talmud flourishes. The talmudic conversation will continue long into the future, and aggadic narratives too, properly understood, have much to teach future generations.

Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.