Hitherto, no compact introduction has been available to the wealth ofJewish literature which came into being between the completion of the Jewish Bible, the ChristianOld Testament, and the Middle Ages. Yet knowledge of this is important, not only for students ofJudaism, but also for those studying the background to the ministry ofJesus and developments in the early church. This book remedies the lack.It provides a factual account of the background and content ofJewish literature from the Torah, the cornerstone of Judaism, to the Kabbalah, the mystical trend which beganto be codified in the twelfth century. This also involves accounts of the Mishnah and Talmud, and explanations of Tosefta, Baraita, Gemara, Midrash, Halakah, Haggadah. Where necessary, the account is illustrated by texts selected and translated by the author. There is also an extensive bibliography.