Since a post I read pretty much sums up the details of my question and is why I'm asking this, I'm quoting it.

I am curious of the Calvinist and Reformed Christianity on mortification of the flesh through painful physical torture such as fasting, self-flagellation, tatooing, cutting one's wrist, waterboarding oneself in blessed water, and carrying very heavy objects such as cross replication for miles with no rest or water? And other methods of self-harm so common among Catholic fundamentalists done to test their faith and give devotion to Jesus?

As someone baptised Roman Catholic, I know people who flagellate themselves and go through months have fasting with no food along with a day or two without drinking water. So I am wondering what is Judaism's position on corporal mortification acts especially like cutting yourself with a knife and fasting?

Anyone have recommendations for academic books or articles on the history of the development of Rabbinic Judaism?

Specifically, I'm looking for sources that don't take at face value the history given in traditional sources like the chain of traditions at the beginning of Pirkei Avot or Iggeret Rav Sherira Gaon.

For tikkun leil shavuot this year, I decided to study some "introductions", so I'm looking for any recommendations. So far I'm thinking:

• Ramban and Shadal's introductions to their peirushim on Torah

• Introduction to David Zvi Hoffmann's מלמד להועיל

If I'm feeling really brave, might try to start R. Halivni's introduction to מקורות ומסורות, but not sure I'll be able to handle that at 3am.

Thanks for any more suggestions!

Someone from /r/askbiblescholars/ recommended I bring my inquiry here. I'm sorry if this isn't the place for this sort of thing.

Do y'all have any audiobook recommendations for learning about how Jewish texts influenced Christianity? I know an audiobook may limit the recommendations, but that's how I tend to read these days. If you have a dynamite paper book recommendation, I can try to get through it.

Specifically, I want to learn more about the Mishnah, Midrash, etc. I keep reading references to these from prominent theologians (like, referencing stories with Elijah and the Messiah, for example), but I dont know how to get started learning about these, myself. I downloaded the Sefaria app, but there's a lot there and I don't know how to find what time looking for.

I'm a total newbie, so thank you for your grace with answering my perhaps ignorant question! I'm a Christian, and want to learn more about my own faith (I'm not sure if this sub is mostly for Jews), but I'm open-minded if you have something non-christian to recommend.

I have often heard that Ginzburg's "Legends of the Jews" is the definitive compilation of Aggadah. I was therefore very surprised to see that it ends with Esther given the wealth of Aggadot about figures in the AKH, Tannaic, and Ammoraic periods. Is there a reason for the omission of this material? Has there been a similar chronological collection for this material?

Thanks!

Here is a really good introduction to each of the books of Neviim and Kethuvim by a Hayyim Angel.

Check out the section "Rabbi Hayyim Angel's Survey of the Prophets and Writings in the Bible" here: https://www.jewishideas.org/online-learning/classes-lectures. These are recordings of a lecture series delivered by Rabbi Angel in English, with 1-3 lectures per book.

I think this is a good introduction to one type of Modern Orthodox Tanakh study methodology:

• Pshat-oriented, based on careful reding of the text
• Valuing classical commentaries, but open to differing views
• Informed by archeology, philology, and other disciplines

If anyone checks this out, I'd be curious to hear your reviews.

Ruth refers to herself as a shifcha and an amah, names for a gentile amd Jewish slave respectively. Most commentaries I have seen assume this is just an obsequious nicety. I am wondering if it is more than that.

Specifically could it be that Ruth is portraying herself as a slave (perhaps to Naomi) such that Boaz can purchase her when he acquires Naomi's ancestral field. Furthermore a child of that union, once freed would have the halakhic status of a full fledged Jew, without recourse to the legal machinations differentiating between male amd female Moabites.

Following this reasoning the requested act of spreading his cloak over Ruth would have halakhic implications as well.

Has anyone come across any non-intro level Jewish Studies courses online?

I've seen some introductory courses about Tanach, Talmud, Jewish Thought or History, but never really anything more advanced for people who already have a background in them. I'm particularly interested in academic courses in Tanach and source critical methods for Talmud.