Chapters in this book

1. Frontmatter i
2. Contents vii
3. Preface ix
4. Introduction 1
5. 1 Midrash and the Nature of Scripture 9
6. 2 “The Holy One Sits and Roars”: Mythopoesis and Midrashic Imagination 22
7. 3 The Great Dragon Battle and Talmudic Redaction 41
8. 4 The Measure and Glory of God in Ancient Midrash 56
9. 5 Midrashic Theologies of Messianic Suffering 73
10. 6 Five Stages of Jewish Myth and Mythmaking 86
11. 7 The Book of Zohar and Exegetical Spirituality 105
12. 8 Substitutes for Sacrifice in Judaism 123
13. 9 Contemplation of Death in Jewish Piety 136
14. 10 Joy and Jewish Spirituality 151
15. 11 The Mystery of Dance According to Rabbi NaBhman of Bratzlav 173
16. Notes 187
17. Credits 232
18. Index 233