Episode 51: Seconding Sinai with Hindy Najman

It Means What It Means

In this conversation, Hindy Najman discusses her book Seconding Sinai: The Development of Mosaic Discourse in Second Temple Judaism. She challenges the traditional understanding of pseudepigrapha as inauthentic and instead explores how texts associated with figures like Moses can be seen as faithful to the tradition and transformative in the hands of later writers. She emphasizes the importance of ethical reading and the responsibility of individuals and communities to interpret and revitalize traditions. The conversation also touches on the tension between tradition and progress, the role of natural law in Philo's thought, and the concept of tikkun olam in Judaism. She recommends reading the works of scholars such as James Kugel, Jeffrey Kahn, Judith Newman, and John Barton to gain a deeper understanding of biblical textual studies. If you would like to support the podcast financially, $5 a month will get you access to episodes a week before they are released for free at patreon.com/ItMeansWhatItMeansPodcast.