A Dictionary of Jewish Palestinian Aramaic of the Byzantine Period - Second Edition

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Since the Middle Ages, lexographies of Talmudic and rabbinic literature have often combined Babylonian, Palestinian, and Targumic words into single entries, which can be misleading due to differing meanings and nuances in closely related dialects. Recognizing the need for separate treatment of each dialect, Michael Sokoloff presents a complete lexicon of the dialect spoken and written by Jews in Palestine during the Byzantine period, from the third to the tenth century C.E. His work draws on an extensive range of sources, including inscriptions from synagogues, amulets, letters, poems, and various texts such as local Targumim, Palestinian Midrashim, Talmud, and marriage documents from the Arabic period. Many of these sources were previously unavailable to lexographers who relied on outdated editions of rabbinic literature. The discovery of new manuscripts in European libraries and the Cairo Geniza has significantly enhanced the textual basis for Jewish Palestinian Aramaic. Each entry is systematically organized into six parts: lemma or root, part of speech, English gloss, etymology, semantic features, and bibliographic references, along with an index of cited passages. This updated reference work serves as a vital resource for students and scholars, facilitating a deeper understanding of the Aramaic dialect in Jewish Palestinian literature and its relationship to other dialects.