The Sage in Jewish Society of Late Antiquity provides an erudite and stimulating analysis of the role of the sage in late antiquity and sheds new light on rabbinic comments on diverse topics such as biblical heroes and genealogy and lineage.
The Sage in Jewish Society of Late Antiquity explores the social position of rabbis in Palestinian (Roman) and Babylonian (Persian) society from the period of the fall of the Temple to late antiquity. The author argues that ancient rabbinic sources depict comparable differences between Palestinian and Babylonian rabbinic relationships with non-Rabbis.
'Kalmin has clearly broken new ground with these studies ... To focus on the similarities and differences between these two centres with regard to a single issue ie. the relationship to the non-rabbinic world, is an important exercise...' - Journal of Semitic Studies