R. David Zvi Hoffmann

• R. David Zvi Hoffmann was born in Verbo, Hungary, in 1843.
• He studied under R. Moshe Schick and R. Azriel Hildesheimer.
• R. Hoffmann wrote his doctorate on Mar Shemuel at the University of Tubingen.
• He taught in the rabbinical school in Hochberg and then in R. S"R Hirsch's school.
• In 1873, R. Azriel Hildesheimer founded his rabbinical school in Berlin and invited R. D"Z Hoffmann to join the faculty and teach Talmud, Halakhah, and Tanakh.
• Upon R. Hildesheimer's death, R. Hoffmann became the head of the Seminary. He served in this position until his death in 1921.¹

• Biblical commentaries
  • Commentaries on Bereshit, Shemot, Vayikra, Devarim – R. D"Z Hoffmann wrote a commentary on Sefer Vayikra based on his lectures from 1873-1874 and 1876-1877. He began writing his commentary on Devarim but died in the middle. His commentaries on Bereshit, Shemot, and Devarim were edited by others posthumously, based on his (German) lecture notes.
  • The Main Arguments Against the Graf-Wellhausen Hypothesis (ראיות מכריעות נגד ולהויזן) – R. D"Z Hoffmann's work against biblical criticism published in 1904 (in German).
• Rabbinics –
  • Talmudic novellae –
  • Halakhic codes –
  • Responses to the works of others –
  • Responsa – Melammed LeHoil (ספר מלמד להועיל) – A collection of R. D"Z Hoffmann's responsa and novellae, published posthumously from his notebooks.
• Jewish thought –

• Proofs that the Torah was written in the time of Moshe – details in the Torah that would be illogical if the Torah was written later.
  • Laws whose formulations match life in the desert but not life in the land of Israel – Bereshit 23:2, Bereshit 12:1 (p. 205), Introduction to Vayikra pp. 11-13, Devarim 17:16 (p. 332).
  • Extra details that would be unlikely for an author to remember a few hundred years after the fact when they are no longer relevant – Introduction to Vayikra (pp. 12-13), Introduction to Vayikra 8-10 (pp. 189-190).
• Explanations of stylistic or content differences – R. D"Z Hoffmann explains that these are a result of context:
  • Contradictions – Bereshit 3:22-24 (p. 91), Devarim 1:22.
  • Names of God – Bereshit 2:4, Bereshit 22:10-12.
  • Names of Yaakov – Bereshit 35:22, 37:3.

R. D"Z Hoffmann argues for the complete fidelity of the Masoretic Text – Introduction to Vayikra (pp. 7-8).

• Keri ukhetiv (קרי וכתיב) – Both the keri and the ketiv originate from the time that Tanakh was written – Introduction to Vayikra (p. 7).
• Primacy of the Masoretic Text over other versions – Bereshit 5:3-5, Bereshit 11:10-26.

He attempts to reconcile differences between peshat and Midrash Halakhah, but does not feel bound by Midrash Aggadah.

• כתוב שלישי – Introduction to Vayikra pp. 3-4.
• אסמכתא – Sometimes the stated Rabbinic source is just a textual hint, but the Midrash is not claiming that this is the plain meaning of the verse.
• דיבר הכתוב בהווה – The simple meaning of the verse is the meaning for the generation of the wilderness, but Rabbinic law translates the law to make it applicable for future generations – Shemot 22:30, Devarim 12:8-14, Devarim 13:7-12, Devarim 14:21.

He presents a broad scope analysis of Torah, starting from the book as a whole and breaking it down into pieces.

• Introductions – He introduces the book as a whole and then gives separate introductions for each section.
• Structure
• Order

He relates to apparent contradictions between science and Torah – Bereshit 2:1-2, Bereshit 5:3-5.

• Verse by verse / Topical –
• Genre –
• Structure –
• Language –
• Peshat and derash –

• –

• –

• Manuscripts –
• Printings –
• Textual layers –

• Earlier Sources –
• Teachers – R. Moshe Schick, R. Azriel Hildesheimer, R. S.R. Hirsch, R. Y.D. Bamberger
• Foils –