Toledot Yeshu: The Life Story of Jesus

Two Volumes and Database. Vol. I: Introduction and Translation. Vol. II: Critical Edition

With Yaacov Deutsch With David M. Grossberg With Avigail Manekin-Bamberger With Adina Yoffie Edited by Peter Schäfer Edited by Michael Meerson

Book cover: Toledot Yeshu: The Life Story of Jesus

Extent: 733 pages

Publisher: Mohr Siebeck

Subjects: Religious Studies

Series: Texts and Studies in Ancient Judaism

Language: English

Hardback (Published)

(November 2014)

ISBN: 9783161534812

6.61 x 9.17 inches

Price: $659.00

In stock

Toledot Yeshu (“The Life Story of Jesus”) is a satirical counter-history presenting a “biography” of Jesus from an anti-Christian perspective. This is the first critical edition of all the available Hebrew and Aramaic Toledot Yeshu manuscripts, including an introduction and English translation. Together with the printed edition and translation we provide access to a fully searchable database of all Toledot Yeshu manuscripts that offers a sophisticated research tool and allows browsing, printing, and comparing the manuscripts and their microforms.


Toledot Yeshu (“The Life Story of Jesus”) is a satirical counter-history presenting a “biography” of Jesus from a negative and anti-Christian perspective. It ascribes to Jesus an illegitimate birth, a theft of the Ineffable Name, heretical activities, and finally a disgraceful death. The narrative is transmitted in ca. 150 extant manuscripts, mostly in Hebrew but also in Aramaic, Judeo-Arabic, Yiddish, Ladino, and Judeo-Persian. All Hebrew and Aramaic manuscripts are edited in the present book and database: an unusual combination of a traditional critical edition with an electronic research tool. The book also includes a translation of selected manuscripts of all major recensions and an analytic introduction discussing the origins and evolution of the narrative’s microforms. The database features a full-text search of all manuscripts as well as printing and downloading capabilities. The price includes access to the database (for one simultaneous user). Access for institution s is provided through the IP address, for private individuals through username and password. An activation code is enclosed in the book. Access to a free seven day trial period can be obtained here: toledot [AT] mohr.de.

  • With Yaacov Deutsch
  • With David M. Grossberg
  • With Avigail Manekin-Bamberger
  • With Adina Yoffie
  • Edited by Peter Schäfer
  • Edited by Michael Meerson