Judaism
The Talmud: The oral law of Israel
· 8 min read
The Talmud is the most important work of rabbinic Judaism: 63 tractates containing the oral law, the discussion of the sages, aggadah, and the wisdom of generations. Without the Talmud, Judaism would not be what it is.
The Talmud
Oral and written law
The written Torah (Tanakh) was given with an oral Torah (Torah shebeal peh) that explains and develops it. This oral tradition was passed from teacher to student for generations.
The Mishnah
Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi (ca. 200 CE) compiled the oral law in the Mishnah (six orders, 63 tractates). It is the first written text of Rabbinic Judaism.
The Gemara
Two academies (Babylon and Jerusalem) produced the Gemara (commentary and discussion of the Mishnah). The Babylonian Talmud (Bavli) is more extensive (2,711 pages) and authoritative. The Jerusalem Talmud (Yerushalmi) is shorter.
Content
The Talmud includes halakhah (law) and aggadah (narrative, ethics, history, medicine, astronomy). The discussions record disagreements between sages, principles of interpretation, and the evolution of Jewish thought.
Study today
Daf Yomi (daily Talmud page) is studied worldwide. A complete cycle takes 7.5 years.
Reading: Babylonian Talmud (tractates Berachot, Shabbat, Pesachim). Rambam's introduction to the Mishnah. Adin Steinsaltz (The Essential Talmud).
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