The
Talmud
(התלמוד) is considered an authoritative record of rabbinic discussions on Jewish law, ethics, customs, legends and stories. It is a fundamental source of legislation, customs, case histories and moral exhortations. The Talmud comprises two components, the
Mishnah and the
Gemara. It expands on the earlier writings in the
Torah in general and in the
Mishnah in particular, and is the basis for all later codes of
Jewish law, and much of
Rabbinic_literature. The Talmud is also traditionally referred to as ''Shas'' (an abbreviation of ''shishah sedarim'', the "six orders" of the Mishnah).
Structure and Function
Rabbinical Judaism has always held that the books of the ''
Tanakh'' were transmitted in parallel with a living,
oral tradition. (The
Torah “lists the rules” while the oral law deals with application.) This body of Jewish religious law, was recorded by Rabbi
Judah_haNasi and redacted as the
Mishnah in 200 CE. The oral traditions were committed to writing to preserve them, as it became apparent that the Palestine community, and its learning, was threatened. The rabbis of the Mishnah are known as ''Tannaim'' (sing. ''Tanna''); teachings in the Mishnah are generally reported in the name of a Tanna.
Over the next three centuries the Mishna underwent analysis and debate in Israel and Babylon (the world's major Jewish communities). This analysis is known as ''Gemara''. The rabbis of the Gemara are referred to as ''Amoraim'' (sing. ''Amora''). See
Gemara for further discussion.
The Mishnah and the Gemara together comprise the Talmud. The Talmud is thus the combination of a core text, the Mishnah, or “redaction” (from the verb ''shanah'' (שנה), to repeat, revise) and subsequent analysis and commentary, the ''Gemara'', or “completion” (from ''gamar'' (גמר), to complete).
Although the debates between the ''Amoraim'' focus on clarifying the words and views of the ''Tannaim'', the Gemara is not strictly limited to an analysis of the Mishnah's text. It also brings in sources from the Mishnaic era, which were not included in the Mishnah compendium, which are called
Tosefta (additions); the Talmud refers to these as beraitot, (the word for “outside”). The gemara also supplements the Mishna with haggadic (or aggadic) materials and biblical expositions, and is a source for history and legend. See
Ein_Yaakov.
The Talmud thus constitutes the authoritative redaction of Judaism's oral tradition. It is the major influence on Jewish belief and thought. Furthermore, although not a formal legal code, it is the basis for all later
codes of Jewish law, and thus continues to exert a major influence on
Halakha and Jewish religious practice. See the article on
Rabbinic_literature, and
Home |
Index |
mail
Search at Google.Com | Search at MSN.Com
History:
Copyright (c) 2004
Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2
or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation.
A copy of the license is included in the section entitled
"GNU Free Documentation License".