Talmud
The Oral Torah is often considered to be explanations of the Written Torah first compiled by Moses and then passed down verbally to successive generations of the elders of Israel. The Oral Torah is also considered to have included more esoteric teachings on the nature of God and the written Torah. Included in the oral tradition were the various Biblical laws as they had been applied to new situations, as well as various traditions developed through the years.
Because of the destruction of the Jewish Temple in the 500 b.c.e. era and then again in the year 70 a group of Second Century rabbis known as the tannaim and more collectively known as the Sages of Israel wrote down much of the oral tradition. In about 200 of the Common Era Rabbi Judah Ha-Nasi codified the most reliable teachings in this oral collection. This is the Mishnah from which further development of laws as applied to new situations is based.
This collection of teaching called the Mishnah means "repetition" or "study." These teachings as well as other discussions concerning the interpretation of laws and other material in the Bible were debated and discussed by rabbis through the successive centuries. These discussions are called collectively the Gemara and the Gemara and Mishnah together is called the Talmud. There are two schools of Talmud resulting in the Jerusalem Talmud and the Babylonian Talmud.
The Mishnah divides the discussion of law into 6 sections called sedarim: Zeraim, meaning "seeds" deals with agricultural laws; Moed, meaning "seasons"deals with the Sabbath and festivals; Nashim, meaning "women" concerns family law including marriage and divorce; Neziqin, meaning "damages" dealswith civil and criminal laws; Qodashim, meaning "Holy Things" concerns the dietary laws and the laws concerning sacrifices; and finally Tohorot, meaning "purifications" which concerns purification and ritual defilement. These six groupings are subdivided further into 63 treatises.
Regarding non-legal material the most famous section of the Talmud is Pirkei Avot - The Ethics of the Fathers. This is one of the treatises that offers wise sayings, advice and philosophy. This work has its own history of separate study.
The great Medieval Rabbi and scholar Maimonides made the Talmud accessible to the average person in his great work called the Guide for the Perplexed.
Because of the destruction of the Jewish Temple in the 500 b.c.e. era and then again in the year 70 a group of Second Century rabbis known as the tannaim and more collectively known as the Sages of Israel wrote down much of the oral tradition. In about 200 of the Common Era Rabbi Judah Ha-Nasi codified the most reliable teachings in this oral collection. This is the Mishnah from which further development of laws as applied to new situations is based.
This collection of teaching called the Mishnah means "repetition" or "study." These teachings as well as other discussions concerning the interpretation of laws and other material in the Bible were debated and discussed by rabbis through the successive centuries. These discussions are called collectively the Gemara and the Gemara and Mishnah together is called the Talmud. There are two schools of Talmud resulting in the Jerusalem Talmud and the Babylonian Talmud.
The Mishnah divides the discussion of law into 6 sections called sedarim: Zeraim, meaning "seeds" deals with agricultural laws; Moed, meaning "seasons"deals with the Sabbath and festivals; Nashim, meaning "women" concerns family law including marriage and divorce; Neziqin, meaning "damages" dealswith civil and criminal laws; Qodashim, meaning "Holy Things" concerns the dietary laws and the laws concerning sacrifices; and finally Tohorot, meaning "purifications" which concerns purification and ritual defilement. These six groupings are subdivided further into 63 treatises.
Regarding non-legal material the most famous section of the Talmud is Pirkei Avot - The Ethics of the Fathers. This is one of the treatises that offers wise sayings, advice and philosophy. This work has its own history of separate study.
The great Medieval Rabbi and scholar Maimonides made the Talmud accessible to the average person in his great work called the Guide for the Perplexed.
Much of what is known as the "Oral Torah" is historical information, tales, and homiletic type material that is brought out from the written word through the process of interpretation called "Midrash."
The word 'Midrash' is based on a Hebrew word meaning 'interpretation' or 'exegesis'. It has several meanings and usage. For example a Midrash can be a way of reading and interpreting a Bible verse- maybe something different from the norm, with a twist so to speak. It can also refer to a book of Midrashic teachings like Genesis Rabbah. The Midrash can simply refer to a verse and its interpretation. Midrash can also be a commentary on a verse that includes stories from the oral tradition.
The Talmud contains most of the understanding of the legalities of the Torah and how they should be applied. This is known as Halachah. The Talmud's non legal teachings are referred to as AggadahMidrash or simply Aggadah.
The word 'Midrash' is based on a Hebrew word meaning 'interpretation' or 'exegesis'. It has several meanings and usage. For example a Midrash can be a way of reading and interpreting a Bible verse- maybe something different from the norm, with a twist so to speak. It can also refer to a book of Midrashic teachings like Genesis Rabbah. The Midrash can simply refer to a verse and its interpretation. Midrash can also be a commentary on a verse that includes stories from the oral tradition.
The Talmud contains most of the understanding of the legalities of the Torah and how they should be applied. This is known as Halachah. The Talmud's non legal teachings are referred to as AggadahMidrash or simply Aggadah.
Resources
Resources
Sources
Jerusalem Talmud Gemara Schottenstein Edition
