Introduction to TalmudBy Greg Geismann
Delivered on July 31, 2004 13 of Av, 5764 
Leo Rosten , popular writer on so many jewish topics, who seasons his renditions with wit and chuckles, who made Yiddish come to life, and expressed so many joys in Yiddish, wrote a brief article which appeared in the sept . 1977 issue of readers digest entitled astonishing Talmud , treating it lightly, reverently, fairly and with sensitivity, and creating in the reader a sense of curiosity, a desire to know at least a little more of that fascinating opus that he introduced. He began: “Ask your most learned friends where the following expressions originated. . . . “ all's well that end's well” Your friend will respond, “ shakespeare , of course.” “ a man betrays his character through 3 things: his tipping, his tippling and his temper.” Was it Oscar Wilde or was it Voltaire? “Give every man the benefit of the doubt.”
Did “A dream un-interpreted is like a letter unopened.” Surely, Sigmund Freud . Well, it may surprise you to learn that each of these aphorisms comes from the Talmud. Leo Rosten uses the word “Talmud” to include the many writings of the sages omitted from the Talmud per se, and later compiled in a group of volumes known as the midrash . And, he continues . . . . “I am willing to wager that 95 % of our best educated Americans cannot tell you what is meant by the "Talmud,” though it is one of the main sources for what we know about Judaism in the pre- christian era and a reservoir from which all of Judaism, christianity and islam drew their basic moral code, many of their articles of faith, and the foundation of their theology .” Examples: Take these flashing insights into the area of human concern. All in the Talmud! Ethics : What is hateful to you, do not do to a fellow man. This is the whole law. All the rest is commentary. Adam & eve : Why did God create only one man ? So that thereafter, no one could say my Ancestors were nobler than yours. No one could say that virtue and vice are Inherited, or that one race is better than Others. And, to teach us that whoever destroys A single life is as guilty as if he had Destroyed the entire world. And, whoever saves one life, earns as much Merit as if he had saved the whole world. Women : God did not create woman from Man's head , so that he cannot command her. Nor did God create woman from man's foot , So that she would not be his slave. God created eve from adam's side, so that Woman will always be nearest man's heart. Children : Never threaten a child. Either Punish him or forgive him. If you must strike a child, use a string. Law : For capital crimes, a majority of one Judge may acquit, but a majority of two Can convict. Judges who sentence a man to death may not eat or drink for the next 24 hours. Truth . If you add to the truth, you subtract From it. Conduct . When the wise get angry, they Lose their wisdom . Better embarrassment In this world, than shame in the world to Come. Worry . Do not worry too much about Tomorrow. Who knows what may befall You today. Leo Rosten then says. “I must apologize.” Have I given you the impression that the Talmud is a fascinating succession of noble ideas and scintillating epigrams?” Alas, not so. The ideas are majestic, the reasoning is subtle and sublime, and the expressions are superb, but they are buried in a text which is ensnarled in archaic technicalities, pedantic digressions, quaint superstitions, exasperating pilpul (that is, hairsplitting). The Talmud contains observations that today seem as relevant as Nebuchadnezzar’s tonsils. And it contains observations that were even irrelevant during the time when the Talmud was compiled. The analyses remind one of medieval arguments over the number of angels who can sit on the point of a needle. Well, what is the Talmud? How and When was it written? By whom ? There are always different opinions of scholars, sages and rabbis whenever interpretation or explanation of text, philosophies or customs are concerned. And the differences grow even wider when dates and times are speculated. One thing which is constant in jewish attitude. The prime source of our way of life, the prime authority for Judaism is the Torah . But, what is the Torah ? In its broader sense , we utilize an acronym composed of 3 letters to designate its content: TaNaCH
T =
Torah
( 5 book of Moses) (
Taf ) N = Nevi im (Prophets) (Nun) Divided into Early and Later Prophets Neviim Rishonim (Early) are Not prophetic. They are Mainly historical (Joshua, Judges, Samuel I & II Kings I & II) Neviim Achoronim (Later) CH =
Ketuvim ( Writings')
( chaf ) Haggiogropha
Book of Wisdom Book of History, poems & songs
Psalms, Proverbs, 5 Megillot,
Song of Songs, Ruth, Lamentations. But there are in fact 2 torahs. The 39 books just listed are known as the “Torah SheBktav ”: The written Torah. Hence, scriptures, which means “ to write” The other Torah is designated as “Torah SheBaal Peah ,” literally, the “Torah by mouth”, the “Oral Torah.” Exceedingly important. Centuries of work went into the writing of the oral torah, where the sages were hammering out a code of faith, laws and ethics about the intricacies of religion, rituals of worship, obligations of marriage, conditions of divorce, but containing such topics as astronomy, astrology, medicine, theosophy, mysticism, geography, myth, fantasies. How The Talmud is relevant Today: The Talmud and the Internet Jonathan Rosen, in his book entitled “ the Talmud and the Internet writes that in certain respects the Internet has a lot in common with the Talmud. The Rabbis referred to the Talmud as a Yam ( a sea). One is said to “surf” the internet. The Hebrew word for tractate is Masechet , which literally means, “webbing.” Compare this with the expression that the internet is the “world wide web.” When you look at a page of Talmud, you read the conversation of Rabbis conducted about a broad range of legalistic questions, but also fabulous stories, snippets of history and anthropology. The internet is also a world of unbounded curiosity , jumbled culture, of argument and information. If you do an internet search on Gemara , you get millions of hits. Conversely, if you study Gemara , you get hyperlinks (cross references ) to thousands of commentaries, responsa , and legal opinions. Conclusion Why were the temples destroyed? In the Tractate Shabbat ,
The Talmud says that “ Therefore, I encourage each of you to continue and enhance your jewish studies by devoting a portion of each day to learning Gemara . Shabbat shalom. |