Talmuds

Talmuds are the two main compilations of Rabbinic discussions that form a core part of traditional Jewish law and interpretation. The term commonly refers to the Babylonian Talmud (Talmud Bavli) and the Jerusalem Talmud (Talmud Yerushalmi), though both are part of a broader corpus of rabbinic literature. They develop from the Mishnah, a codification of oral law completed by Rabbi Judah the Prince in the late 2nd century CE, and its subsequent analyses by generations of scholars.

The Babylonian Talmud was compiled in the academies of Babylonia, largely at Sura and Pumbedita, around the 5th century CE. The Jerusalem Talmud was compiled earlier, in the Land of Israel, during the 4th to 5th centuries. The Bavli is generally more expansive and is considered more authoritative in most Jewish communities today, especially in the diaspora, while the Yerushalmi preserves earlier traditions and offers a different perspective on many legal and thematic issues.

Structure and content of both Talmuds follow a familiar pattern: the Mishnah text is followed by the Gemara, a running commentary that records debates, legal analyses, and clarifications. The Mishnah itself is organized into six orders (Zeraim, Moed, Nashim, Nezikin, Kodashim, Taharot) covering agricultural laws, festivals, civil and criminal law, sacred duties, and ritual purity. In addition to halakhic (legal) discussions, the Talmuds contain aggadic material—narratives, ethical teachings, and theological discussions.

Influence and study: the Talmuds have shaped Jewish legal theory, liturgy, and learning for centuries. They are studied with traditional commentaries (such as Rashi and Tosafot) and have been translated and commented upon in numerous editions, with the Vilna edition (the Vilna Shas) among the most widely used.