What is rabbinic literature? In short, it is the indigenous, orally transmitted culture of the Israelites – later, Jews – as it became taught and formalized after the canonization of the Hebrew Bible. The classic works of rabbinic literature are the Mishnah, Tosefta. the two Talmuds, and the Midrash collections.
Mishnah
What is the Mishnah? – The core of Judaism’s oral law, put into form around 215 to 250 CE.
The sages of the Mishnah – as a family tree
The oral law is what makes Judaism Jewish
Infographics to help in studying the Mishnah
Tosefta – A supplement to, and variant form of, the Mishnah. Edited after the time of the Mishnah, but before the two Talmuds.
Talmud
What is the Talmud? – A multi-volume, encyclopedic record of the teachings of classical rabbinic scholars. It is written in the form of commentary on the Mishnah, and contains teachings from 250 CE to 550 CE.
How do we begin study of the Talmud?
An example of using commentary to help explain the Talmud
The Steinsaltz Talmud – translation & commentary
Why Daf Yomi isn’t the best way to study Talmud
Midrash
What is the Midrash? – Classical rabbinic homilies on the Bible. Several collections were edited between 200 and 800 CE.
Terminology
Collectively, the sages in all these classical works of rabbinic Judaism are known as Chazal, חז״ל. This is an acronym for “Ḥakhameinu Zikhronam Liv’rakha” – חכמינו זכרונם לברכה – Our sages, may their memory be blessed.
For teachers
How does the Brisker style of learning Talmud differ from older styles?
The Brisker method – some objections
How do we teach rabbinic texts that challenge our sense of ethics? Teaching troubling texts.
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