What is the Talmud?

1. Why do you think the Talmud is so popular?
2. The Talmud explicitly sets out an important principle when it comes to halakhic decision making in Berakhot 9a when it states: “Rabbi Shimon is a great enough authority to rely upon in cases of emergency/pressing need.” We find that there are some instances when the minority opinion may be relied on instead of the majority view. Why do you think it was important to include both the accepted majority opinions as well as the rejected minority opinions in the Gemara? What does this teach us about the philosophy of Jewish learning?
3. One of the greatest Torah scholars in modern times, Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz z”l once wrote: “if the bible is the cornerstone of Judaism, then the Talmud is the central pillar, soaring up from the foundations and supporting the entire spiritual and intellectual edifice. In many ways the Talmud is the most important book in Jewish culture, the backbone of creativity and of national life.” Do you agree or disagree with Rabbi Steinsaltz’s assertion about the importance of the Talmud in Jewish life? Why or why not?
4. The Talmud was publicly burned multiple times throughout Jewish history, mostly in Medieval Christian Europe. In perhaps the most infamous case, the Talmud was “put on trial” in Paris in the 13th century. After the theological debate, the Talmud, along with several other Jewish texts, was burned…and this was all before the invention of the printing press. If Christians read and believe in the “Old Testament” (Tanakh), then why do you think Christian leadership at the time had an issue with the Talmud? What difference did they see between the “Old Testament” and Talmud?

1. The Talmud’s layout captures some of Judaism’s most important values: scholarship, debate, history, memory and community. Rank these five Jewish values in order of importance in your own life.
2. People often refer to “Daf Yomi” as the world’s biggest book club. Do you think you could ever commit to doing something every day for 7.5 years? What would determine if you would do it or not?
3. Jewish educator Dr. Noam Weissman has said:

“Jewish institutions often have a religious “Atkins” approach to Jewish learning, in which the Talmud is the sole focus of the learning experience. Talmud is the protein. However, there is a need for a healthy diet of Jewish education which includes Talmud, Midrash, Jewish thought, Tanakh, Jewish history and Israel education. Even still, at the end of the day, Talmud is the protein of Jewish education and everybody needs their protein.” 

Why do you think the Talmud study might be the “protein” of Jewish learning?

1. Neil Rubin, “Talmud, a day at a time”
2. Steinsaltz Center, “Today’s Daf”
3. Nathaniel Helfgot, “Minority Opinions and their Role in Hora’ah”
4. My Jewish Learning, “9 Things to Know About the Daf Yomi”
5. Adam Kirsch, “What I’ve Learned in Five Years of Daf Yomi Daily Talmud Reading”
6. Orit Kent, “A Theory of Havruta Learning”