Talmud

[Bulldog]

What exactly is the Talmud?

Is there an online link for it or a place I can buy one inexpesively?

 

[Talmidah]

http://www.jewfaq.org/torah.htm#Talmud

In addition to the written scriptures we have an "Oral Torah," a tradition explaining what the above scriptures mean and how to interpret them and apply the Laws. Orthodox Jews believe G-d taught the Oral Torah to Moses, and he taught it to others, down to the present day. This tradition was maintained in oral form only until about the 2d century C.E., when the oral law was compiled and written down in a document called the Mishnah. Over the next few centuries, additional commentaries elaborating on the Mishnah were written down in Jerusalem and Babylon. These additional commentaries are known as the Gemara. The Gemara and the Mishnah together are known as the Talmud. This was completed in the 5th century C.E.

I think simchat_torah put up a link for Talmud online...let me check....
OK...yes, its on a sticky on the main forum here, titled Online Texts...Response to an Overwhelming Demand. Anyway, here is his link for the Babylonian Talmud:

1) Here is a link to the entire Babylonian Talmud (commentary on the Mishnah)online:
http://www.sacred-texts.com/jud/talmud.htm

I don't really think it's possible to purchase the Talmud inexpensively. Here is a site that has the volumes of Talmud in both Hebrew and English:
http://www.artscroll.com/Talmud1.htm

 

[Bulldog]

Thank you Talmidah.

 

[Talmidah]

Thank you Talmidah.

You are very welcome!!!!!

 

[Plan 9]

I can't afford to buy a copy, but I can ask my librarian to send me one. Is there a preferred translation I should ask for, please?

 

[Hix]

There is no real preffered translation, infact I dont think there are really any varieties on translation at all, since some would object to it being translated out of its original language at all.

For a good explaination I recommend the following article:
http://www.aish.com/holidays/Shavuot/What_is_the_Oral_Torah.asp

Shalom and G-d bless
~Hix~

 

[simchat_torah]

What exactly is the Talmud?

In order to answer that question, one must back track a bit...
The Torah is the first five books of the Bible. Within the Torah is a set of 613 mitzvot (laws). The Mishnah is a commentary on the mitzvot contained within the first five books. The Talmud expands on the Mishnah, and is a commentary of sorts on the Mishnah itself.

So, it is a commentary on a commentary so to speak.

Is there an online link for it or a place I can buy one inexpesively?

You can pick up a copy on CD which would be thousands of dollars cheaper than buying it in book form... not to mention it contains a nifty little search engine

Shalom,
yafet