Abstract
The Babylonian Talmud (Bavli) stands at the canonical center of Jewish tradition. Composed between the third and seventh centuries C.E., the Bavli has been and continues to be studied in a variety of contexts, ranging from religious academies (yeshivot) to modern secular universities. Its study has resulted in a long chain of commentaries, including the almost line-by-line commentary of Rabbi Solomon Yitzhaki (Rashi, 1040/1–1105) and the medieval dialogical commentaries of the Tosafists. Legal codification was also an outgrowth of Talmudic analysis and interpretation and resulted in Isaac Alfasi’s (Rif, 1013–1103) Hilkhot Ha-rif and Moses Maimonides’ (Rambam, 1135–1204) Mishneh Torah, to cite two examples.
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Notes
- 1.
For ease of reference we have listed and referenced this mishnah in accordance with printed editions of the Mishnah (Albeck, 1988). However, in MS Kaufman this mishnah appears as 2:13–14. From now on Mishnah Bava Metzia 2:11 will be referred to as mBM 2:11.
- 2.
When we refer to an individual mishnah in a chapter we will refer to it as “mishnah,” with a lower case “m.” When we refer to the entire collection of Mishnah, we will refer to it as “Mishnah,” with a capital “M.”
- 3.
Our translation reflects the interpretation of Rashi.
- 4.
Amoraic material is attributed to rabbis who lived after the close of the Mishnah, that is, approximately between the years 200 and 500. Amoraim in Babylonia as well as in the land of Israel analyzed earlier, tannaitic material found in the Mishnah and in various baraitot.
- 5.
There are two ways to read the phrase “for 40 years.” We have chosen to read it in accordance with Rabbeinu HḤananel’s commentary on bBM 33a. However, it could also be read in connection with the next sentence. In other words, it could be read as follows: “For 40 years they [Rav Huna and Rav Hisda] were angry at one another and did not visit one another.”
- 6.
Also see bMakkot 10a where Rabbi Yehudah Ha-nasi makes the same point.
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Lehman, M., Kanarek, J. (2011). Talmud: Making a Case for Talmud Pedagogy—The Talmud as an Educational Model. In: Miller, H., Grant, L., Pomson, A. (eds) International Handbook of Jewish Education. International Handbooks of Religion and Education, vol 5. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-0354-4_33
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