Doc Yoder's Overview of Jewish Sacred Books
Torah: The five books of Moses (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers,
Deuteronomy)
Documentary Hypothesis (18th-Century theory, but still in dispute):
Based on discussion by W. Gunther Plaut in The Torah: A Modern Commentary
- "J" thread: Jahwist (uses YHVH): most of Genesis
- "E" thread: Elohist (uses Elohim): some scenes of Genesis, including
the binding of Isaac,
most of Exodus and Numbers
- "D" thread: Deuteronomist (Deuteronomy)
- "P" thread: Priestly (Leviticus, 1st chapter of Genesis, passages
concerned with genealogies
and priesthood; latest written,
during or after Babylonian exile)
Writing and "redaction" ~950-450 B.C.E., canonized ~400 B.C.E.
Tanakh: Torah, plus Nevi'im (Prophets) and Kethuvim (Writings)
Roughly equivalent to the Christian Old Testament, but in a
different order
Oral Law: The interpretation and commentary on the Torah
Rabbi Telushkin's 3 reasons the Oral Law is necessary (from Jewish Literacy):
- The frequent lack of detail in Torah legislation
- The incomprehensibility of some terms in the Torah
- The objections to following some Torah laws literally.
Mishna: Systematic written codification of Oral Law by Rabbi Judah the
Prince, in about 200 C.E.
-- 6 "orders" with a total of 63 tractates, including the Pirkei Avot
The Orders:
- Zera'im (Seeds)
- Mo'ed (Holidays, including Shabbat observance)
- Nezikin (Damages)
- Nashim (Women)
- Kodashim (Sacrifices and Ritual Slaughter)
- Taharot (Laws of Purity and Impurity)
Gemara: Written record of Rabbinic discussion of Mishna
Talmud: Combination of Mishna and Gemara
- Palestinian or Jerusalem Talmud (about 400 C.E.)
- Babylonian Talmud (about 500 C.E.)
Rashi's commentary: Rabbi Shlomo ben Isaac ("Rashi") 1040-1105 C.E.
An essential guide to the Talmud, Rashi's gloss is almost
always included in editions of the Talmud.
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