Page "Jewish principles of faith" Paragraph 21

The Talmud consists of the Babylonian Talmud ( produced in Babylon around 600 CE ) and the Jerusalem Talmud ( produced in the Land of Israel circa 400 CE ).

The Babylonian Talmud is the more extensive of the two and is considered the more important.

The Talmud is a re-presentation of the Torah through " sustained analysis and argument " with " unfolding dialogue and contention " between rabbinic sages.

The Talmud consists of the Mishnah ( a legal code ) and the Gemara ( Aramaic for " learning "), an analysis and commentary to that code.

Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz writes that " If the Bible is the cornerstone of Judaism, then the Talmud is the central pillar ... No other work has had a comparable influence on the theory and practice of Jewish life, shaping influence on the theory and practice of Jewish life " and states: