Talmud facts for kids

Part of a series on
Judaism
Category
Jewish religious movements
Orthodox (Haredi • Hasidic • Modern)
Conservative • Reform
Reconstructionist • Renewal • Humanistic
Jewish philosophy
Principles of faith • Kabbalah • Messiah • Ethics
Chosenness • Names of God • Musar
Religious texts
Tanakh (Torah • Nevi'im • Ketuvim)
Ḥumash • Siddur • Piyutim • Zohar
Rabbinic literature (Talmud • Midrash • Tosefta)
Religious Law
Mishneh Torah • Tur
Shulchan Aruch • Mishnah Berurah
Kashrut • Tzniut • Tzedakah • Niddah • Noahide laws
Holy cities
Jerusalem • Safed • Hebron • Tiberias
Important figures
Abraham • Isaac • Jacob
Moses • Aaron • David • Solomon
Sarah • Rebecca • Rachel  • Leah
Rabbinic sages
Jewish life cycle
Brit • Pidyon haben • Bar/Bat Mitzvah
Marriage • Bereavement
Religious roles
Rabbi • Rebbe • Posek • Hazzan/Cantor
Dayan • Rosh yeshiva • Mohel • Kohen/Priest
Religious buildings & institutions
Synagogue • Beth midrash • Mikveh
Sukkah • Chevra kadisha
Holy Temple / Tabernacle
Jewish education
Yeshiva • Kollel • Cheder
Religious articles
Sefer Torah • Tallit • Tefillin • Tzitzit • Kippah
Mezuzah • Hanukiah/Menorah • Shofar
4 Species • Kittel • Gartel
Jewish prayers and services
Shema • Amidah • Aleinu • Kaddish • Minyan
Birkat Hamazon • Shehecheyanu • Hallel
Havdalah • Tachanun • Kol Nidre • Selichot
Judaism & other religions
Christianity • Islam • Judeo-Christian
Abrahamic faiths
Related topics
Antisemitism • The Holocaust • Israel • Zionism

A man studying the Talmud

The Talmud is a very important collection of books in Judaism. It contains many discussions that Rabbis (Jewish teachers) had long ago. These talks are about Jewish law, good behavior, traditions, and history. Jewish people all over the world study and use the Talmud every day. It is a key part of the Jewish religion.

The Talmud has two main parts: the Mishnah and the Gemara.

What is the Mishnah?

The Mishnah was written down around the year 200 C.E.. It is a collection of the oral laws of Judaism. These laws were passed down by word of mouth for many centuries. The Mishnah helped to organize and preserve these important teachings.

What is the Gemara?

The Gemara was written down later, around the year 500 C.E. It is a deeper discussion of the Mishnah. The Gemara also talks about the writings of the Tannaim (early rabbis) and the Tanakh (the Hebrew Bible). It helps explain and expand on the ideas found in the Mishnah.

Why is the Talmud Important?

The Talmud is like a guide for Jewish life. It helps people understand how to follow Jewish laws and traditions. Studying the Talmud is a big part of Jewish education. It encourages deep thinking and discussion about faith and life. Many Jewish people spend years studying its pages.

Images for kids

• 

  The first page of the Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Berachot, folio 2a. The center column contains the Talmud text, beginning with a section of Mishnah. The Gemara begins 14 lines down with the abbreviation גמ (gimmel-mem) in larger type. Mishnah and Gemara sections alternate throughout the Talmud. The blocks of text on either side are the Rashi and Tosafot commentaries, printed in Rashi script. Other notes and cross references are in the margins.

• 

  A page of a medieval Jerusalem Talmud manuscript, from the Cairo Geniza

• 

  A full set of the Babylonian Talmud

• 

  Koren Talmud Bavli

• 

  Jewish Scene I

• 

  Jewish Scene II

• 

  A Controversy Whatsoever on Talmud

• 

  At the Rabbi's

• 

  Samuel Hirszenberg, Talmudic School, c. 1895–1908

• 

  Maurycy Trębacz, The Dispute, c. 1920–1940

• 

  Solomon's Haggadoth, bronze relief from the Knesset Menorah, Jerusalem, by Benno Elkan, 1956

• 

  Hilel's Teachings, bronze relief from the Knesset Menorah

• 

  Jewish Mysticism: Jochanan ben Sakkai, bronze relief from the Knesset Menorah

See also

In Spanish: Talmud para niños