What Is Written in the Talmud? | Unpacked
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The Siyum Hashas event celebrated the completion of reading the entire Talmud, consisting of 2,711 pages over 7 and a half years, with nearly 90,000 people at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey and an estimated one million worldwide participants. The Talmud, a compilation of Jewish law, is rooted in the Torah, containing "mitzvot" or commandments, with the Written Torah and Oral Torah interpreting these laws and was initially written in shorthand on scrolls in Aramaic.
Insights
- The Siyum Hashas event commemorated the completion of reading the entire Talmud, consisting of 2,711 pages over 7.5 years, showcasing a global celebration of Jewish scholarship and unity rooted in the study of Jewish law.
- The Talmud, a compilation of Jewish law interpreting the Torah, was significantly influenced by commentators like Rashi and Maimonides, while the modern layout and pagination of the Talmud, following Daniel Bomberg's 16th-century design, have become standard, emphasizing the enduring impact of historical figures on the study of Jewish texts.
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Recent questions
What is the Siyum Hashas event?
A celebration of completing the entire Talmud.
What is the Talmud?
A compilation of Jewish law interpreting the Torah.
Who were Rashi and Maimonides?
Famous commentators who explained the Talmud.
What is Daf Yomi?
The practice of studying one page of Talmud daily.
Who printed the first complete set of the Talmud?
Daniel Bomberg, a Christian printer from Venice.
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Summary
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Global Celebration of Talmud Completion
- The Siyum Hashas event took place on January 1st, 2020, with nearly 90,000 people at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey and an estimated one million people worldwide celebrating the completion of reading the entire Talmud, which consists of 2,711 pages read over 7 and a half years, one page per day.
- The Talmud is a compilation of Jewish law rooted in the Torah, with the Written Torah containing "mitzvot" or commandments, and the Oral Torah interpreting these laws, compiled into the Mishnah and later the Gemara, collectively known as the Talmud.
- The Talmud was initially written in shorthand on scrolls in Aramaic, with Rashi and Maimonides being famous commentators who explained its cryptic language and brief wording.
- Daniel Bomberg, a Christian printer from Venice, printed the first complete set of the Talmud between 1519 and 1523, using a geometric page layout, adding page numbers, and creating a successful edition that set the standard for future printings.
- The Vilna edition of the Talmud in the 1880s solidified the layout and composition still used today, with almost all editions and digital apps following Bomberg's 16th-century layout and pagination.
- Daf Yomi, the practice of studying one page of Talmud a day, was introduced in 1923 by Rabbi Meir Shapiro to unite Jews globally, with people from various denominations and backgrounds now engaging in Talmud study, reflecting Judaism's values of unity, diversity, scholarship, and collaboration.
