Written & Oral Jewish Law
Religious Studies: KS3, topic 1.2.17
Written and Oral Jewish Law
Jewish law was originally oral. However, Jewish law was later written down as the laws became more complex and the Jews feared persecution.
Oral Law
- In early Jewish history, oral teachings were passed down from one generation to the next detailing how the Torah would be fulfilled.
- At a later stage, the laws were written down and called the Talmud.
- This was because the laws had developed and become more complex.
- Another reason is that Jews feared persecution.
The Talmud
- The Talmud is made up of the Mishnah the Gemarah.
- The Mishnah is the first written version of Jewish oral traditions.
- Rabbi Judah the Prince organised Jewish teachings into volumes and sections called the Mishnah around the year 200CE.
- The Gemarah is a rabbinical analysis of and commentary on the Mishnah.
Laws differ for Orthodox and Reform Jews
- Reform Jews do not accept the Talmud and Torah as having absolute authority in the modern world so do not study them as much as Orthodox Jews.
- Orthodox Jews study the Talmud every day.
- There is a programme of study amongst Orthodox Jews which enables them to complete the entire Talmud in 7.5 years by studying a page a day.
Test yourself on Written & Oral Jewish Law
In early Jewish history, oral teachings were passed from one generation to the next detailing how what would be fulfilled?
What two texts form the Talmud?
In what year were Oral Jewish laws written down?