Talmud
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The Talmud is a compilation of Jewish Halacha and Aggadic material. Composed of the Mishna, an earlier and more legal text, and the Gemara, a "compilation" and extrapolation of the Mishna, the Talmud is an essential piece of the Jewish Bible and is of great importance to the Orthodox and Conservative communities.
The Mishna was redacted in year 200 C.E. following the destruction of the Temple in 70 C.E. and the subsequent loss of faith and independence. The Rabbis of the Mishna, Tannaim, typically offered terse legal opinions in a sequence of subject matter.
The Mishna contains 6 orders, Sedarim, First Order: Zeraim ("Seeds"). 11 tractates dealing with agricultural laws, blessings, and prayer. Second Order: Moed ("Festival Days"). 12 tractates dealing with the special laws of holidays and Shabat (Saturday). Third Order: Nashim ("Women"). 7 tractates dealing with marriage and divorce, specific oaths and the laws of the nazirite. Fourth Order: Nezikin ("Damages"). 10 tractates dealing with civil and criminal law, and the functioning of the courts and oaths. Fifth Order: Kodashim ("Holy things"). 11 tractates dealing with the Temple and Temple services, and dietary laws. Sixth Order: Tohorot ("Purity"). 12 tractates pertaining to the laws of purity.
The three centuries of thought and analyzation of the Mishna are expressed in the Gemara.The Rabbis of the Gemara, Amoraim, elucidated the Mishna and added considerable discussions in an attempt to understand the statements of the preceding Tannas. The text of the Gemara can be divided into the exegetical Aggadah and the legal Halacha.
There are actually two versions of the Gemara. The Talmud Bavli was completed by Rav Ashi and Ravina before 499 C.E. while in Babaloynian exile (year or Ravina's death) and became the more influential work. The Talmud Yirushalmi was redacted in 350 C.E. by Rav Muna and Rav Yossi in the Land of Israel and due to its incompletion and style failed to reach as large an audience as the Bavli ever did.
