The Talmud: A Methodological Introduction from Coursera

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Syllabus

Introducing the Talmud

The Talmud is a canonical work of Jewish literature that collects the ideas and arguments of rabbis who lived between the first and eighth centuries CE. This module explains the basics of how the Talmud was composed, why the Talmud matters and how it is accessed today.

False Testimony From Bible to Rabbis

The Talmud relies heavily on the authority and substance of its canonical predecessor, the Hebrew Bible. This module charts a trajectory from the biblical origins of the treatment of false testimony in Deuteronomy through its treatment within the second temple apocryphal book Susannah and the early Rabbinic law code, the Mishnah.

Reading the Bible & Rabbinic Logic

Interpretation is a major component of Rabbinic literature and the Talmud. This module introduces the specific features of Rabbinic interpretation of the Hebrew Bible—its assumptions and its reading tools.

Redaction & Textual Witnesses

Textual Criticism is a form of reading that looks to explain the meaning of a text by figuring out aspects of its composition history. This module will show how Talmudic passages are typically constructed and what scholars can do to figure out the original meaning of a text.

The Stam as Reader and Writer

The historical range of the different centuries of rabbinic literature makes it possible to take note of changes in the ways the different rabbis thought about the Bible and law. This module will demonstrate how later rabbis have a more abstract way of thinking about law while simultaneously having a more restrictive way of reading the Bible.

Tosefta, Tannaitic Midrash and Palestinian Talmud

Rabbinic literature consists of multiple works in three genres—Midrash, Mishnah and Talmud. This module introduces each of these different genres with a comparative analysis of texts related to false testimony in works of each type.

Narrative and History

The Talmud contains many stories that feature historical figures from the rabbinic period. In this module we will demonstrate the difficulty of reading these stories as history and model the use of literary tools for reading such materials.

Conclusion

While some of the material we have studied is unsettling, we need to bear in mind that much of it is rabbinic idealization or fantasy. This module goes through both the fantasy of rabbinic power and the realities of the importance of the Talmud in the post-Talmudic age.

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Provides an in-depth examination of the Talmud, a foundational text in Jewish literature

Taught by renowned instructors Barry Scott Wimpfheimer, who is recognized for their expertise in the field

Delves into the unique characteristics of the Talmud, exploring its composition, significance, and enduring impact

Develops critical reading skills and analytical abilities essential for understanding legal and historical concepts

Suitable for students interested in religious and intellectual engagement with Jewish literature

Reviews summary

Methodological talmud study

Learners say that this course provides a solid introduction to Talmud methodology. Engaging videos guide students through complex concepts and historical context. The course is well-structured, with clear lectures and a helpful glossary. While some learners may find the material challenging, overall, the expert instructors make the course an intellectually stimulating experience.

Course is well-organized and easy to follow, with clear video lectures and helpful resources.

"Clear, short lecture videos, repeated glossary terms which help to memorize and understand the terminology which is foreign for those who are not well versed in Jewish studies."

"The self-paced format worked for me, the video delivery was fine and I liked being able to download the transcripts and the glossaries."

Instructors are knowledgeable and skilled at presenting complex topics in an engaging way.

"The course is great and the instructors are superbly skilled people making complex topics easy to understand."

"Excellent introduction to a complicated topic."

"I have learned so much through this course, I am deeply grateful for this rare opportunity."

"The Professor as well as the incredible PhD Candidate ( I assume now a Dr) had a wonderful way of teaching and were very knowledgeable on the subject."

Transcriptions accompanying the videos contain errors, making it difficult to follow and understand the content.

"This class is extremely informative...i came into it knowing absolutely nothing about The Talmud."

"Unfortunately, the transcriptions that accompany the videos are not accurate and are often confusing."

Course material is challenging, especially for beginners who may find the concepts and arguments difficult to follow.

"This course really stretched the limits of my intellect while being totally accessible, well organized, and interesting."

"To truly study the Talmud takes seven years of daily study."

"My rating is a hybrid rating reflecting the content vs the course structure. I was looking for something more basic as I knew virtually nothing about the Talmud."

"Interesting & informative but a bit overwhelming with too many divergent opinions centuries apart."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in The Talmud: A Methodological Introduction with these activities:

Review the concept of the Talmud

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Review the basic structure. concepts, and history of the Talmud. This will help you to understand the context of the texts that we will be studying in class.

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Read the overview of The Talmud on Wikipedia
Watch a video introduction to the Talmud
Take notes on the key points

Review Hebrew Language Skills

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Brush up on your Hebrew language skills to enhance your understanding of Talmudic texts.

Browse courses on Hebrew

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Review Hebrew grammar
Practice reading Hebrew texts
Practice speaking and listening to Hebrew

The Talmud: A Beginners Guide

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Read Barry Scott Wimpfheimer's book to familiarize with the basics of the Talmud.

View The Talmud on Amazon

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Purchase the book
Read the book
Take notes
Summarize the book

Eight other activities

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Find a Talmud Scholar as a Mentor

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Seek guidance from an experienced Talmud scholar to deepen your understanding.

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Identify potential mentors
Contact potential mentors
Meet with potential mentors

Follow Online Talmud Tutorials

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Explore online resources to supplement your learning and enhance your understanding of the Talmud.

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Identify relevant online tutorials
Watch the tutorials
Take notes
Apply what you learn to your Talmud studies

Discuss the Talmud with a peer

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Discuss the Talmud with a peer. This will help you to understand the different perspectives on the Talmud and to deepen your own understanding.

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Find a peer who is also taking the course
Set up a time to meet
Discuss the Talmud

Practice Analyzing Talmudic Passages

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Study the structure and logic of Talmudic passages to refine your understanding.

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Identify the different sections of the Talmudic passage
Determine the relationships between the different sections
Identify the main arguments presented in the passage
Evaluate the strength of the arguments

Join a Talmud Study Group

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Interact with peers to enhance your understanding of the Talmud through discussions.

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Find a Talmud study group
Attend the group's meetings
Participate in discussions
Share your knowledge with others

Create a Summary of a Talmudic Chapter

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Condense a Talmudic chapter into a concise and accurate summary to reinforce your understanding.

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Choose a Talmudic chapter
Read the chapter carefully
Identify the main points of the chapter
Write a summary of the chapter

Create a timeline of the Talmud

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Create a timeline of the Talmud. This will help you to understand the historical context of the Talmud and to see how it has developed over time.

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Gather information about the Talmud
Create a timeline

Develop a Presentation on a Talmudic Topic

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Deepen your understanding of a Talmudic topic by researching and presenting it.

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Choose a Talmudic topic
Research the topic
Develop a presentation outline
Create the presentation slides
Practice delivering the presentation

Career center

Learners who complete The Talmud: A Methodological Introduction will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Lawyer

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Archivist

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Librarian

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Historian

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Archaeologist

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Anthropologist

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Demographer

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Sociologist

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Theologian

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Rabbi

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