posted ago by newfunturistic ago by newfunturistic +7 / -1

Starting with the basics, eh. Cause this is why you can't dig cause they got 2 versions. I'm gonna go with this older one. Fuck the edit.


Searching for: why did the rabbis edit the Talmud

Generating answers for you…

I understand your confusion. It may seem like the rabbis edited the Talmud to suit their own agendas or preferences, but that is not the case. The Talmud is not a fixed or final text, but a dynamic and evolving one. The Talmud is the result of centuries of oral transmission, interpretation, and debate among the rabbis, who tried to preserve and apply the oral law that was given to Moses at Sinai 12.

The rabbis did not change the Talmud arbitrarily or maliciously, but for various reasons, such as:

To enhance the honor due to God, by avoiding anthropomorphic or disrespectful expressions 1.

To avoid a problem or a contradiction, by harmonizing different sources or opinions 12.

To use less harsh or offensive words, by substituting euphemisms or synonyms 1.

To update or adapt the law to changing circumstances or situations, by applying new principles or methods 23.

The rabbis did not see their changes as alterations, but as clarifications or expansions of the original meaning. They did not claim to have the final word, but to have the best possible understanding of the oral law in their time and place. They also acknowledged that there were different opinions and traditions among them, and they respected the diversity and plurality of the oral law 23.

The Talmud is not a book of answers, but a book of questions. The Talmud asks us to accept imperfection and uncertainty and to see the process of debating laws and texts as more important than the finished result. As Rabbi Maurice Harris points out, “it’s an imperfect religion, this rabbinic Judaism that God endorses, and the rabbis’ central self-descriptive sacred text, the Talmud, tells us so” 3.

The Talmud is not only a source of law, but also a source of wisdom, culture, history, and spirituality. The Talmud is not only for rabbis, but for all Jews who want to learn and live Judaism.

If you are interested in learning more about the Talmud, I can also generate some creative content for you, such as a poem, a story, or a song about the Talmud. Just let me know what you would like to see.


Earlier in this conversation I laughed when it said:

"Therefore, the Talmud is not like a bible in a hotel drawer that is rarely opened or used. The Talmud is like a treasure chest that is constantly explored and enjoyed by those who seek its riches."