Everything about The Gemara totally explained
The
Gemara (also
Gemora) ('גמרא' - from
gamar:
Aramaic "[to] study" or "learning by tradition") is the part of the
Talmud that contains rabbinical commentaries and analysis of the
Mishnah. After the Mishnah was published by
Rabbi Judah the Prince (c.
200 CE), the work was studied exhaustively by generation after generation of rabbis in
Babylonia and the
Land of Israel. Their discussions were written down in a series of books that became the Gemara, which when combined with the Mishnah constituted the Talmud.
There are two versions of the Gemara. One version was compiled by scholars of Israel, primarily of the academies of
Tiberias and
Caesarea, which was published between about
350-
400 CE. The other version by scholars of Babylonia, primarily of the academies of
Sura,
Pumbedita, and
Mata Mehasia, which was published about
500 CE. By convention, a reference to the "Gemara" or "Talmud," without further qualification, refers to the Babylonian version.
Gemara and Mishnah
The Gemara and the Mishnah together make up the
Talmud. The Talmud thus comprises two components: the Mishnah - the core text; and the
Gemara - analysis and commentary which “completes” the Talmud (see
Structure of the Talmud).
In a narrower sense, the word
Gemara refers to the mastery and transmission of existing tradition, as opposed to
sevara, which means the deriving of new results by logic. Both activities are represented in the "Gemara" as a literary work. The term "gemara" for the activity of study is far older than its use as a description of any text: thus
Pirke Avot, a work long preceding the recording of the Talmud, recommends starting "Mishnah" at the age of 10 and "Gemara" at the age of 15.
The rabbis of the Mishnah are known as
Tannaim (sing.
Tanna תנא). The rabbis of the Gemara are referred to as
Amoraim (sing.
Amora אמורא).
The Sugya
The analysis of the
Amoraim is generally focused on clarifying the positions, words and views of the
Tannaim. These debates and exchanges form the "building-blocks" of the gemara; the name for a passage of gemara is a
sugya (סוגיא; plural
sugyot). A
sugya will typically comprise a detailed
proof-based elaboration of the Mishna. Every aspect of the Mishnaic text is treated as a subject of close investigation. This analysis is aimed at an exhaustive understanding of the Mishna's full meaning.
In the Talmud, a
sugya is presented as a series of responsive
hypotheses and questions - with the Talmudic text as a record of each step in the process of reasoning and derivation. The Gemara thus takes the form of a
dialectical exchange. (By contrast, the
Mishnah states
concluded legal opinions - and often differences in opinion between the Tannaim. There is little dialogue.) The disputants here are termed the
makshan (questioner, "one who raises a difficulty") and
tartzan (answerer, "one who puts straight").
The
gemara records the
semantic disagreements between
Tannaim and
Amoraim. Some of these debates were actually conducted by the
Amoraim, though many of them are hypothetically reconstructed by the Talmud's redactors. (Often imputing a view to an earlier authority as to how he may have answered a question: "This is what Rabbi X could have argued...") Rarely are debates formally closed.
Argumentation and debate
The distinctive character of the
gemara derives largely from the intricate use of argumentation and debate, described above. In each
sugya, either participant may cite scriptural, Mishnaic and Amoraic proof to build a
logical support for their respective opinions. The process of deduction required to derive a conclusion from a prooftext is often logically complex and indirect. "Confronted with a statement on any subject, the Talmudic student will proceed to raise a series of questions before he satisfies himself of having understood its full meaning."
(External Link
). This analysis is often described as "mathematical" in approach;
Adin Steinsaltz makes the analogy of the
Amoraim as
scientists investigating the
Halakha, where the
Tanakh,
Mishnah,
Tosefta and
midrash are the
phenomena studied.
Prooftexts
Prooftexts quoted to corroborate or disprove the respective opinions and
theories will include:
- verses from the Tanakh: the exact language employed is regarded as significant;
- other mishnayot: cross-references to analogous cases, or to parallel reasoning by the Tanna in question;
- Beraitot - non-mishnaic sources of halakha (lit. outside material; sing. beraita ברייתא);
- cross-references to other sugyot: again to analogous cases or logic.
Questions addressed
The actual debate will usually centre on the following categories:
Language
Why does the Mishna use one word rather than another? If a statement isn't clear enough, the Gemara seeks to clarify the Mishna's intention.
Logic
Exploring the logical principles underlying the Mishnah's statements, and showing how different understandings of the Mishnah's reasons could lead to differences in their practical application. What underlying principle is entailed in a statement of fact or in a specific instance brought as an illustration? If a statement appears obvious, the Gemara seeks the logical reason for its necessity. It seeks to answer under which circumstances a statement is true, and what qualifications are permissible. All statements are examined for internal consistency.
Legal
Resolving contradictions, perceived or actual, between different statements in the Mishnah, or between the Mishnah and other traditions; for example, by stating that: two conflicting sources are dealing with differing circumstances; or that they represent the views of different Rabbis. Do certain authorities differ or not? If they do, why do they differ? If a principle is presented as a generalization, the gemara clarifies how much is included; if an exception, how much is excluded.
Biblical exposition
Demonstrating how the Mishnah's rulings or disputes, derive from interpretations of Biblical texts. The Gemara will often ask where in the
Torah the Mishnah derives a particular law. See
The thirteen rules by which Jewish law was derived.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Gemara'.
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