[wardaddy]

I always thought the Talmud was essentially what I would call the Old Covenant or Old Testament plus those darned Macabees.

And that the Talmud (several versions I think depending on where those Jews were at the time?) was the work of rabbinical scholars which in some versions contains fairly modern Ashkhenzaim European contributions like from the late 1800s.

In any event, I think most traditions should be preserved and I admire those who try.

Many Americans these days live to destroy tradition sadly.


What is the old tradition of the bondage on the arm and 10 commandments hanging in front of the eye from a head contraption? My old buddy who went uber-Orthodox started with that.

[Celtjew Libertarian]

I've goofed. The written oral law is the Mishnah. The Talmud is the Mishnah plus some early commentaries on it. As such, there were two Talmuds -- the Babylonian and the Jerusalem. It's the Babylonian that has been basically maintained and what is considered to be The Talmud by the Orthodox.

The have also been more recent commentaries by various great rabbis that are considered important enough to be included with the Talmud.

[cyborg]

Tefillin?

[Celtjew Libertarian]

What is the old tradition of the bondage on the arm and 10 commandments hanging in front of the eye from a head contraption? My old buddy who went uber-Orthodox started with that.

Those are the tefelin. It is not the 10 commandments, but the Shma the most important Hebrew prayer, that is in them. This is from Deut. 6:4-9 with 6:8 being the origin othe tefelin. (JPS translation.)

4 HEAR, O ISRAEL: THE HaShem OUR GOD, THE HaShem IS ONE.

5 And thou shalt love HaShem thy G-d with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be upon thy heart;

7 and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thy house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thy hand, and they shall be for frontlets between thine eyes.

9 And thou shalt write them upon the door-posts of thy house, and upon thy gates.