1. Jewish Ethics
Sources of Ethics

2. Oral Tradition Written Tradition Tenach Talmud Torah Neviim Ketuvim
Mishnah
Gemara
Collection of oral laws in 6 divisions
Aramaic commentary on Mishnah showing its scriptural bases
(Teaching)
(Prophets)
(Writings)
613 Mitzot (Commandments)
Mitzvah (single commandment)

3. Written Tradition Tenach
Rabbis of Yavneh completed compiling of Tenach in 100CE

4. Oral Tradition Talmud Gemara Mishnah Talmud ranks only
Completed around 200CE
Completed c.500CE
It is an interpretation and development of the Torah
Talmud ranks only
second in authority
To the scriptures
Written CE
Based on Torah and extended its base to apply to the whole of life in the contemporary world.

5. Talmud Mishnah Gemara Commentary of Rashi (1040 – 1105)
Commentary of pupils of Rashi
Mishnah
Cross reference to Maimonides
Commentary of Rav Nissim Gaon
Gemara

6. Talmud The central text Traditional sources Modern commentary Action
Science
Public policy

7. Midrash (Hebrew) means
To search
To investigate
Midrash attempts, through minute examination and interpretation of the Tenach, to bring out the deeper or ethical meaning of the text.

8. MIDRASH
Can refer to a particular way of reading and interpreting a biblical verse. Thus we may say that the ancient rabbis provided Midrash to Scripture.

9. MIDRASH
Can refer to a book – a compilation of Midrashic teaching. Thus we can say that “Genesis Rabbah” is a book that is a compilation of Midrash readings on the book of Genesis.

10. MIDRASH
Can refer to a particular verse and its interpretation. Thus we can say “the Midrash on the verse Genesis 1:1 says that….

11. There are two types of Midrash
Midrash Halachah
Midrash Aggadah

12. Midrash Halachah
An investigation or explanation of law. This deals mainly with the legal potions of the Torah.

13. Midrash Aggadah
Stories that teach. This deals mainly with the story parts of the writings.

14. Halachah Halachah is a style of writing Aggadah is Another style
Jewish Law (Legal tradition)
Example
of this style
of writing
Found in
Torah
Mishnah
Aggadah is
Another style
of writing
Example
of this style
of writing
Found in
Aggadah
Story telling (non-legal tradition)

15. Halachah Aggadah Jewish Law (Legal tradition) Torah Mishnah
Midrash is the method of retelling fundamental stories and their classical themes in ways that speak to the new times.
Jewish Law (Legal tradition)
Torah
Mishnah
Every new generation has to midrash its stories (Aggadah)
Aggadah
Story telling (non-legal tradition)
Midrash: ancient writings, biblical commentary and interpretation

16. Oral Tradition Written Tradition Halachah Tenach Talmud Aggadah
Jewish Law (Legal tradition)
Oral Tradition
Written Tradition
Tenach
Talmud
Neviim
Ketuvim
Torah
Mishnah
Gemara
Aggadah
Story telling (non-legal tradition)