The Babylonian Talmud

Translated by Michael L. Rodkinson

[1918]

---

Book 1: Tract Sabbath
Book 2: Tracts Erubin, Shekalim, Rosh Hashana
Book 3: Tracts Pesachim, Yomah and Hagiga
Book 4: Tracts Betzh, Succah, Moed Katan, Taanith, Megilla and Ebel Rabbathi or Semahoth
Book 5: Tracts Aboth, Derech Eretz-Rabba, Derech Eretz-Zuta, and Baba Kama (First Gate)
Book 6: Tract Baba Kama (First Gate), Part II and Tract Baba Metzia (Middle Gate)
Book 7: Tract Baba Bathra (Last Gate)
Book 8: Tract Sanhedrin: Section Jurisprudence (Damages)
Book 9: Tracts Maccoth, Shebuoth, Eduyoth, Abuda Zara, and Horioth
Book 10: History of the Talmud

---

A search for Talmud at Google will turn up hundreds of thousandsof hits, a depressing number of which are to anti-Semitic sites.However, to our knowledge this is the first extensiveEnglish translation of the Talmud to be posted on the Internet.The Talmud is a vast collection of Jewish laws and traditions.Despite the dry subject matter the Talmud makes interesting readingbecause it is infused with vigorous intellectual debate,humor and deep wisdom.As the saying goes, 'you don't have to be Jewish'to appreciate this text.If you put in the hard work required to readthe Talmud, your mind will get a world-class workout.The process of studying the Talmud has been compared with thepractice of Zen Buddhist Koan meditation, and for good reason.
Rodkinsons' ten-book edition, the only extensive one currentlyin the public domain, contains complete translations of the'Festivals' and 'Jurisprudence' sections of the Talmud.Rodkinson only finished about a third of the Talmud.All ten volumes were prepared at Sacred-texts and are availablehere in their entirety.
Rodkinson has been widely criticized, both from traditionalist Jews whofeel that translating the Talmud is not an acceptable practice,as well as from those hostile to the Talmud and Judaism in general.As often seems to be the case,the political spectrum seems to be a Mobeius loop.All of these viewpoints are abundantly represented on the Internet.Some quote material out of context, or ascribe hostileintent to innocent passages.The most hurtful critics are those who claim that Rodkinson deliberatelyleft out material to conceal an evil Jewish agenda.After completion of this etext, I can unequivocally statethat this is hogwash.Rodkinson's Talmud is, by definition, an abridgement for modern readers.He left out only the sections where the debate spins off into completeobscurity, and was careful to document where he did so.Now that this incredible text, lovingly translated, is on the Internetperhaps these criticisms can finally be put to rest.
Bibliographic note on Rodkinsons' Talmud
Rodkinson's translation went through at least two editions.The sacred-texts version was prepared from the second edition.All of these were from the 1918 printing,with the exception of book 1, which was scanned from a 1903 printing.The numbering of the volumes changed radically between the first andsecond edition; to add to the confusion the second edition wasbound into a ten book set, two volumes per book.This numbering is consistent, for instance, the second edition book 1 contains volumes 1 and 2;book 5 contains volumes 9 and 10, and so on.However, the volume sequence of the first edition was completelyshuffled in the second edition;for instance, volumes 9 and 10 of the second edition (in book 5)correspond to volumes 1 and 2 of the first edition.This confusion will be evident if you shop the used book market forindividual books of this set (which are fairly abundant at reasonable prices).
Book 1: Tract Sabbath
Tract Sabbath discusses what can and cannot be done on the Jewish Holy day.This tract has a wealth of information on everyday Jewish lifein late Classical times, including, for some reason,a great number of medical recipes.Because almost everything is done differently on the Sabbath, this containsan incredible level of ethnographic detail about a widerange of household activities including livestock, clothing, meals,horticulture, hunting, and other moreobscure topics, such as fire-fighting and feminine hygiene.Rodkinson makes the point in an appendixthat many of the Talmundic regulations which seemto be arbitrary were developed as a responseto political persecution.He also includes a prayer which is offered upon the conclusion ofstudying any tract.
Book 2: Tracts Erubin, Shekalim, Rosh Hashana
Tracts from section Moed (Festivals).Tract Erubin deals with regulations concerning travel on the Sabbath, and theproper construction of 'Erub', propitiatory offerings for transgressionsof these rules, usually, but not always, constructed of food.Tract Shekalim deals with tithes.Tract Rosh Hashana discusses the Jewish New Year,a floating holiday tied to lunar observations.
Book 3: Tracts Pesachim, Yomah and Hagiga
Continuing with tracts from section Moed (Festivals).These are primarily discussions of the rituals to be performedon important holy days: principally Passover and the Day of Atonement.The short third tract, Hagiga, discusses the Holocaust ceremony,(meaning a burnt-offering), which today has come into use as a termfor the Nazi genocide.Among other points of interest is description of theritual of the scapegoat in Chapter VI. of Tract Yomah;and Chapter II. of Tract Hagigahas a notable digression on a variety ofsubjects, including the cryptic Chariot of God,and the names and characteristics of the seven heavens.
Book 4: Tracts Betzh, Succah, Moed Katan, Taanith, Megilla and Ebel Rabbathi or Semahoth
Completing the Festivals portion of Rodkinson's Talmud translation.Tract Betzah details regulations about cooking, fishing, hunting andother activities on feast days.Tract Succah discusses the Festival of the Tabernacles, particularly theconstruction and use of the Succah, or booth.Moed Katan is about miscellaneous laws about some minor festivals, for instanceactivites which are permissible during intercalendary periods.Taanith has discussions about the beginning of the rains,including a sequence of folktales about rainmaking Rabbis.Megilla is about Purim, particularly about the public reading of the bookof Esther during that festival.Ebel Rabbath is about mourning and other funerary activities.
Book 5: Tracts Aboth, Derech Eretz-Rabba, Derech Eretz-Zuta, and Baba Kama (First Gate)
This book starts out with three tracts on ethics, includingthe lucid and moving Pirqe Aboth (Sayings of the Fathers),(also available at sacred-texts in a translation by Taylor).This edition of Aboth comes with extensive commentary.The Baba Kama is the first section of a three-part opening arcof the Jurisprudence section.To the modern reader it is of interest because of the unintentionaland (sometimes pungent) atmospheric details of everyday life infirst century Israel.Many of the Baba Kama cases start when 'an ox gores' someoneor something; the modern equivalent would probably beautomobile moving violations.The debates are notable because they are based equally on scripture andappeals to an emerging standard of common-sense justice and human rights.
Book 6: Tract Baba Kama (First Gate), Part II and Tract Baba Metzia (Middle Gate)
The conclusion of Baba Kama, the First Gate, and Baba Metzia, the Middle Gate.The second half of Baba Kama continues with cases involving stolen items.Baba Metzia continues with civil law, particularly cases involving damages:among the topics are found and loaned articles, real estate, loans,titles, what constitutes usury and fraud, and labor law.Many of the cases in Baba Metzia are extremely convoluted,more so than usual.There are a few scattered legends about the life and death of the principalauthors of the Talmud, and some notablepassages, mostly in Chapter IV.
Book 7: Tract Baba Bathra (Last Gate)
This, the third part of the 'Gate' sequence of tracts, deals withissues of civil law regarding property, including real estate, moveablepossessions, and inheritance, in the usual great detail.At times the discussion becomes so hypothetical that Rodkinson,thankfully, skips ahead a bit.Sandwiched in this very dry volumeis one wild section of Haggada(at the end of Chapter V) which consists of some very tall tales aboutfish, alligators and nautical going-ons.Also, notably, this tract includes what has to be one of the first attemptsto discuss where transgender people fit into the legal framework.
Book 8: Tract Sanhedrin: Section Jurisprudence (Damages)
The subject matter of Tract Sanhedrin is principally crime and punishment.One of the most notable discussions in this book is thedebate about the 'stubborn and rebellious son' (Chapter VIII).The rabbis openly express scepticism that a son who disrespectshis father in a particular way should be put to death.Out of this quibble over an obscure 'worst case scenario'we see the emergence of a key principle of jurisprudence:the execution of divine law must be tempered by human mercy.This book also wanders far and wide,dispensing wisdom on such topics as the location of the lost tribes,what the windows on Noah's ark were made of, and when the Messiahis due to arrive.
Book 9: Tracts Maccoth, Shebuoth, Eduyoth, Abuda Zara, and Horioth
This is the final book of the Rodkinson translation of the Talmud; it contains the remaining portions of the Jurisprudence section.Tract Maccoth deals with corporal punishment.Tract Shebuoth discusses oaths: what constitutes an oath, false oaths,and so on.Tract Eduyoth is a grab-bag of Mishna without commentary whichgive various cases related to other Talmud tracts.Tract Abuda Zara elaborates the Biblical commandment not to worshipidols; it is of historical interest because of the tangential informationabout what the idolators (i.e. ancient Pagans) did or did not do.Tract Horioth is another short tract which discusses a number ofvery technical issues, including the hierarchy of dogs, cats and mice.
Book 10: History of the Talmud
This is the introduction to Rodkinsons' Talmud translation.A history of the Talmud,starting with its five hundred years ofcomposition from the first to fifth centuries C.E.,and its bitter persecution from antiquity,through the Reformation up to the 19th Century.Includes biographies of the dozens of authors who wrote the Talmud,and a detailed bibliography through 1900.