Jewishcoman independent reference guide to the history, ideas and texts of the Jewish tradition

An independent educational reference on the history and ideas of the Jewish tradition. This is not the website of the Moscow Jewish Religious Community, the Moscow Choral Synagogue or any other religious organization; we do not give religious advice.

Texts and sources

Texts and sources

The Jewish tradition is built to a great extent around texts and their interpretation. One text comments on another, and over time the commentaries themselves become objects of study. This section offers a brief overview of the core texts, five steps for working with a source and a note on translations. We do not publish full texts: for reading, use the editions and translations cited in encyclopedic sources.

A traditional text is rarely read on its own: beside it there is almost always the voice of a commentator. Learning to hear both voices is half the work.

— Editor's note

How this section works: it describes the texts most often cited in literature on the Jewish tradition and general techniques for working with sources. We do not interpret texts on behalf of the tradition or make religious judgements.

The body of texts

TextWhat it isHow to read it
TanakhThe Hebrew Bible in three parts: Torah (Pentateuch), Nevi'im (Prophets), Ketuvim (Writings)Start with the narrative books of the Torah; note which part a given book belongs to
MishnahA compilation of the oral tradition made around 200 CE; its redaction is associated with Rabbi Judah ha-NasiRead it with explanatory notes: the text is very terse and assumes knowledge of its context
TalmudA compilation of discussions of the Mishnah; the Babylonian Talmud took shape by roughly the 5th–6th centuries CEFollow the course of the argument: the reasoning of each side matters, not only the conclusions
MidrashInterpretations of the biblical text, from the analysis of words to extended storiesRead it alongside the biblical verse the interpretation refers to
CommentariesMedieval and later interpretations, such as Rashi's commentaries on the Torah and TalmudRead the text itself first, then the commentary, and note which question it addresses

How to work with a source

  1. Identify what you are reading

    Is it a biblical text, the Mishnah, the Talmud, a midrash or a commentary? The answer determines how to read the passage and what to expect from it.

  2. Find the era

    Find out when the text took shape. The Mishnah, the Talmud and a medieval commentary are separated by centuries, and that matters for understanding them.

    The Mishnah was compiled around 200 CE, while Rashi lived from 1040 to 1105: almost nine centuries lie between them.

  3. Check the translation

    Find out whose translation you are reading and when it was made. Different translations of the same passage can differ noticeably.

  4. Separate text from interpretation

    Mark where the source itself ends and where the explanation of the translator, commentator or retelling author begins.

  5. Check reference works

    Verify dates, names and terms against encyclopedic works. If the information conflicts, note the discrepancy rather than choosing at random.

  • Key ideas

    A glossary of key terms, from Aggadah to Shema, with neutral reference definitions.

  • People

    Historical figures: Rashi, Maimonides, the Baal Shem Tov and Moses Mendelssohn.

  • Analysis

    Methods for working with traditions and sources, plus the catalogue of articles.

Sources

  • Electronic Jewish Encyclopedia (EJE)
  • Encyclopaedia Judaica
  • King James Version of the Bible
  • Great Russian Encyclopedia

This guide draws on encyclopedic reference works. Dates for ancient and medieval events are often approximate, and scholars do not always agree; where that is the case, we say so in the text.