Who Wrote the Commentaries on the Talmud?
In this series with Rabbi David Sedley we will look at the history, personalities and thought of the major commentators printed in the Talmud. Where and when did they live? What were their goals in writing their commentaries?
Who Wrote the Commentaries on the Talmud?: History of the Mishna and Talmud
Who Wrote the Commentaries on the Talmud?: What’s on the page?
WHO WROTE THE COMMENTARIES ON THE TALMUD? WHAT’S ON THE PAGE?: We will look at the small commentaries and notes on the page of the Talmud – what they do, who wrote them, and why they are there. These include Torah Or, Ein Mishpat Ner Mitzvah and Masoret ha-Shas, Gilyon HaShas of Rabbi Akiva Eiger, and Hagahot HaBach
Who Wrote the Commentaries on the Talmud?: Rabbeinu Gershom
WHO WROTE THE COMMENTARIES ON THE TALMUD? RABBEINU GERSHOM: Rabbeinu Gershom is the founder of Ashkenazi Torah scholarship. Better known for his “decrees” than his Talmudic commentary, he was hugely influential on everyone who came after him. We will look at his life, his works, and his long-lasting influence on Ashkanazi (and world) Jewry.
Who Wrote the Commentaries on the Talmud?: Rabbeinu Tam
WHO WROTE THE COMMENTARIES ON THE TALMUD? RABBEINU TAM: The school of Tosefot, founded by Rashi’s grandsons and great-grandsons, has shaped all future Talmud study. We will look at the founder of the school, Rabbeinu Tam (Rabbi Yaakov ben Meir). We will look at his life, his influence, his halachot and the purpose he set for himself in the Tosefot commentary.
Who Wrote the Commentaries on the Talmud?: Rabbeinu Asher (Rosh)
WHO WROTE THE COMMENTARIES ON THE TALMUD? RABBEINU ASHER – THE ROSH: Rabbeinu Asher ben Yechiel (the Rosh) was the bridge between Ashkenazi and Sefardi halachic practice and custom. His halachic commentary on the Talmud is one of the three ‘pillars’ on which all later halacha is built. His life story is also the story of antisemtism and persecution. We will also look at the famous forgery ‘Besamim Rosh’, falsely attributed to the Rosh.
Who Wrote the Commentaries on the Talmud?: Maharsha (Shmuel Eidels)
WHO WROTE THE COMMENTARIES ON THE TALMUD? MAHARSHA: Maharsha, Rav Shmuel Eidels, wrote two commentaries on the Talmud – one on halacha and one on aggada (non-halachic components of the Talmud). In this shiur we focus mainly on aggada – what is its purpose, what are we supposed to gain from it, and why is it in the Talmud. We look at a piece of aggada (Bechorot 8b) with the commentary of Maharsha.
Who Wrote the Commentaries on the Talmud?: Mordechai (Mordechai ben Hillel)
WHO WROTE THE COMMENTARIES ON THE TALMUD? MORDECHAI: This shiur is on the Mordechai (Mordechai ben Hillel) and his brother-in-law R’ Meir of Rothenburg, author of Hagahot Maimnoiyot. We look at the life and times of Ashkenazi Jewry in the 13th century, and the Reindfleisch massacres that killed the Mordechai and his family, and brought the era to an end. We end with some laws of Pesach from both Mordechai and Hagahot Maimoniyot.
Rabbi David Sedley lives in Jerusalem with his wife and six children. He was born and raised in New Zealand before making Aliya in 1992. He left Israel temporarily (for eight years) to serve as a communal Rabbi in Scotland and England and returned to Israel in 2004. He has translated Rabbeinu Yonah's commentary on Pirkei Avos and is the co-author of Sefiros: Spiritual Refinement Through Counting the Omer (both Judaica Press). Over the years Rabbi Sedley has worked as a journalist, a translator, a video director and in online reputation management. He also writes a weekly Torah blog on the Times of Israel.