Bible vs. Talmud
What is the Gemara?
A collection of rabbinical analyses and commentaries on the Mishnah.
How many tractates are in the Talmud?
63 tractates
Where was the Mishnah compiled?
In The Holy Land.
Is the Mishnah or Gemara more concise?
The Mishnah.
According to tradition, when was the Written Torah v. the Oral Torah given to Moses?
Who wrote the most basic and comprehensive commentary on the Talmud? [Resulting in his commentaries being consistently published alongside the Talmudic text early on]
Rashi.
How many chapters are in the Talmud?
523 Chapters.
What is the oldest component on a page of the Talmud?
The Mishnah.
Who built the first temple? [Extra points if you know when]
What is King Shlomo/ Soloman, and in 900 BCE.
What is a tosafot?
"Additions" or alternative explanations to Rashi's commentaries.
Approximately how many words are in the Talmud?
2 Million
Who compiled the Mishnah in writing (it was previously passed down only orally)?
Rabbi Yehudah Hanasi
Torah, Nevi'im, Ketuvim.
What are the primary languages used in The Torah and Talmud respectively?
The Torah/ Bible uses Ancient/ Biblical Hebrew
The Talmud is primarily in Aramaic with some portions in Hebrew.
Where and in what language was the most widely used version of the Talmud compiled?
Babylonia, in Aramaic.
What is a "Daf"?
One page of the Talmud front and back. Most often seen in the context of "Daf Yomi" where people study a page a day.
About how long ago was the Mishnah compiled?
1,800 years
What are the two instances where the Torah says "lo tov" or "not good"?
When the Torah says it is not good for Adam to be alone, and when Yitro Moses' Father in Law says it's not good for him to lead/ judge alone.
What is the difference between the Bible and Talmud?
What is the Talmud is a record of rabbinic teachings, the Oral Torah. The Torah/ Bible is a collection of twenty four books that tell a story (starting at creation).
How have publications of the Talmud changed to account for the every-growing number of commentaries and helpful explanations?
Additions to the daf, reference pages in the back of the book, printing entire separate volumes etc.
Hundreds!