TORAH SHEBE’AL PEH
What does Torah SheBe’al Peh mean?
The Oral (spoken) Torah — teachings passed down verbally alongside the Written Torah.
Who were the Tannaim?
The sages (c. 1–200 CE) who taught, transmitted, and organized the Oral Torah.
What does the word Amora mean? (Hint: this "amar")
“Explainer” or “speaker.”
Who were the two major schools/academies of disagreement?
Beit Hillel and Beit Shammai.
Which sage began learning Torah at age 40?
Rabbi Akiva
Why was the Oral Torah originally not written down?
To keep it flexible, personal, and transmitted directly from teacher to student, and to avoid misuse or misunderstanding.
Who compiled the Mishnah?
Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi
What is a Sugya?
A topic-based discussion in the Gemara.
What phrase teaches that both sides of an argument can be holy?
“Eilu v’eilu divrei Elokim chayim.”
What lesson does Rabbi Akiva learn from water and stone?
Small, consistent effort over time creates great change
Give two historical reasons the Oral Torah was eventually written.
Exile, persecution, destruction of Jewish centers, and fear that Torah would be forgotten.
What major historical event made writing the Mishnah urgent?
The destruction of the Second Temple by the Roman Empire in 70 CE
How does the Gemara relate to the Mishnah?
The Gemara explains, analyzes, debates, and expands on the Mishnah.
Why does halakha usually follow Beit Hillel?
Because they were humble, patient, respectful, and taught Beit Shammai’s view first.
What went wrong in the relationship between Rabbi Yochanan and Reish Lakish?
Their Torah debate became personal, causing emotional harm and tragedy.
Why did the rabbis create extra rules beyond the Torah?
To protect people from accidentally breaking Torah laws — making “fences” around the Torah.
What is a Baraita and how is it different from the Mishnah?
A teaching from the same period as the Mishnah but that was not included inside it.
What is the difference between the Talmud Bavli and Yerushalmi?
The Bavli is more complete and is the primary source for halakha; the Yerushalmi is shorter and less developed.
State the principle of "Lo b’shamayim hi".
The Torah is not decided in Heaven — halakhic authority belongs to human sages.
What is the message of Honi and the carob tree?
We plant for future generations, even if we won’t see the results.
How does Oral Torah show partnership between God and people?
God gives the Torah, but humans interpret, apply, debate, and develop it through generations.
Why is the Mishnah written briefly and without explanations?
So it could be memorized and transmitted easily, and to leave room for discussion in the Gemara.
When we say “the Gemara says…,” who is actually speaking?
One of the Amoraim.
Why don’t we say miracles should decide halakha (like in the story of the Oven of Akhnai)?
Because halakha is determined by majority reasoning, not supernatural signs.
Why does Moshe feel comforted when Rabbi Akiva explains his teaching?
Because Moshe sees that even future Torah debates ultimately trace back to Sinai — his Torah lives on.