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The Gemara (also Gemorah) ('''גמרא''' - from ''gamar'': Hebrew " complete"; Aramaic "[to study") is a component of the Talmud , comprising the rabbinical commentaries and analysis on the Mishnah , undertaken in Babylon. During the centuries following Rabbi Judah's editing of the Mishna, it was studied exhaustively by generation after generation of rabbis. Eventually, some of these rabbis wrote down their discussions and commentaries on the Mishna's laws in a series of books known as the Talmud. The rabbis of Palestine edited their discussions of the Mishna about the year 400: Their work became known as the Palestinian Talmud (in Hebrew, Talmud Yerushalmi, which literally means "Jerusalem Talmud"). GEMARA AND MISHNAH The Gemara and the Mishnah together make up the " complete"; Aramaic "[to study"); see Structure Of The Talmud . The rabbis of the Mishnah are known as ''Tannaim'' (sing. ''Tanna'' תנא). The rabbis of the Gemara are referred to as ''Amoraim'' (sing. ''Amora'' אמורא). There are in fact two Talmuds, corresponding to the Jerusalem (or Palestinian) Gemara and the Babylonian Gemara; both share the same Mishnah. The Jerusalem Gemara is written in Western Aramaic , while the Babylonian Gemara is written in Eastern Aramaic. The Mishna is in Hebrew . THE ''SUGYA'' The analysis of the ''Amoraim'' is generally focused on clarifying the positions, words and views of the ''Tannaim''. These debates and exchanges form the "building-blocks" of the gemara; the name for a passage of gemara is a ''sugya'' (סוגיא; plural ''sugyot''). A ''sugya'' will typically comprise a detailed Proof-based elaboration of the Mishna. Every aspect of the Mishnaic text is treated as a subject of close investigation. This analysis is aimed at an exhaustive understanding of the Mishna's full meaning. In the Talmud, a ''sugya'' is presented as a series of responsive Hypotheses and questions - with the Talmudic text as a record of each step in the process of reasoning and derivation. The Gemara thus takes the form of a Dialectical Exchange . (By contrast, the ''Mishnah'' states Concluded Legal Opinions - and often differences in opinion between the Tannaim. There is little dialogue.) The disputants here are termed the ''makshan'' (questioner) and ''tartzan'' (answerer). The ''gemara'' records the Semantic Disagreements between ''Tannaim'' and ''Amoraim''. Some of these debates were actually conducted by the ''Amoraim'', though most of them are hypothetically reconstructed by the Talmud's redactors. (Often imputing a view to an earlier authority as to how he may have answered a question: "This is what Rabbi X could have argued...") Rarely are debates formally closed. ARGUMENTATION AND DEBATE The distinctive character of the ''gemara'' derives largely from the intricate use of argumentation and debate, described above. In each ''sugya'', either participant may cite scriptural, Mishnaic and Amoraic proof to build a is often described as "mathematical" in approach; Adin Steinsaltz makes the analogy of the ''Amoraim'' as Scientist s investigating the Halakha , where the Tanakh , Mishnah , Tosefta and Midrash are the Phenomena studied. Prooftexts Prooftexts quoted to corroborate or disprove the respective opinions and Theories will include:
Questions The actual debate will usually centre on the following categories: Language Why does the Mishna use one word rather than another? If a statement is not clear enough, the Gemara seeks to clarify the Mishna's intention. Logic Exploring the logical principles underlying the Mishnah's statements, and showing how different understandings of the Mishnah's reasons could lead to differences in their practical application. What underlying principle is entailed in a statement of fact or in a specific instance brought as an illustration? If a statement appears obvious, the Gemara seeks the logical reason for its necessity. It seeks to answer under which circumstances a statement is true, and what qualifications are permissible. All statements are examined for internal consistency. Legal Resolving contradictions, perceived or actual, between different statements in the Mishnah, or between the Mishnah and other traditions; e.g., by stating that: two conflicting sources are dealing with differing circumstances; or that they represent the views of different Rabbis. Do certain authorities differ or not? If they do, why do they differ? If a principle is presented as a generalization, the gemara clarifies how much is included; if an exception, how much is excluded. Biblical exposition Demonstrating how the Mishnah's rulings or disputes, derive from interpretations of Biblical texts. From where in the Torah does the Mishnah derive a particular law? See The Thirteen Rules By Which Jewish Law Was Derived . SEE ALSO EXTERNAL LINKS AND REFERENCES Sources
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