This video provides an insightful introduction to the book Every Man’s Talmud by Abraham Cohen, which distills the vast and complex teachings of the Talmud into a more accessible form. The discussion is framed around the importance of understanding the Talmud, especially for Christians, as it represents a foundational text for Orthodox Judaism and highlights significant doctrinal differences between these two worldviews.
The Talmud’s Scope and Accessibility
The full English translation of the Talmud spans 73 volumes and costs approximately $2,600, making it inaccessible to most readers.
Abraham Cohen’s Every Man’s Talmud serves as a condensed introduction, recommended chapters include 1, 3, 4, 7, and 11 for foundational understanding.
Historical Context
The Talmud was not codified until ~600 AD, about six centuries after Christ, despite containing teachings attributed to Moses and earlier times.
It includes both the Written Torah (the Pentateuch, or first five books of the Bible) and the Oral Torah—laws and interpretations passed down orally before being written.
Orthodox Judaism’s Dual Torah Concept
Orthodox Jews accept the Written Torah as divine but also regard the Oral Torah as equally authoritative and flexible, capable of supplementing or even superseding the Written Torah.
This oral tradition introduces legislative flexibility that contrasts with the Christian view of Scripture as fixed and unchanging.
Contrast in Views on Human Nature
Christians hold that humans are inherently sinful, based on doctrines such as original sin (Genesis 3) and the need for Christ’s atonement.
Orthodox Judaism, informed by the Talmud, teaches that man is basically good. Key examples include:
The Talmud’s statement that God gives a pure soul to each person.
The parable of the ripest figs illustrating that God favors those who are innately virtuous and capable of merit.
The concept of man as a blank slate influenced by the “good angel” and “bad angel,” symbolizing free will and the potential to keep the law and achieve salvation through personal effort.
Ethical Teachings and the Golden Rule
The video highlights a crucial difference regarding ethical teachings attributed to Jesus versus previous traditions.
Prior to Jesus, many ethical systems, including Talmudic thought, followed the negative version of the Golden Rule:
“Do not do unto others what you would not have done to you.”
Jesus introduced the positive Golden Rule:
“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”
The positive version demands active love and engagement, whereas the negative version focuses on non-harm and avoidance.
Implications for Christian-Jewish Dialogue
The video stresses the significant theological gulf between Christianity and Orthodox Judaism despite shared roots in the Pentateuch (Penetuk).
Understanding the Talmud’s role is crucial to appreciating these differences, particularly on the nature of man, law, and salvation.
Every Man’s Talmud provides an accessible window into the complex Talmudic tradition, essential for understanding Orthodox Judaism.
The Talmud’s oral tradition introduces a flexibility in Jewish law and theology that contrasts sharply with the Christian view of Scripture’s immutability.
The most profound theological gulf lies in the understanding of human nature and salvation, with Orthodox Judaism affirming human goodness and self-merit, and Christianity emphasizing human sinfulness and divine grace.
Ethical teachings attributed to Jesus represent a radical departure from earlier Jewish ethical formulations, particularly in the shift from a negative to a positive Golden Rule.
For Christians, studying the Talmud through Cohen’s work helps clarify these differences and fosters more informed interfaith dialogue.
