The Language of Our Sages: Why the Talmud Was Written in Aramaic

1. Why wasn’t a full version of the Babylonian Talmud written entirely in Hebrew?

2. Is it possible to establish an agreed council of sages that would spend as many years as necessary to compile only the universally accepted interpretations, under a new work called “The Israeli Talmud”?

3. Why is there a need to study our holy Torah in a language that is not the language of the Torah itself — Hebrew, and thereby make Torah study far more difficult?

I am just taking my first steps in the world of Torah. On the one hand, I know that many have asked these questions before me, but on the other hand, I also know that my questions are not without meaning or foundation.

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1. Why the Talmud was written in Aramaic
   The Babylonian Talmud was compiled in Babylonia, where Aramaic was the spoken language of the people. That is why Talmudic Hebrew is built partly on Aramaic and partly on Hebrew. For 500 years, Aramaic was the language of the sages (Amoraim) who studied and debated, and when the Talmud was finalized, it preserved their authentic speech. It is important to see the words of the sages in their original form — not only to preserve accuracy, but also to fully understand their wisdom and choose the right interpretation.

That said, today there are modern Hebrew translations and commentaries, the most famous being the Schottenstein Edition, which explains the entire Babylonian Talmud in clear Hebrew (and English).

(Photo: Nati Shohat / Flash 90)

2. Why there is no “new Sanhedrin” today
   To create a new Sanhedrin — a supreme council of sages, requires the original authority passed down from Moses through the generations. Sadly, this chain of authority was broken with the destruction of the Second Temple. In our times, no rabbi has the halachic power to re-establish the Sanhedrin. That is why we pray for the coming of Mashiach, as we say in our prayers: “Restore our judges as at the first.” With the redemption, the Sanhedrin will once again arise.

Meanwhile, great Torah leaders, known as Gedolei HaDor (“the great ones of the generation”), continue to guide the Jewish people. Figures such as Rabbi Ovadia Yosef brought clarity and halachic decisions for modern times, and their rulings help unify Jewish practice.

3. Why study in Aramaic, and how it is made accessible
   For thousands of years, Jewish children studied Torah and Talmud in the cheder (traditional Jewish school), and so they understood Aramaic easily. Today, many secular Israelis have been disconnected from their Tannaitic and Amoraic heritage, and therefore struggle with the language.

To solve this, countless Torah classes (shiurim) and study guides now exist that explain the Talmud in simple Hebrew. Across Israel and the Jewish world, synagogues and study halls teach the Daf Yomi (daily page of Talmud) with commentaries in plain, modern language. Thanks to this, access to Torah study today is greater than ever before, and anyone who wishes can join and learn.

May you be blessed on your journey into Torah study! With God’s help, you will grow stronger and succeed.