Jewish Communities - Jewish Religious Texts

Jewish Religious Texts

The following is a basic, structured list of the central works of Jewish practice and thought.

  • Tanakh (Hebrew Bible) and Rabbinic literature
    • Mesorah
    • Targum
    • Jewish Biblical exegesis (also see Midrash below)
  • Works of the Talmudic Era (classic rabbinic literature)
    • Mishnah and commentaries
    • Tosefta and the minor tractates
    • Talmud:
      • The Babylonian Talmud and commentaries
      • Jerusalem Talmud and commentaries
  • Midrashic literature:
    • Halakhic Midrash
    • Aggadic Midrash
  • Halakhic literature
    • Major Codes of Jewish Law and Custom
      • Mishneh Torah and commentaries
      • Tur and commentaries
      • Shulchan Aruch and commentaries
    • Responsa literature
  • Jewish Thought and Ethics
    • Jewish philosophy
    • Kabbalah
    • Hasidic works
    • Musar literature and other works of Jewish ethics
  • Siddur and Jewish liturgy
  • Piyyut (Classical Jewish poetry)

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