Talmud (2007)

In this authoritative documentary director PierreHenry Salfati traces the history of the Talmud the repository of millennia of Jewish wisdom In doing so he posits the question What comprises this cardinal text of Judaism Originally passed down orally from master to student the Talmud is the hidden face of the Torah or Old Testament It is a vast body of legal mythic and philosophical texts and a mixture of religious commentary and debate of history and science and of anecdote and humor No other text has had such an influence on Jewish life as it details the principles ethical codes and laws that serve as a guide for conduct In addition to an exhaustive exploration of the Talmud the film also guides the viewer through the history of Jewish communities concluding with presentday New York