Greater Than Or Equal To: The Written Torah vs. The Oral Torah

אמר רב הונא למקרא צריך לברך ולמדרש א"צ לברך ור' אלעזר אמר למקרא ולמדרש צריך לברך למשנה א"צ לברך ור' יוחנן אמר אף למשנה נמי צריך לברך [אבל לתלמוד א"צ לברך] ורבא אמר אף לתלמוד צריך (לחזור ו) לברך דאמר רב חייא בר אשי זימנין סגיאין הוה קאימנא קמיה דרב לתנויי פרקין בספרא דבי רב הוה מקדים וקא משי ידיה ובריך ומתני לן פרקין. מאי מברך א"ר יהודה אמר שמואל אשר קדשנו במצותיו וצונו לעסוק בדברי תורה

Berakhot 11b:11-16

Having mentioned the blessing recited over Torah, the Gemara focuses on a dispute over what constitutes Torah in terms of requiring a blessing. Rav Huna said: For the study of Bible, one must recite a blessing, as it is the word of God, and for halakhic midrash, the derivation of halakhot from verses, one need not recite a blessing. And Rabbi Elazar said: For Bible and midrash, which includes halakhot derived from verses themselves, one must recite a blessing; for Mishna, which is only comprised of halakhic rulings issued by the Sages, one need not recite a blessing. And Rabbi Yoḥanan said: Even for Mishna, which includes final, binding halakhic rulings, one must recite a blessing as well, but for Talmud, which comprises a study of the Mishna and the rationales for its rulings, one need not recite a blessing. And Rava said: Even for Talmud, which is the means to analyze the significance of the halakhot, and is the only form of Torah study that leads one to its true meaning, one must recite a blessing. This statement is supported by the practical halakha derived from observation of Rav’s practice. His student, Rav Ḥiyya bar Ashi, said: Many times I stood before Rav to study our chapter in the Sifra, also known as Torat Kohanim, the halakhic midrash on Leviticus, of the school of Rav, and I saw that Rav would first wash his hands, then recite a blessing, and only then he would teach us our chapter. This demonstrates that even before their study of Torat Kohanim, which, due to Rav’s explanation of the reasons behind the halakhot, was the equivalent of studying Talmud, one must recite a blessing. The Gemara clarifies: What formula of blessings does he recite? There is a dispute over the formula of the blessings as well. Rav Yehuda said that Shmuel said: The formula of this blessing is like the standard formula for blessings recited over other mitzvot: Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, Who sanctified us with his mitzvot and commanded us to engage in matters of Torah.

אורח חיים מ״ז:ב׳

(ב) צריך לברך בין למקרא בין למשנה בין לגמרא: הגה בין למדרש [טור]:

Shulchan Arukh, Orach Chayim 47:2

(2) It is necessary to bless before Mikrah [scripture], Mishnah, and Gemara. (Gloss: and for Midrash [Tur])

רש"י על ברכות י״א ב:י״ד:א׳

אף לגמרא צריך לברך - שהוא עיקר התורה שממנו הוראה יוצאה.

Rashi on Berakhot 11b:14:1

Even on Gemara you need to make a blessing - because it is the primary part of the Torah, for halachic rulings derive from it.

רבינו יונה על הרי"ף מסכת ברכות דף ה עמוד ב

רבי יוחנן אומר למשנה צריך לברך -

שבמשנה ג"כ מפרש הפסוקים

ומשם לומד טעמי המצות אבל לתלמוד שהוא פירוש המשנה

לא דאין צריך לברך על הפירוש

ורבי אלעזר אומר

דאפי' לתלמוד צריך לברך

שבתלמוד ג"כ מפרש עיקרי הפסוקים

Rabbeinu Yonah on the Rif on Berachot 5b

Rabbi Yochanan says that on Mishna you need to make a blessing - because with Mishna we also explain the [primary biblical] verses and from there we learn the reason for the mitzvot. But for Gemara (Talmud) that is a commentary on the Mishna, no [blessing is required] because you don't need to bless on commentary.

And Rabbi Elazar says that even for Gemara you need to bless, because with the Gemara also it explains the essence of the [primary biblical] verses.

אורח חיים מ״ז:י״ד

(יד) נשים מברכות ברכת התורה:

Shulchan Arukh, Orach Chayim 47:14

(14) Women bless the Blessing of the Torah

קידושין ל׳ א:ג׳-ד׳

עד היכן חייב אדם ללמד את בנו תורה אמר רב יהודה אמר שמואל כגון זבולון בן דן שלימדו אבי אביו מקרא ומשנה ותלמוד הלכות ואגדות מיתיבי למדו מקרא אין מלמדו משנה ואמר רבא מקרא זו תורה כזבולון בן דן ולא כזבולון בן דן כזבולון בן דן שלמדו אבי אביו ולא כזבולון בן דן דאילו התם מקרא משנה ותלמוד הלכות ואגדות ואילו הכא מקרא לבד

Kiddushin 30a:3-4

§ The Gemara continues its discussion of a father’s obligation to teach his son Torah. To what extent is a person obligated to teach his son Torah? Rav Yehuda says that Shmuel says: One should emulate the education of, for example, Zevulun ben Dan, a contemporary of Shmuel, whose father’s father taught him Bible, Mishna, Talmud, halakhot, and aggadot. The Gemara raises an objection from a baraita: If a father taught his son Bible, he is not required to teach him Mishna. And Rava said in explanation of this baraita: Bible is the Torah, not the Prophets or Writings, i.e., he is not required to teach him anything else, including Mishna. The Gemara answers that Shmuel’s statement should be understood as follows: One should teach his son like Zevulun ben Dan was taught in certain aspects, but not like Zevulun ben Dan in other respects. One should teach his son like Zevulun ben Dan in that his father’s father taught him; but not like Zevulun ben Dan, as there he was taught Bible, Mishna, Talmud, halakhot, and aggadot, while here, in this baraita, one is required to teach his son Bible alone.

רש"י על קידושין ל׳ א:ג׳:ג׳

תורה - ולא נביאים וכתובים:

Rashi on Kiddushin 30a:3:3

Torah - but not Prophets and Writings.

משנה תורה, הלכות תלמוד תורה א׳:ז׳

(ז) הָיָה מִנְהַג הַמְּדִינָה לִקַּח מְלַמֵּד הַתִּינוֹקוֹת שָׂכָר נוֹתֵן לוֹ שְׂכָרוֹ. וְחַיָּב לְלַמְּדוֹ בְּשָׂכָר עַד שֶׁיִּקְרָא תּוֹרָה שֶׁבִּכְתָב כֻּלָּהּ.

Mishneh Torah, Torah Study 1:7

(7) Where the custom of the state is to pay a beginner's teacher, he should give him his wages, and the obligation to pay for his son's education continues until he is through reading all of the Written Torah.

מסכת סופרים ט״ו:ז׳

(ז) אבל אמרו נמשלה המקרא כמים והמשנה כיין והש"ס.

Tractate Soferim 15:7

But it is said that Mikra is like water and Mishna is wine and Talmud is like spiced wine.

מדרש תנחומא, נח ג׳:ד׳

(ד) וְלֹא קִבְּלוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶת הַתּוֹרָה עַד שֶׁכָּפָה עֲלֵיהֶם הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אֶת הָהָר כְּגִיגִית, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: וַיִּתְיַצְּבוּ בְּתַחְתִּית הָהָר (שמות יט, יז). וְאָמַר רַב דִּימִי בַּר חָמָא: אָמַר לָהֶם הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, אִם מְקַבְּלִים אַתֶּם אֶת הַתּוֹרָה, מוּטָב, וְאִם לָאו, שָׁם תְּהֵא קְבוּרַתְכֶם. וְאִם תֹּאמַר, עַל הַתּוֹרָה שֶׁבִּכְתָב כָּפָה עֲלֵיהֶם אֶת הָהָר, וַהֲלֹא מִשָּׁעָה שֶׁאָמַר לָהֶם מְקַבְּלִין אַתֶּם אֶת הַתּוֹרָה, עָנוּ כֻלָּם וְאָמְרוּ נַעֲשֶׂה וְנִשְׁמָע, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁאֵין בָּהּ יְגִיעָה וְצַעַר וְהִיא מְעַט, אֶלָּא אָמַר לָהֶן עַל הַתּוֹרָה שֶׁבְּעַל פֶּה, שֶׁיֵּשׁ בָּהּ דִּקְדּוּקֵי מִצְוֹת קַלּוֹת וַחֲמוּרוֹת, וְהִיא עַזָּה כַמָּוֶת וְקָשָׁה כִשְׁאוֹל קִנְאָתָהּ, לְפִי שֶׁאֵין לוֹמֵד אוֹתָהּ אֶלָּא מִי שֶׁאוֹהֵב הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בְּכָל לִבּוֹ וּבְכָל נַפְשׁוֹ וּבְכָל מְאֹדוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: וְאָהַבְתָּ אֵת ה' אֱלֹקֶיךָ בְּכָל לְבָבְךָ וּבְכָל נַפְשְׁךָ וּבְכָל מְאֹדֶךָ (דברים ו, ה).

Midrash Tanchuma, Noach 3:4

(4) The Israelites did not accept the Torah until the Holy One, blessed be He, arched the mountain over them like a vessel, as it is said: And they stood beneath the mountain (Exod. 19:17). R. Dimi the son of Hama stated that the Holy One, blessed be He, told Israel: If you accept the Torah, well and good; but if not, your grave will be there. If you should say that He arched the mountain over them because of the Written Law, isn’t it true that as soon as He said to them, “Will you accept the Torah?” they all responded, “We will do and hear,” because the Written Law was brief and required no striving and suffering, but rather He threatened them because of the Oral Law. After all, it contains the detailed explanations of the commandments, both simple and difficult, and it is as severe as death, and as jealous as Sheol. One does not study the Oral Law unless he loves the Holy One, blessed be He, with all his heart, with all his soul, and with all his might, as it is said: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, and with all thy might (Deut. 6:5).

בבא מציעא ל״ג א:י״ח

ת"ר העוסקין במקרא מדה ואינה מדה במשנה מדה ונוטלין עליה שכר גמרא אין לך מדה גדולה מזו ולעולם הוי רץ למשנה יותר מן גמרא

Bava Metzia 33a:18

The Sages taught in a baraita: For those who engage in the study of Bible, it is a virtue but not a complete virtue. For those who engage in the study of Mishna, it is a virtue and they receive reward for its study. For those who engage in the study of Talmud, you have no virtue greater than that. And always pursue study of the Mishna more than study of the Talmud.

מסכת סופרים ט״ו:ו׳

(ו) לעולם הוי רץ למשנה יותר מן הש"ס דר׳ יוסי בר אבין אמר עד שלא שיקע בו רבי משניות אבל שקע בו רבי משניות לעולם הוי רץ להש"ס יותר מן המשנה:

Tractate Soferim 15:6

Generally, you should rush to study Mishna more than Gemara. R' Yosi bar Avin says [this refers to] when one has not yet apprenticed under a rebbe. But once he has apprenticed under a rebbe, from then on he should run to [learn] Gemara more than Mishna.

קידושין ל׳ א:י׳

לעולם ישלש אדם שנותיו שליש במקרא שליש במשנה שליש בתלמוד מי יודע כמה חיי לא צריכא ליומי

Kiddushin 30a:10

In light of this statement, the Sages said that a person should always divide his years into three parts, as follows: A third for Bible, a third for Mishna, and a third for Talmud. The Gemara asks: How can a person divide his life this way? Who knows the length of his life, so that he can calculate how long a third will be? The Gemara answers: No, it is necessary for one’s days, i.e., one should divide each day of his life in this manner.

תוספות על קידושין ל׳ א:י׳:א׳

ור"ת פי'... בבל בלולה במקרא במשנה ובגמרא דגמרת בבל בלול מכולם:

Tosafot on Kiddushin 30a:10:1

Rabbeinu Tam explains...Talmud Bavli is a combination of Mikra, Mishna, and Gemara. [Gemara study fulfills requirement of splitting up study into 1/3 Mikra, 1/3 Mishna, 1/3 Talmud]

משנה תורה, הלכות תלמוד תורה א׳:י״א-י״ב

(יא) וְחַיָּב לְשַׁלֵּשׁ אֶת זְמַן לְמִידָתוֹ. שְׁלִישׁ בַּתּוֹרָה שֶׁבִּכְתָב. וּשְׁלִישׁ בַּתּוֹרָה שֶׁבְּעַל פֶּה. וּשְׁלִישׁ... גְּמָרָא:

(יב)... בַּמֶּה דְּבָרִים אֲמוּרִים בִּתְחִלַּת תַּלְמוּדוֹ שֶׁל אָדָם אֲבָל כְּשֶׁיַּגְדִּיל בְּחָכְמָה וְלֹא יְהֵא צָרִיךְ לֹא לִלְמֹד תּוֹרָה שֶׁבִּכְתָב וְלֹא לַעֲסֹק תָּמִיד בַּתּוֹרָה שֶׁבְּעַל פֶּה יִקְרָא בְּעִתִּים מְזֻמָּנִים תּוֹרָה שֶׁבִּכְתָב וְדִבְרֵי הַשְּׁמוּעָה כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא יִשְׁכַּח דָּבָר מִדִּבְרֵי דִּינֵי תּוֹרָה וְיִפְנֶה כָּל יָמָיו לַגְּמָרָא בִּלְבַד לְפִי רֹחַב שֶׁיֵּשׁ בְּלִבּוֹ וְיִשּׁוּב דַּעְתּוֹ:

Mishneh Torah, Torah Study 1:11-12

(11) One is obligated to divide his time of study by three; one third for the study of Holy Writ, one third for the study of the Oral Torah, and one third...Gemara.

(12)...These rules are spoken of man's beginning of study, but when he matures in wisdom and has no need either for further study of Holy Writ or for continuous devotion to the study of Oral Torah, he should read Holy Writ and traditional matters at appointed times merely so as not to forget any matter pertaining to the laws of the Torah, and turn his attention to a continuous study of Gemara, of course, in proportion to the broadness of his heart and peacefulness of his mind.

גיטין ס׳ ב:ב׳

ור' יוחנן אמר רוב על פה ומיעוט בכתב שנא' (שמות לד, כז) כי על פי הדברים האלה

Gittin 60b:2

And Rabbi Yoḥanan says: The majority of the Torah was transmitted orally [al peh], while the minority was transmitted in writing, as it is stated with regard to the giving of the Torah to Moses on Mount Sinai: “For on the basis of [al pi] these matters I have made a covenant with you and with Israel” (Exodus 34:27), which indicates that the greater part of the Sinaitic covenant was taught orally.

מדרש תנחומא, נח ג׳:א׳-ב׳

(א) ‎אֵלֶּה תּוֹלְדֹת נֹחַ נֹחַ.

...וְלֹא עוֹד אֶלָּא שֶׁהַתּוֹרָה שֶׁבִּכְתָב כְּלָלוּת, וְתוֹרָה שֶׁבְּעַל פֶּה פְּרָטוּת...

(ב) ...וְכָךְ דַּרְכָּהּ שֶׁל תּוֹרָה, פַּת בַּמֶּלַח תֹּאכַל, וּמַיִם בַּמְּשׂוּרָה תִּשְׁתֶּה, וְעַל הָאָרֶץ תִּישַׁן, וְחַיֵּי צַעַר תִּחְיֶה, וּבַתּוֹרָה אַתָּה עָמֵל. לְפִי שֶׁלֹּא כָּרַת הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בְּרִית עִם יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶלָּא עַל הַתּוֹרָה שֶׁבְּעַל פֶּה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: כִּי עַל פִּי הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה כָּרַתִּי אִתְּךָ בְּרִית (שמות לד, כז).

Midrash Tanchuma, Noach 3:1-2

(1) These are the generations of Noah. ...What is more, the Written Law enunciates only the general principles of the law, while the Oral Law discusses the specifics of the law...

(2) ...The following is the path that leads to an understanding of the law: “A morsel of bread with salt shall you eat; a measure of water shall you drink; upon the earth shall you sleep; a life of hardship shall you lead; and in the law shall you labor.” (Pirkei Avot 6:4.)

The Holy One, blessed be He, established His covenant with Israel through the Oral Law, as it is said: According to the tenor of these words have I made a covenant with thee and with Israel (Exod. 34:27).