Tradition and the Formation of the Talmud

Focusing on the Babylonian Talmud produced in late ancient Mesopotamia, Moulie Vidas analyzes key passages to show how the Talmud’s creators contrasted their voices with those of their predecessors. The book also examines Zoroastrian, Christian, and mystical Jewish sources to reconstruct the debates that shaped the Talmud’s literary and intellectual character. Vidas is an assistant professor in Princeton’s Department of Religion and the Program in Judaic Studies.