Talmud (literally "study, learning"), the central text of Rabbinic Judaism, has influenced the lives of Jews no less, and perhaps more, than the Hebrew Bible.

For several hundred years, Jewish rabbis in academies in Palestine and in Babyloniastudied the Mishnah. Their discussions were recorded in the Talmud (6th century). These discussions include a wide variety of subjects pertaining to Halakhah (Jewish law) and ethics, philosophy and history, to mention just a few subjects. Jewish scholars thus interpreted the Mishnah primarily through the lens of the Talmud. 

The most popular and influential version of the Talmud is the Babylonian one, although a Palestinian version exists as well.

The Talmud, written in Hebrew and Aramaic has become the legal authority in Rabbinic Judaism and is the basis for Jewish legal discourse.