Small Talmudic Treatises
Small Talmudic tracts : There are still a number of tracts on both the Palestinian and the Babylonian Talmuds that have remained outside the Talmudic framework ("small Talmudic tracts", / "smaller Talmudic tracts" / "extra-canonical tracts" - since they do not carry the authority of the actual Babylonian Talmuds possess / "small tracts" - "small" rather in the sense of lesser authority, not necessarily in the sense of a lesser extent, usually printed at the end of the order Nesiqin ).
The smaller tracts are divided into two groups: seven independent writings and seven thematic collections by Halachot on specific topics (including proselytes , slaves , scrolls ); often only this second group is referred to as “little tracts” in the real sense.
In addition to the " Abot de R. Natan " / Awot Rabbi Nathan (parallel tract to the sayings of the fathers ), the smaller Talmud tracts include several tracts of high religious historical value: including " Soferim " and "Sefar Torah" on writing regulations and reading the Bible, " Ebäl rabbati " / Ewel rabbati or "Smachot" / Semachot on mourning customs (literally: "joys", a euphemism for bereavement), "Abadim" about slave law, "Kutim" about the Samaritans .
Literature (selection)
- Günter Stemberger : Introduction to the Talmud and Midrash. 8th edition. Beck, Munich 1992