The Jewish focus on study leads to…

The Jewish focus on study leads to the compilation of the Talmud, an immense commentary on the Torah that thoroughly analyzes the application of Jewish law to the day-to-day life of the Jewish community.

The complexity of argument and analysis contained in the Palestinian Talmud (100-425) and the more authoritative Babylonian Talmud (completed around 500) reflect the high level of intellectual maturity attained by the various schools of Jewish learning.

This inward-looking intellectualism, along with a rigid adherence to the laws and rituals of Judaism, maintains the separateness of the Jewish people, enabling them to survive the exilic experience despite the lure of conversion and frequent out-breaks of anti-Jewish fervor.