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BabylonianTalmud, Kiddushin 40b

 

תלמוד בבלי, קדושין מ:

Original Text:

וכבר היה רבי טרפון וזקנים מסובין בעלית בית נתזה בלוד, נשאלה שאילה זו בפניהם: תלמוד גדול או מעשה גדול? נענה רבי טרפון ואמר: מעשה גדול, נענה ר"ע ואמר: תלמוד גדול, נענו כולם ואמרו: תלמוד גדול, שהתלמוד מביא לידי מעשה.

Translation:

Rabbi Tarfon and some elders were reclining in an upper chamber in the house of Nitza in Lod when this question came up: Which is greater, study or action? Rabbi Tarfon spoke up and said: Action is greater. Rabbi Akiva spoke up and said: Study is greater. The others then spoke up and said: Study is greater because it leads to action.
[Soncino translation]

Suggested Discussion Questions:

1. Which of these actions is ultimately the most important? Why?
2. What "action" is being discussed here?
3. How does this text relate to Jewish social justice?
4. How does this text relate to education and sustainable livelihood?

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    Submitted By

    Sarah Margles

    Comments on this Text

    Which is greater to you, study or action?
    In what ways are study and action complementary? In what ways are they different?

    Which is greater to you, study or action?
    In what ways are study and action complementary? In what ways are they different?