In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we sit down for a special podcast with our host, David Bashevkin, to review the first topic that 18Forty covered: Talmud. Though Judaism has many facets to its practice, Talmud study has long been one of its hallmarks. It is a sprawling text with many commentaries, and so can be analyzed from any number of perspectives. This episode highlight three: those of Ari Bergmann, Chaim Saiman, and Michelle Chesner. From its historical formation to its ideas to its format, the Talmud was analyzed at length for its 18Forty topic, and this episode highlights some of the key questions raised. -How was the Talmud written?-What should one make of the often confusing mix of ideas it presents?-Does the text format itself hold any significance?-Is Talmud study useful for anything besides Talmud study?-What similarities does it have to other fields of knowledge?Tune in to hear David review and reflect on his past conversations with podcast guests about the Talmud.References:Ari Bergmann interview - http://18forty.org/talmud/#bergmannChaim Saiman interview - http://18forty.org/talmud/#saimanMichelle Chesner interview - http://18forty.org/talmud/#chesnerTake One podcast - https://www.tabletmag.com/podcasts/take-oneLegal Theology: The Turn to Conceptualism in Nineteenth-Century Jewish Law by Chaim Saiman Nomos and Narrative by Robert CoverJewish Thought: A Process, Not a Text by David BashevkinArba-ah Turim by Jacob Ben AsherHalakhah: The Rabbinic Idea of Law by Chaim SaimanFor more, visit https://18forty.org/talmud/.