First Steps in the Talmud

Focusing on biographical narratives, this study explores sage-stories that recount the lives and actions of Rabbinic sages during the formative period of Rabbinic Judaism. It delves into documents from the first six centuries C.E., excluding the two Talmuds, to illuminate the development of these narratives within the unfolding canon. The analysis highlights the significance of these anecdotes in understanding the cultural and religious context of early Judaism.