The Law of the Mishnah and Talmud

Some scholars have described the Mishnah and Talmud as philosophical texts. There is evidence of personal encounters between rabbis and philosophers. A central issue in Maimonides' writings is relationship between human reason and divine revelation. This had already been a vexed issue in late antiquity, writes Rabbi Shmuley Boteach. He says legal reasoning must be used to bring together scriptural materials and oral tradition to reach concrete judgments.