follow; they recited, too, any passage which seemed to require especial consideration, which they debated among themselves, the "head," or president, all the while silently taking notes of the debate.
The "head" after this lectured generally on the treatise, the subject of the discussion, adding an exposition of those special passages which had given rise to the debate.
Sometimes in the course of his lecture the "head" asked a question as to how the disciples would explain a certain Halachah. The question had to be answered by the scholars he chose to name. After the answer or answers had been received the "head" added his own exposition of the Halachah in question.
Subsequently one of the "seventy" senior students gave an address, summing up the arguments which had arisen out of the theme—the Halachah—which they had been considering.
In the fourth week of the session the "seventy" and other of the students were examined individually by the "head" of the academy.
Questions received from various quarters were also discussed for final solution. The "head" listened, and finally formulated his decisions, which were written down. The results of the meeting of the academy during the month of session were finally signed by the "head" of the academy.
The details and comments contained in the foregoing sections of the Fifth Book ("The Jew and the Talmud") are mainly confined to the great official work of Rabbinic Judaism known as the Talmud, made up of the Mishnah and its commentary, the Gemara.
But besides this vast compilation, it must be borne in mind that there exists an enormous mass of Rabbinic literature outside the Talmud, such as the non-canonical Mishnah, the Targumim, the Midrashim, the Kabbala, etc. Some of this dates from a very early period, and possesses a high authority among the recognized Jewish teachers.
Most of these extra-Talmudical writings are Haggadic in character.
