The Latin Translation of the Babylonian Talmud

The Disputation of Paris, also known as the Trial of the Talmud in 1240, took place during the reign of King Louis IX of France. It stemmed from the efforts of Nicholas Donin, a Jewish convert to Christianity, who claimed the Talmud contained blasphemous passages about Jesus, Mary, and Christianity. The trial led to the burning of thousands of Jewish holy texts in 1242. Subsequently, the French Jewish community requested a fair examination of their holy writings. In response, Paris ecclesiastical authorities appointed converted Jews to create the first Western-language translation of the Talmud, known as the Extractiones de Talmud . This chapter delves into the nuances of this Latin translation, revealing its dual nature. While formally accurate by modern standards, it strategically distorts the Talmud&s;s complexity and structure to present Judaism as theologically inferior to Christianity. The Latin translation aimed to provide Christian readers with evidence of Judaism&s;s supposed theological shortcomings, contributing to the cultural and theological divisions between Judaism and Christianity in the Early Modern period. This chapter sheds light on the ambiguous nature of the Extractiones de Talmud and its role in shaping religious boundaries.