User: Why is the central text of Jewish law called the Talmud?
Assistant: The word Talmud means “to study” or “to learn” in Hebrew. The Talmud is a collection of rabbinic commentaries on the Mishnah, which is the first major codification of Jewish law. The Mishnah is a compilation of oral traditions about Jewish law and tradition that was written down by the Rabbis between 200 and 400 CE.