INTRODUCTION

   The Rama rules that one does not say Kaddish except after words of praise for Hashem.   The Mishnah B’rurah explains that the rabbis ordained the Kaddish D’Rabbanan, which includes a blessing for those who study the Torah, primarily for the study of Aggadah.  

Why did the rabbis prefer Aggadah over Halachah for this purpose?

    Many Halachoth only apply if certain circumstances arise.  For example, the Halachoth concerning which Berachah to recite when eating only apply when one is eating. Although the purpose of reciting a blessing before and after eating is also to show gratitude to Hashem, the need to show such gratitude exists even when a person is not eating.  

    The Aggadah goes further than the Halachah in this respect because it expounds on the importance of showing gratitude to the Creator by telling stories and explaining verses from the Tanach about this subject.

    In as much as the Aggadah more comprehensive than the Halachah in this regard, the rabbis ordained a special Kaddish to be recited after studying it.

     The text of the Jerusalem Talmud presented in this volume follows the Romm Vilna edition unless otherwise indicated.  However, where the Talmud occasionally paraphrases a verse, the exact wording from the Tanach has been substituted.

    Since the Jerusalem Talmud has not been studied as extensively as the Babylonian Talmud, errors crept into the text as new copies were made from older texts.  In the present work, in some instances, the text of the Romm Vilna edition has been altered in accordance another edition of the Jerusalem Talmud or the view of a major scholar such as the Vilna Gaon.  The notes point out any such changes.

    Wherever the Mishnah is quoted the Romm Vilna edition is used.  This sometimes varies slightly from the text of the Mishnah found in the Romm Vilna edition of the Jerusalem Talmud.  

    This translation follows the standard commentaries of the Korban Ha’Eidah, P’nei Moshe, and Tiklin Chadathin, unless otherwise indicated.  The page numbers of the original text which correspond to the Romm Vilna edition are indicated in parentheses at the beginning of each selection.