Talmud Twisted: Mistranslations, Misquotes, and Fabrications

The Talmud is a record of rabbinic conversations, debates and rebuttals dating between the 2nd and 5th century, in which discussions are held about the Torah, law and theology. It is studied by many Jews to help them understand Jewish law and how to live according to the Torah.

It is also misused by antisemites to attack the Jewish faith by misquoting and distorting passages, as well as fabricating quotes which are then falsely attributed to the Talmud.

Most of the false quotes stem from Germany including the 1920 “Unmoral im Talmud” (Immorality the Talmud) written by Alfred Ernst Rosenberg, the self-proclaimed chief ideologue of the Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei or NSDAP (the Nazi Party). Raised as a Lutherian, Rosenberg would go on to hold a deep rooted hatred of both Judaism and Christianity, promoting neo-paganism in his writings.

Below are twelve of the most commonly spread false Talmud quotes which appear on social media in attempts to incite Antisemitism – with the context and reality behind each one.

Soferim 15: “Even the Best of Goyim Should be killed.”

These words do not appear anywhere in the Talmud. In a discussion about the Talmud, during the 2nd century, Rabbi Shimon bar Yohai wrote that during a time of war it was necessary to kill even the best of your enemy on the battlefield if they are trying to kill you.

Yevamot 98a: “All children of Goyim are animals.”

Nowhere in the Talmud are non-Jews called animals. The chapter discusses the marriage of converts and uses a metaphor to describe the Egyptians in the days of Ezekiel as promiscuous, just as animals will mate with other animals.

Baba Metzia 114b: “Goys are not human, they are beasts.”

This is a completely fabricated quote. The passage talks about ritual impurity which includes not touching a dead body. The discussion asks if a non-Jewish body would also cause ritual impurity – and that is all. There is no comparison of gentiles as beasts, whatsoever.

Gad Shas 2:2: “A Jew may violate but not marry a non-Jewish girl.”

Not only does the quote never appear in the Talmud, neither does the book. Both are complete fabrications. The Talmud does, however, state the rape of anyone, regardless of their religion, is against Jewish law.

Avoda Zara 36b: “Gentile “Goy” girls are in a state of niddah (filth) from birth.”

The word ‘niddah’ does not mean filth, but ‘separated’. It is used to describe the time a husband and wife must spend apart, separated, while the wife is menstruating. During the Hasmonean era, over 2000 years ago, the term was applied to all non-Jewish women in an attempt to dissuade Jewish men from marrying outside the religion, as they would never be able to have sexual intercourse.

Sanhedrin 54b: “A Jew can have sex with a child as long as the child is less than nine years old.”

In Sanhedrin 54b a discussion about forbidden sexual acts takes place, including homosexuality. In the 3rd century, at a time when the age of consent in Roman tradition could be as low as seven, Rabbis Rav and Samuel held a hypothetical debate asking if a child under nine were to sodomise a man would they have violeated Jewish law, as legally they are too young to have sex. Both agreed sex with a child was totally prohibited and punishments for such a crime were discussed. Sex with a child is prohibited throughout the Talmud.

Sanhedrin 58b: “If a Goy hits a Jew, he must be killed.”

The passage discusses violence between Jews and Non-Jews, laws and punishments, with debaters voicing differing opinions. Rabbi Hanina cited Moses who struck down an Egyptian who was striking a Jew, suggesting the aggressor could be ‘liable to the death penalty’ to enforce the importance of stopping such crimes, but this suggestion was rebutted and disregarded. It was agreed that if a non-Jew strikes a Jew he is subject to pay damages – just as a Jew who strikes a non-Jew is liable to pay for his crime.

Sanhedrin 57a: “When a Jew murders a gentile there will be no death penalty.”

Jewish law prohibits murder, regardless of the victim’s religion and although the use of the death penalty is discussed in the Talmud it was difficult to enforce with numerous citations saying punishment was not carried out.

The Talmud never condons the murder of a non-Jew. Except for times of battle, for example discussions on the book of Exodus when Jews were being pursued by Egyptians, murder if forbidden and the punishment will come from God.

Tosafot Jebamoth 84b: “If you eat with a Goy it is the same as eating with a dog.”

The Tosafot was written between the 11th and 15th Century and is not a part of the Talmud. Regardless, there is nothing whatsoever in either the Talmud or Tosafot about eating with non-Jews. This quote is a complete work of fiction.

Baba Metzia 24a: “If a Jew finds an object lost by a Gentile ‘Goy,’ it does not have to be returned.”

This is not said, or implied, anywhere in the Talmud. A discussion regarding the commandments in the Torah stipulates if it is feasible an item found by a Jew, belonging to a Jew, must be returned. As Torah law only applies to Jews it means a non-Jew is not obligated to try to return a lost object to its Jewish owner, just as a Jew is not obliged to attempt to find the non-Jewish owner of an object.

Baba Kamma 113a: “Jews may use lies to circumvent a ‘Goy’ Gentile.”

This is a complete distortion of what is discussed in the Talmud. In this section it is said that you can lie to someone, Jewish or non-Jewish, to protect yourself and your property from a murderer, thief or robber. Truthfulness is an integral part of Judaism.

Abodah Zarah 22a-22b: “Gentiles ‘Goys’ prefer sex with cows.”

Abodah Zarah means ‘strange worship’ (Idolatry) and discusses prohibitions against idol worship and possible beastiality. At no stage does the Talmut state non-Jews prefer sex with animals.