Dear Ruth,



The Babylonian Talmud was written by the sages of Babylon towards the end of the 5th century, and the Palestinian Talmud was written by the sages of Eretz Yisrael at the start of the fifth century.

Until the middle of the seventh century the Palestinian Talmud flourished and was of equal status to the Babylonian Talmud. The Jewish communities in Eretz Yisrael, Egypt, Italy, Turkey, and all the communities which were in the Byzantine Empire ruled Halacha according to the Palestinian Talmud. From the period of the Babylonian gaonim the status of the Palestinian Talmud sank due to political changes. The Islamic authorities contributed to the influence of the Babylonian gaonim who began sending letters to communities, instructing them to stop following the customs of the Palestinian Talmud, using the argument that it should not be relied upon. Thus did the gaon Pirkvay the son of Baboy write to the sages of Kiroan, who followed the customs of Eretz Yisrael: “And each [of the sages of Eretz Yisrael] were involved in books and interpreted based on their own opinions, for they did not receive traditions from the early sages who would have taught them practical Halacha.”



This shows you that even “the words of G-d” are subject to political change and even the “Divine will” depends on luck.



Daat Emet