Jeffrey Rubinstein begins his book The Culture of the Babylonian Talmud thus: "The Babylonian Talmud (also called Bavli), the great compilation of rabbinic tradition edite
…d in Sasanid Mesopotamia in the fifth through seventh centuries c.e., is arguably the most important Jewish text. While Judaism frequently is designated "the religion of the book"-and by "book" the Hebrew Bible is meant, the Bavli nonetheless occupies a place of pride in rabbinic tradition. Medieval and modern rabbinic academies based their curriculum almost exclusively upon the Bavli and its derivitive literature of commentaries, legal codes, and responsa. Not every Jew, of course, received the education and training necessary for Talmud study. Yet, from their rabbis, generations of Jews were schooled upon the laws, traditions, ethics, scriptural interpretations, and ideals of the Bavli. The culture of the Bavli is therefore crucial to understanding both the primary influence on the culture of rabbinic academies throughout medieval and modern times as well as important forces that impacted many general Jewish beliefs and practices." For orthodox Jews today, the Talmud forms the basis of their daily actions (Jewish law was codified from the Talmud), and for orthodox Jewish men, the highest form of religious service is studying Torah; most specifically the Talmud. (Note that the above only applies to the Babylonian, as opposed to the Jerusalem Talmud, which is less influential.) (MORE) 
