Kodashim

Pidyon HaBen P6020102

Kodashim (קָדָשִׁים) is the fifth order of the Mishnah, the first major written redaction of the Jewish oral traditions known as the Oral Torah. Kodashim deals primarily with the subjects of sacrifices and the Temple in Jerusalem. It is also included in the Tosefta and the Talmud.

Structure

Kodashim consists of eleven tractates:

1. Zevachim (זְבָחִים) - "Sacrifices"
2. Menachot (מְנָחוֹת) - "Meal Offerings"
3. Chullin (חוּלִּין) - "Non-Sacred"
4. Bekhorot (בְּכוֹרוֹת) - "Firstborn"
5. Arakhin (עֲרָכִין) - "Valuations"
6. Temurah (תְּמוּרָה) - "Substitution"
7. Keritot (כְּרִיתוֹת) - "Excisions"
8. Me'ilah (מְעִילָה) - "Sacrilege"
9. Tamid (תָּמִיד) - "The Daily Offering"
10. Middot (מִדּוֹת) - "Measurements"
11. Kinnim (קִנִּין) - "Bird Nests"

Content

The order of Kodashim primarily deals with the laws of sacrifices and offerings that were performed in the Temple in Jerusalem. This includes detailed descriptions of the various types of sacrifices, such as burnt offerings, peace offerings, sin offerings, and guilt offerings. It also covers the laws of ritual purity and impurity, the sanctity of the Temple, and the roles of the priests and Levites.

Zevachim

The tractate Zevachim discusses the laws of animal sacrifices, including the procedures for offering them and the specific requirements for different types of sacrifices.

Menachot

Menachot deals with the laws of meal offerings, which are offerings made from flour and oil. It includes the procedures for preparing and offering these sacrifices.

Chullin

Chullin covers the laws of non-sacred animals, including the rules for slaughtering animals for food and the prohibitions against consuming certain parts of the animal.

Bekhorot

Bekhorot discusses the laws concerning the firstborn of humans and animals, including the requirement to redeem the firstborn son and the sanctity of the firstborn animals.

Arakhin

Arakhin deals with the laws of valuations, which involve the dedication of the value of a person or object to the Temple.

Temurah

Temurah covers the laws of substitution, which prohibit substituting one sacrificial animal for another.

Keritot

Keritot discusses the penalties of excision (karet) for certain transgressions and the offerings required for atonement.

Me'ilah

Me'ilah deals with the laws of sacrilege, which involve the misuse of consecrated property.

Tamid

Tamid describes the daily offerings that were made in the Temple, including the procedures for the morning and evening sacrifices.

Middot

Middot provides detailed descriptions of the measurements and layout of the Temple, including its various chambers and courtyards.

Kinnim

Kinnim discusses the laws concerning the offering of birds, particularly in cases where there is uncertainty about the type of offering required.

Significance

Kodashim is significant in Jewish law and tradition as it provides a comprehensive guide to the sacrificial system that was central to the worship in the Temple. Although the Temple no longer stands, the study of Kodashim remains an important part of Talmudic study and Jewish scholarship.

See also

• Mishnah
• Talmud
• Temple in Jerusalem
• Sacrifices in Judaism
• Kohen
• Levite