Mishnah

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Kac 1924-10-19 Pinsk jews reading mishnah

Mishnah Commentary in Judeo-Arabic WDL3967

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שער - דפוס פראג שעה

משנה סדורה - סיכום הגמרא - חברותא

Mishnah (Hebrew: מִשְׁנָה, "study by repetition"), from the verb shanah שנה, or "to study and review", is the first major written redaction of the Jewish oral traditions known as the "Oral Torah". It is also the first major work of Rabbinic literature. The Mishnah was redacted by Judah the Prince at the beginning of the third century CE (around 200 CE) in a time when, due to persecution, there was a concern that the oral traditions might be forgotten. It is composed of six orders (sedarim, singular seder), which are further divided into 63 tractates (masekhtot, singular masekhet). These tractates are then divided into chapters and verses.

Composition and Structure

The Mishnah consists of six orders (Sedarim):

1. Zeraim ("Seeds"), dealing with prayer and blessings, tithes, and agricultural laws
2. Moed ("Festival"), pertaining to the laws of the Sabbath and the Festivals
3. Nashim ("Women"), concerning marriage and divorce, some forms of oaths, and the laws of the Nazirite
4. Nezikin ("Damages"), dealing with civil and criminal law, the functioning of the courts, and oaths
5. Kodashim ("Holy Things"), concerning sacrifices and the Temple
6. Taharot ("Purities"), dealing with the laws of purity and impurity

Each order contains tractates, which are further divided into chapters and mishnayot (singular: mishnah). The Mishnah's language is primarily Mishnaic Hebrew, with some Aramaic.

Historical Context

The Mishnah was compiled in a period of rich cultural activity in the Land of Israel, under Roman rule. The compilation of the Mishnah is attributed to Rabbi Judah the Prince, who recognized the necessity of preserving the oral traditions in a written form to ensure their transmission. The exact reasons and the process of its compilation are subjects of scholarly debate, but it is clear that Rabbi Judah the Prince played a crucial role in its redaction.

Significance

The Mishnah is foundational to all of Rabbinic literature and Jewish law. It is the cornerstone of the Talmud, which includes the Mishnah and the Gemara (rabbinic commentaries on the Mishnah). The study of the Mishnah is considered a religious duty in Judaism. Its teachings cover not only legal but also ethical and theological subjects.

The Mishnah's method of argumentation and analysis has influenced the development of Western legal systems. Its content has been studied, commented upon, and expounded upon for centuries, leading to a rich tradition of Talmudic study.

See Also

• Talmud
• Oral Torah
• Rabbinic literature
• Jewish law
• Hebrew language